Your Sexuality at Midlife

How's your sex life? If you answered "great," then congratulations are in order. Keep doing what you're doing. But if you answered "not so great," then this article is for you.

Although women talk about it a great deal, there's no real evidence that women's sexual desire decreases in the years just before and after menopause. In fact, one of the largest surveys of women and their sexual desire found very similar rates of low sexual desire among premenopausal and postmenopausal women (24 and 29 percent, respectively).

Having said that, however, it is important to acknowledge the effects changing hormone levels can have on a woman's sexual desire and pleasure. For instance, as estrogen levels drop before and after menopause, you may find intercourse more painful. That's because estrogen is important to maintaining the flexibility and moistness of the vagina. So if you've been avoiding sex because it hurts, talk to your health care professional as soon as possible. There are a variety of options, including local hormone therapies like creams and tablets that only affect estrogen levels in the vaginal area, over-the-counter lubricants, and even exercises that can help improve vaginal health.