How does Doruk change your life?
At the age of 40-50 years, a physiological restructuring of the woman’s body occurs and menopause occurs: female sex hormones are produced in less and less quantity, ovarian function is lost, menstruation becomes irregular until they stop completely. Menopause lasts for about a year, after which and for the rest of a woman’s life comes postmenopause.
“The average age of menopause in Russia is 49-51. Menopause cannot be postponed, the number of follicles is genetically determined and this period begins as soon as it ends. Modern women want to have an active sex life, but against the background of the destruction of ovarian function and other processes, this becomes problematic. They develop the so-called climacteric syndrome, which includes many different symptoms, ”said the obstetrician-gynecologist of the Moscow State Medical University clinical center. Seçenova Kristina Grigorieva.
Often, women experience hot flashes (a sudden feeling of warmth and sweating), sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety, and even depression. In addition, due to estrogen deficiency, there is a decrease in libido, dryness and itching in the vagina (atrophic vaginitis), as a result of which sexual intercourse becomes painful and orgasm is not.
According to Oleg Gulko, a sexologist and psychotherapist at the Karpovka+ Research and Clinical Center, during this period of life, not only hormonal changes, but also a number of other age-related factors cause problems in sexual life.
“These are various co-morbidities that can increase with age. In addition, regular pharmacological treatments such as antihypertensive drugs, stress and depression drugs can also affect sexual desire. Cholesterol-lowering drugs are also often the cause of intimal problems. Stress, fatigue, changes in the body and the thought that sex is only for young people also negatively affect sexual life, explained Gülko.
treatment methods
“If a woman is experiencing all these symptoms, it is difficult for her to live sexually. When such a patient comes to us, we prescribe treatment for him. Usually this is menopausal hormone replacement therapy, which is one of the most effective ways to help a woman. But, like any drug, hormonal drugs have their own contraindications, so before the appointment, the patient must undergo a comprehensive body examination. If, when prescribing oral contraceptives, it is enough simply to collect an anamnesis, then with the treatment of menopause everything is much more complicated, ”explained Grigorieva.
Some research showed that such treatment increases the risk of breast cancer by 30%, but according to Grigorieva, this is not entirely true.
“Recent data shows the risk is increasing by less than 0.1% per year. In other words, there is not even 1 case of breast cancer in 1000 women per year. Other factors, such as low mobility, increase the risk of developing cancer much more. However, it is important to note that we would not prescribe such drugs if the patient initially had breast cancer. This is a direct contraindication, ”said the expert.
To combat the local symptoms of atrophic vaginitis – itching and burning in the vagina – hormonal preparations are also used, but local action: creams, one of them is Ovestin. Although the drugs contain hormones, they are safe. The concentration of hormonal substances there is much less, so the risk of cancer is very small.
“Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important for an easy transition to menopause. I recommend exercising – about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week, eating enough vegetables and fruits, and limiting salt intake. Unfortunately, there are no vitamins and dietary supplements with a good evidence base that help relieve symptoms. The only thing I can recommend is to take preventative doses (2000 IU per day) of vitamin D because we still fear the onset of osteoporosis during menopause. Constant sex can also help relieve menopausal symptoms, as happiness hormones are produced during intercourse, ”said Grigorieva.
Positive sexual activity in a couple during the period when a woman enters menopause allows you to keep both the physiological and psychological components of the body in a healthy state, added Gulko.
how to have sex
According to sexologist Gulko, with the onset of age-related changes in both women and men, their habitual sexual responses change, and a longer onset may be required before intimacy.
“With age, a man often needs longer intercourse to reach orgasm, and this can lead to micro-trauma to the woman’s vaginal mucosa. Therefore, it is recommended not to strive for a forced climax in such contacts, you can resort to alternative methods: change the focus from penetrative sex to mutual caresses and masturbation. You can start using various sex accessories. Use new forms of sexual contact in the form of oral caresses, strengthen the emotional component by providing greater openness with a partner,” advises Gulko.
To regain interest in sex, experts also recommend doing this more often and doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles – this will help increase blood flow to the vagina and strengthen the muscles involved in orgasm. But before that, it’s important to talk to an expert to explain how to do them correctly.
The use of lubricants is also important, as natural lubrication is no longer secreted in sufficient quantities. There are many products on the market that can be divided into three groups: oil-based, water-based and silicone-based lubricants.
“If we talk about postmenopausal women, there is not much difference when choosing a lubricant, but each has its own characteristics. Water-based lubricants need to be renewed because they dry quickly. Oil and silicone leave marks on clothes, and the latter are difficult to wash off from the skin. It is important to note that fatty oils can break the walls of the condom, reducing the reliability of the contraceptive method, ”explained Grigorieva.
It is important to note that during menopause, the opposite of the described situation can also be observed – an improvement in sexual life, so you should not be afraid of this period.
“I had time for myself and a spouse in a situation where the children were separated and lived their own lives. For some, with the onset of menopause, the constant risk and fear of pregnancy disappears and opens the way to sexual pleasure. Therefore, in the sexological literature there is a case of how a woman can experience her first orgasm only after the onset of menopause and begin to enjoy a sexual life, ”concluded Gulko.