MenoLabs News | Wed, Sep 15, 2021

Many women experience low libido and vaginal dryness during menopause, which can make sexual intercourse the last thing you are interested in. But sexual pleasure is actually beneficial for your body and mind and shouldn’t be overlooked. Oregon Health and Science University provides a list of the benefits of a healthy sexual life, and they are pretty eye opening:

• Lower blood pressure
• Better immune system
• Better heart health, possibly including lower risk for heart disease
• Improved self-esteem
• Decreased depression and anxiety
• Increased libido
• Immediate, natural pain relief
• Better sleep
• Increased intimacy and closeness to a sexual partner
• Overall stress reduction, both physiologically and mentally 

Dr. Ariana Sholes-Douglas is a leading women’s health practitioner, and an expert in women’s menopausal health and vaginal rejuvenation. We compiled her best advice and recommendations for women experiencing loss of libido and other sexual wellness issues. 

What is giving you low libido?

There are so many factors to consider when thinking of a low libido. It can be a decrease of estrogen, causing the tissues on your labia and vagina to become thinner, which can make it more difficult for your body to respond to sexual intercourse. And there are other things that can affect your libido during menopause.  Women are being hit with so many things at once: anxiety, depression, mood swings, family dynamics, deaths of older family members, and children going through puberty or moving out of the home. With all of that to consider, it is no wonder that it can be difficult for a woman to get excited about sexual intercourse.  

Why is your vagina dry?

When it comes to vaginal dryness, once again, it is the decrease of estrogen that interrupts women’s pleasure. Vaginal dryness can make sexual intercourse very uncomfortable.  When estrogen is in decline, the tissue of the labia and vagina become thinner, which in turn can also make the vagina much drier.  And an uncomfortable, dry vagina will lead to a low libido. Another thing to keep in mind, is that if you avoid sexual intercourse, your vagina will become shorter and narrower, making sexual intercourse even harder on the body in the future.  

What can help?

You can start with trying a lubricant.  You may want to start with a natural option to see how your body responds. You can also try over the counter options, like K-Y Jelly.  Dr. Arianna says that a lubricant is like a band-aid. It will work for a while, but it won’t fix the underlying problem.  

If lubricants don’t work, there are doctors who offer vaginal rejuvenation options, like the ones you will find below. Some of these techniques can be done as a combination, depending on what symptoms you are experiencing. A doctor specializing in vaginal rejuvenation will be able to help you determine which options are best for you. 

Thermiva: This is a groundbreaking process in vaginal restoration that combines platelet rich therapy (PRT) with THERMIvaPRP(+) to enhance the benefits of collagen induction therapy. This non-invasive procedure helps with vaginal laxity, vulvar/labia laxity, vaginal/vulvar dryness, mild to moderate stress incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. 

Monalisa Touch: This laser treatment is designed to help with menopause symptoms like, dryness, burning, pain during intimacy, and loss of elasticity. The device induces vaginal rejuvenation and functions through the restoration of collagen, hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans. These substances are responsible for the hydration of the tissue region. 

V Confidence Geneve:  This treatment uses cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency (CMRF) to produce healthy collagen and revived sensation of feminine wellness. This procedure can help with incontinence, heightening sensation during sex and reducing pain that might come with sexual intercourse.  

Cliovana: This is a soundwave treatment, which Dr. Arianna describes as, “waking things up,” that can help increase clitoral responsiveness and lead to:

• Increased arousal and lubrication

• Increased orgasm intensity and frequency 

• Greater overall satisfaction 

O-Shot: Orgasm shot is used to help with vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse by injecting platelet rich plasma into the tissue/clitoral area/g-shot.  

Some other things to try: Kegel exercises :

Dr. Arianna shares that this exercise makes the pelvic floor stronger for sexual function, climax and incontinence. Don’t overlook using this exercise everyday.  It definitely makes a difference.  

How to do kegels:

1. Contract your pelvic floor muscles and hold the contraction for five seconds.  Then, slowly release for five seconds.

2. Work up to repeating this move 10 times, 3 times a day.

Consider sexual vibrators:

Dr. Arianna not only believes in women having a  holistic approach to their bodies, but also wants women to realize that they need to do whatever they can while their body is changing to adjust the pleasure factor, and sometimes that includes the use of a vibrator. There are many discreet online options, if you find a visit to a sexual aid/adult store out of your comfort zone. 

What if you aren’t ready for this step, or it’s more of a mental thing? Try sexual meditations!

Erotic breathwork and meditations

Who would have thought you could get sexual wellness through meditation?  Maybe you need to calm your mind to get in the mood.  Quiet practices like this with your partner or by yourself can help set the mood and get you in deeper touch with your desire. You can find options like this on apps like Dipsea.  

Sexual Empowerment School/Counselor 

Another option is to sit down with a sexual empowerment counselor who can help with discussing and understanding your sexual needs.  Sometimes it’s difficult to voice those to your partner, let alone a stranger.  But something like this can really get to the heart of what you want - and need - in order to have a fulfilling sex life.    

Try storytelling.  

Maybe pornography is not the thing that catches your fancy.  That is ok.  Today, there are options for everyone. Why not try a story?  There are companies, like Dipsea, that offer an app where you can basically choose your own sexual adventure.  Choose from sexual audio stories, immersive pillow talks, intimate wellness guides, and sleep stories and sounds. Instead of putting you to sleep, an app could help get you in the mood!  

We are all different, but this is about taking time for pleasure.

Every woman is different and will have different concerns with her sexual experience during peri/menopause.  As we always share, it’s very important to take note of your symptoms. It is the same with your sexual experience during peri/menopause. Take note of the changes and discuss them with your partner and your doctor to figure out what might work best for you. As with all things in life, YOU are your own best advocate. The same goes for making sure that your sexual experience is enjoyable for you. You deserve a healthy, fulfilling sex life!