How Menopause Can Affect Your Sexual Health

Every woman hears horror stories about menopause. The night sweats, mood swings, and hot flashes are enough, but hardly anybody talks about how it changes your sexual health.

In the years leading up to menopause, your body goes through many hormonal changes, including a drop in estrogen. That leads to various symptoms, including those that affect your libido and physical signs of arousal.

If you're struggling with sex after menopause, our team at OB/GYN North Dallas offers treatment at our offices in Plano, Texas. Our experienced OB/GYNs provide lifestyle tips and professional treatments to ease your menopause symptoms and improve your sexual health.

Does menopause affect sexual health?

Menopause occurs when a woman's body has reached the end of the childbearing years. It begins preparing for the next stage of life by decreasing estrogen production, which often leads to such symptoms as hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats.

But menopause also affects your sexual health. It causes vaginal dryness and sometimes pain with intercourse. Not every woman experiences changes that affect sexual health, but most women notice a difference.

The changes may be subtle at first and then worsen, or they may start very noticeably. If these changes begin affecting your sexual health, some strategies and treatments can help.

Ways that menopause changes sexual health

The drop in estrogen affects multiple aspects of your body, including the vaginal tissues. Other ways menopause affects sexual health include:

Reduced sex drive

Low estrogen levels significantly affect sexual interest in women leading up to and after menopause. It also changes how you're able to get aroused, further reducing your sex drive.

Vaginal dryness

Low estrogen levels contribute to vaginal dryness, even during arousal. Decreased lubrication may make sex uncomfortable, which causes many women to avoid it during and after menopause.

Painful intercourse

Painful intercourse happens when the vaginal tissues are dry and become more fragile. Discomfort during sex and penetration only further affects sexual desire.

Emotional changes

Many women experience mood swings and depression during menopause. The emotional and physical changes take a toll on mental health, which further affects a woman's ability to want or enjoy sex.

Self-esteem issues

Menopause may lead to weight gain, which can cause self-esteem issues in the bedroom. You also may feel self-conscious about night sweats and other symptoms that make you feel less desirable.

What you can do to improve your sex life

If you're struggling with your sex life and menopause, our team can help. We discuss your symptoms and goals to determine the best treatment route for you and your partner's needs.

Simple lifestyle changes may be all you need to spice up your sexual health. Eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, and practicing stress management techniques can help you feel better and improve your sexual health.

Over-the-counter lubricants and vaginal moisturizers address vaginal dryness during intercourse. Use them as needed to improve comfort during sex.

If lifestyle changes and lubricants aren't enough, your provider discusses hormone replacement therapy. Treatment involves taking estrogen supplements to increase estrogen levels in the body to fight off menopause symptoms and improve overall health and well-being.

Call us at our office in Plano, Texas, today to learn more about menopause and sexual health, or use our convenient online booking tool to schedule a consultation.