How Can I Improve My Sex Drive During and After Menopause?

Currently, there are not any good drugs to treat sexual problems in women dealing with menopause. Estrogen replacement may work, but research has yielded conflicting results regarding its effectiveness. Estrogen can, however, make intercourse less painful by treating vaginal dryness.

Doctors are also studying whether a combination of estrogen and the male hormones, called androgens, may be helpful in increasing sex drive in women.

Although sexual problems can be difficult to discuss, talk to your doctor; there are options to consider, such as counseling. Your doctor may refer you and your partner to a health professional who specializes in sexual dysfunction. The therapist may advise sexual counseling on an individual basis, with your partner or in a support group. This type of counseling can be very successful, even when it is done on a short-term basis.

Healthy Tips - Dealing With Menopause

Good nutrition and regular physical exercise are thought to improve overall health. Some doctors feel these factors can also affect menopause . Although these areas have not been well studied in women, anecdotal evidence is strongly in favor of eating well and exercising to help lower risks for CVD and osteoporosis.

Nutrition

While everyone agrees that a well-balanced diet is important for good health, there is still much to be learned about what constitutes "well-balanced." We do know that variety in the diet helps ensure a better mix of essential nutrients.

Nutritional requirements vary from person to person and change with age. A healthy premenopausal woman should have about 1,000 mgs of calcium per day. A 1994 Consensus Conference at the National Institutes of Health recommended that women after menopause consume 1,500 mgs per day if they are not using hormonal replacement or 1,000 mgs per day in conjunction with hormonal replacement. Foods high in calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products; oysters, sardines and canned salmon with bones; and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli. In calcium tablets, calcium carbonate is most easily absorbed by the body. If you are lactose intolerant, acidophilus milk is more digestible. Vitamin D is also very important for calcium absorption and bone formation. A 1992 study showed that women with postmenopausal osteoporosis who took vitamin D for 3 years significantly reduced the occurrence of new spinal fractures. However, the issue is still controversial. High doses of vitamin D can cause kidney stones, constipation, or abdominal pain, particularly in women with existing kidney problems. Other nutritional guidelines by the National Research Council include:

Menopause and Sexual Health

Many people think menopause brings a reduced interest in sex. Both men and women may find themselves taking longer to become sexually aroused as they age. However, medications such as antidepressants, tranquilizers, and high blood pressure drugs can alter your sexual desire. Health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis, concern about your appearance, and stress in your daily life can also inhibit your sexual response.

In the year 2000, scientists at the New England Research Institute and the University of Massachusetts Medical School found that some women do experience changes in libido with menopause and that these women also believe that a lessening interest in sex accompanies growing older. Interestingly, the researchers determined that such changes are not related to estrogen loss, but instead to other factors such as attitudes, general health, and martial status. Estrogen loss was related only to pain during intercourse.

Does Menopause Increase Risk of Diabetes?

by: Dr. Victor Marchione

It is an idea that has been hinted at for some time, and its answer is important for all middle-aged women. Does menopause influence one's risk for type 2 diabetes? With the latest health news, it's time to don a smile, because researchers found the answer to be "no."

Postmenopausal women had no higher risk for diabetes whether they experienced natural menopause or had their ovaries removed,according to the national clinical trial of 1,237 women at high risk for diabetes, ages 40 to 65.

Learn These Menopause Symptoms And What You Can Do To Relieve Them

 by: Gary Krieg

Learn Why These Menopause Symptoms And What You Can Do To Relieve Them

Women can experience a lot of different menopause symptoms when they enter the menopausal stage. Some of these things can really be distressing. They can happen gradually or they can take you by surprise by happening all of a sudden.

In this article, I’m going to discuss a few of the most common symptoms that may be experiencing right now if you’re already menopausal. The first symptoms that we’re going to discuss are light headedness, dizziness, and loss of balance. Dizziness is described as a transient spinning sensation or a feeling of lightheadedness. This can also be described as one’s inability to maintain good balance when standing up or walking. Dizziness is a symptom of a lot of medical conditions. There are certain things that people can do to cope with dizziness. If you think that your dizziness is not associated with menopause, you should see your doctor so that you can determine whether or not it’s a symptom of a serious illness.

Learn These Menopause Symptoms And What You Can Do To Relieve Them

by: Gary Krieg

Learn Why These Menopause Symptoms And What You Can Do To Relieve Them

Women can experience a lot of different menopause symptoms when they enter the menopausal stage. Some of these things can really be distressing. They can happen gradually or they can take you by surprise by happening all of a sudden.