Menopause Myths and The Answers You Need
6. Can I maintain a healthy and vibrant sex life through menopause?
Yes, you can! Sex is an important and fun part of a healthy intimate relationship and it can stay that way as you age. If you’ve been told that a woman’s interest in sex decreases normally in your 40’s, 50’s or 60’s – you’ve heard another menopause myth.
If your desire is decreasing, it is usually a symptom of hormonal imbalance. This imbalance can lead to physical changes such as vaginal dryness that can make sex uncomfortable (and when that happens, your libido may fall as well). It can also lead to emotional symptoms such as moodiness or depression than can make sex much less appealing. But those symptoms can be addressed so that you can maintain a healthy vibrant sex life through menopause and beyond!
Hormonal changes can be difficult to talk about especially when they impact you sexually. And if your practitioner was one of the ones who tried to tell you a decline in desire is “normal,” you may feel even more uncomfortable bringing up your sex life.
But we can help. We’re here to listen and you can begin to learn more in our article, “Women’s Sexuality and Fertility“.
7. Once I pass through menopause, will my body make sex hormones any more?
While some reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone do decline after menopause because they are less needed, your body never stops making them. They still play an important role in maintaining your good health; they will still be produced just in smaller amounts. You can thank your adrenals for that!
Some women experience no symptoms of hormonal imbalance after menopause, while others continue to experience symptoms such as hot flashes, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness or weight gain. It is a menopause myth that once you reach menopause that your hot flashes or other symptoms will completely vanish. But you can keep them under control by rebalancing your hormones after menopause.
While the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease do increase post-menopause, you can reduce those risks and increase your likelihood of a long, healthy life with some simple self-care.
You can learn more about your hormones by reading our article, “Perimenopause – Starting Your Transformation“.
8. Will menopause weaken my bones?
Not necessarily! While menopause impacts your body in many ways, you can rebuild new bone naturally at any age. Your bones continually adapt and only about 20% of your bone health is driven by factors outside of your control.
Knowing your risk factors (some of which may surprise you) is important to your long-term bone health. For example, did you know that your weight plays a role? Women who weigh less than 120 pounds have increased bone health risk. Who knew?
As do women who drink more than one soda a day. That’s because the acid in food and drinks such as soda can weaken your bones. Plain water with lemon or eating more vegetables has an alkalizing effect that can help keep your bones strong.
Did you know that when they sing “Don’t worry, be happy,” they may as well be talking about your bone health? Feeling worried or anxious can impact your bone health as well. We see that women who are “worriers” and who are thin can have greater problems with bone loss.
Since 80% of your bone health is in your control, you can make choices to strengthen and take control of your bone health. You can learn more in our article, “Osteoporosis – Countering The Myth“.
9. Does the age when I had my first period affect the age at which I will experience menopause?
Not necessarily. While some women who menstruate early go through menopause earlier, it is not the case for all women. There are many factors that influence when menopause will arrive for you.