Our bodies go through many natural changes as we age. One of the biggest changes that people with a uterus undergo is menopause when they stop menstruating and lose the ability to get pregnant.
For many people, this can sound like a dream – not having to worry about your period or an unexpected pregnancy.
However, something that many people don’t understand before they reach menopause is that sex will be different than what it was in your 20s. And while these changes are natural, they may be confusing for some people, especially if you want to maintain a level of spice in the bedroom.
- Understanding the relationship between menopause and libido
- Do people going through menopause have less sex?
- Navigating sexual desire during menopause
- The takeaway
So, let’s go through some of the changes that will happen to your libido as you go through menopause and how to navigate these changes and still have a fulfilling sex life.
Understanding the relationship between menopause and libido
A weaker libido is something that many people report as one of the side effects of menopause. It’s common for people going through this point in their life to feel less of a desire to have sex, which can be frustrating, as having no more period and fear of getting pregnant should mean that you are freer to have sex.
On top of that, most people going through menopause usually have more free time, as this tends to happen a bit later in life.
The changes that happen during menopause can make it hard for you to want to have sex. To start, menopause entails a drop in estrogen, which can cause a drop in the libido. That’s why many people report a lower sex drive during this period. In fact, some people even report that they have difficulty achieving orgasm during this period.
That said, many experts believe that there is no link between lower hormone levels and libido.
So, why do so many people say that their sex drive lowers while going through menopause?
Well, the answer is quite complicated, but we’ll get into the details below.
Does menopause lower the libido?
The simple answer is yes, menopause does affect the libido, and many people going through it say that they are less interested in sex and have trouble achieving orgasm. This is because of the various side effects that happen along with menopause and not the drop in estrogen levels.
For example, a common symptom of menopause is occasional hot flashes. These can be quite uncomfortable and cause people to be less interested in having sex. On top of that, various societal pressures around having sex in your later years may discourage older people from exploiting sexuality in their old age.
While a lower libido is a common side effect of menopause, the exact causes of this are complex. Everybody’s sex drive is different, so the reason that a person may not be as interested in sex as they used to be may vary on a case-to-case basis. This is why it’s important to speak to a doctor when navigating these changes in your libido.
That way, it will be easier for them to pinpoint the exact cause of this change and determine the appropriate solution.
Do people going through menopause have less sex?
It’s common for people going through menopause to have less sex. This is because they aren’t as interested in sex as they used to be, and this is for various reasons.
As mentioned earlier, there are many causes of a lowered libido, and each person has a different case. This is why you must speak to your doctor about the changes in your life so that they can help you navigate this period.
However, there are also physical changes that occur during menopause, which can lead to people having less sex.
The first physical change is that people going through menopause experience more vaginal dryness. This may lead to sex becoming uncomfortable and even painful at times due to the lack of lubricant. This is also why couples who want to have sex while someone is going through menopause are advised to use more lubrication than usual to lower the chances of someone experiencing pain.
Another physical change is the tissues around the vagina and labia becoming thinner. This causes them to become less sensitive to sexual pleasure and stimulation, which is why people may have to explore other types of stimulation when going through menopause.
Lastly, menopause also means decreased blood flow to the vaginal area. This means people who experience this may find sex less enjoyable and may have difficulty achieving orgasm. This is why intimacy and sex may look different in your older age than they did when you were young.
However, just because sex is different doesn’t mean it isn’t fulfilling and enjoyable. In the next section, we’ll go through a few ways to keep the spice alive even when someone in the relationship is going through menopause.
Navigating sexual desire during menopause
Everyone has their way of navigating sexual desire and intimacy during menopause, but here are a few approaches you may want to try:
Learning other approaches to intimacy
To start, couples in their older age are encouraged to explore other types of intimacy. It’s natural to have less of an interest in sex as you age, but that doesn’t mean intimacy has to die. For example, cuddling, a romantic massage, or even just a thoughtful and open conversation is a great way to maintain intimacy without sex. And for many couples, it can be even more satisfying.
Changing sex habits
As you age, your sex habits will have to change. This could mean putting more effort and planning into when you will have sex, taking more time to get aroused and get in the mood, and even incorporating new toys and sex acts to spice things up. On top of that, people going through menopause can also practice masturbation to learn what their body wants and how to please themselves.
Lubricants
As mentioned earlier, menopause may lead to vaginal dryness. This can be uncomfortable and painful, so make sure to have lubricant handy. There are many types of lubricant on the market, and it’s important that you find the one that both of you are comfortable using.
Lifestyle changes
Lastly, keeping your sex drive up in your older age also requires certain lifestyle changes. This could mean exercising more, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and even changing soaps and body products that may irritate the vagina and cause more dryness.
The takeaway
Sex will be different when you age, especially as you approach menopause. Many people may feel less interested in sex as they get older, which is completely natural. However, this doesn’t mean that your sex life has to die, as there are many ways to navigate intimacy and sexual desire through this confusing period. That way, you can still maintain a fulfilling and satisfying sex life, either by yourself or with a partner!
