Menopause can bring with it a smorgasbord of ailments including headaches, insomnia, hot flashes, and moodiness.   When you include loss of libido and vaginal dryness into the mix, there’s no surprise that some menopausal women simply aren’t in the mood.  Sex can be such a touchy subject (no pun intended), and when you add to it the fact that up until somewhat recently menopause itself used to be considered a taboo topic some women may find it difficult to seek help for the menopausal symptoms affecting their sex life. 

The hormonal changes during menopause can be to blame for both a lower libido and vaginal dryness.  During menopause there can be a veritable hormonal rollercoaster within a woman’s body, so it really isn’t much of a shock when sexual desire is affected.   There are other factors that can cause a low libido, either in conjunction with fluctuating hormones or independently.  Poor physical health and thyroid problems can play a part in the lack of sexual interest some menopausal women experience.

Amidst the physiological changes a menopausal woman is encountering, there are also psychological issues that may be affecting her sexual desire.  There are a number of women who feel as though menopause has dramatically changed their body, almost as if their bodies are in fact rebelling against them.  Some women view menopause as the demise of their femininity, and are either ashamed of the changes they are going through or perhaps feel as though their partners will have a difficult time finding them attractive anymore.  For these women, the absence of menstruation and fertility makes them feel less womanly and thus less sensual.   In this way, a woman who has always felt quite comfortable with sex may suddenly find herself questioning her own desirableness. 

Sometimes a woman’s internal dialogue can be her own worst enemy, as it is more likely that her partner finds her just as attractive as before.  It may be time for a frank discussion with her partner if a woman has feelings like this, or if the thoughts become overwhelming there are therapists who specialize in problems just like these.  Most people would agree that seeking help for sexual problems is preferable to becoming celibate. 

A stressful lifestyle can obviously wreak havoc on libido, and for many women menopause just happens to occur right around the time when stressors occur.  For some, it’s raising teenagers.  For others, it may be running a company.  Women must take close examination at their lives to deduce if more than hormone fluctuations are at work.

Some menopausal women don’t notice much of a change at all in their sexual desire.  Not all women encounter vaginal dryness either, and since there are also plenty of products on the market to help with vaginal dryness it is by no means a death sentence for sexual drive.  Every woman experiences menopause in their own way, and for some a loss of libido isn’t an issue. 

There are indeed some menopausal women who find that this period of their lives is the most sexually charged time they have ever had.  A benefit of menopause is there is no fear of pregnancy.  Also, by this time many women have not only figured out exactly what it is they want in bed, but the kids have left home so if they want to swing from the chandeliers with their husband they can do so without fear of being walked in on.  Freedom, after all, is a mighty powerful aphrodisiac. Additionally, some researchers suggest that postmenopausal women are generally happy with their sex lives and able to achieve orgasms more readily than their pre-menopausal counterparts.  Postmenopausal women also have an easier time achieving multiple orgasms, according to some researchers.

Menopausal women do not need to simply accept a loss of libido.  There are supplements and therapies that are designed to help regain the sexual desire these women once enjoyed.  Remember that doctors have heard it all, so there is absolutely no reason to be embarrassed when inquiring about a lower libido.  Menopausal women who either have no change in their level of desire or to have a heightened level of desire should consider themselves fortunate indeed.