As men and women age, they face many new experiences and challenges. This includes a change in his or her libido, especially for menopausal women. Women who have gone through menopause see a major drop in their estrogen levels. This decrease in estrogen leads to a drop in blood supply in the vagina, causing vaginal dryness. The significantly lower estrogen levels can also lead to the thinning of the vaginal wall creating vaginal atrophy and thus making sex uncomfortable. In addition to this, women in menopause may experience physical changes within their body from weight gain, to hot flashes and night sweats. These changes may make women feel uncomfortable or too tired for sex. Both men and women may also experience symptoms in mood, such as depression and irritability, as they get older and experience a decline in estrogen and testosterone being produced.
Relationships evolve over time, and as many people get older, they become less sexually active. While some experience intimacy in other ways such as cuddling, others may simply not feel as satisfied with that. If you’re looking to improve your sex drive and intimacy with your partner as you both age, there are many options available to you.
Communication
The key to any healthy relationship is to communicate with your partner. It’s important to be honest with each other. Let him or her know if sex is painful, and don’t pretend to be aroused if your libido has dropped. By communicating, you and your partner can set realistic expectations about what you can do sexually and experiment with new positions or techniques that may be more comfortable. By opening the lines of communication, you and your partner will not only be on the same page about what feels good, but you can also experience intimacy and closeness in a new way. Communicating with your partner creates a closer bond between the two of you, as does cuddling and caressing one another, which will foster more intimacy between you and help boost your sex drive.
Exercise
Implementing a regular exercise schedule will not only help prevent weight gain, but it can also improve your mood. Exercising releases endorphins, improving your mood, happiness, and sense of well-being. If you’re new to exercising, it’s important to find something that you enjoy and to move at your own pace. It is recommended to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, but if you need to start off with 10 minutes a day until you build the necessary endurance, please do so. Exercising also doesn’t necessarily mean doing heavy cardio or weight lifting. Try yoga, tai chi, pilates, or enjoy going for a walk.
Kegel Exercises
Performing kegel exercises can help tighten your pelvic muscles that weaken as you get older. By strengthening your pelvic muscles it can enhance sensations during sex. These exercises are simple and easy to do. After locating the correct muscles, contract your pelvic floor muscles and hold the contraction for five seconds. Slowly release the contraction over the span of five seconds, and repeat. Set a goal to perform the move in a set of 10, and repeat 3 times throughout the day.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is another method that can help prevent vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, and diminish other symptoms you may be experiencing due to menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is available in multiple forms with some using synthetic hormones and others focusing on bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones are made using plant-based sources that are biologically identical to what the human body produces. By using bioidentical hormones, your body will achieve a similar balance to what you had when your body naturally produced the amount of hormones it needs to operate at optimal levels.
Experiencing a decrease in sex drive is normal as we get older. However, if you want to keep your sex life active, there are options to help. Contact Renewed Vitality today, and set up your consultation to see if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.
