We all are familiar with the most common symptoms of menopause. The hot flashes, the reduced libido, the vaginal dryness, and many others. But there is one symptom of menopause that people are often times scared to talk about but is actually fairly common… that sex is more painful after menopause than it was before.
This is a fairly common effect of menopause and we’ll discuss it more, but first, we should take a moment and explain what is menopause exactly. The technical definition of menopause is when a woman goes for twelve consecutive months without menstruating and can no longer become pregnant. This, on average, occurs for women ages 45-55, although some experience this earlier or later. Typically symptoms of menopause continue for approximately four years after a woman’s last period. During this time, the ovaries are aging and begin to produce fewer and fewer hormones. Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. The reduction in hormones can lead to a reduction in sex drive, hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, weight gain, and painful sex amongst others. Every woman will experience menopause differently. For example, approximately 75% of women report experiencing hot flashes.
There are many symptoms of menopause and if you are struggling with your symptoms, we recommend you consult with your doctor. But we are here to discuss one symptom in particular, that sex is more painful for some women after menopause.
There are several reasons why sex might be more painful after menopause. As we discussed above, after menopause, a woman’s production of hormones is significantly reduced. In particular, the reduction of estrogen can lead to vaginal tightness as the tissue becomes thinner and more fragile. Thus making insertion more painful.
Similarly, menopause can also lead to vaginal dryness. There exists a thin layer of moisture on the surface of the vagina. This acts as a natural lubricant during insertion, reducing friction and generally making sex more enjoyable. When the body stops producing as much estrogen, the moisture levels are decreased. So, in the most simple of terms, many women experience pain because they are trying to insert something into a cavity that now feels narrower and dryer.
Luckily, there are some remedies for painful sex after menopause. If you are experiencing vaginal dryness, a good quality lubricant can help solve your problems. When selecting the right lubricant for you, take into account the osmolality of the lubricant. Osmolality is the concentration of dissolved particles per unit of water. Lubricants high in Osmolality will pull water out of your body’s cells, the exact opposite of what a woman experiencing vaginal dryness wants. The World Health Organization recommends a lubricant with an osmolality below 1200 mOsm/kg. You might also ask your healthcare provider if prescription localized estrogen might be a helpful treatment option.
As for vaginal tightness, consider investing in a silicone vaginal dilator. Vaginal dilators are cylindrically shaped devices that are inserted into the vagina to help train the muscles to relax and stretch. They come in a variety of sizes, with the smallest being smaller than the average pinky finger. Work your way up in size until you can dilate with a dilator approximately the size of your partner. You may also want to use your new lubricant on your dilator.
Just remember, if you are finding sex more painful after menopause, you are not alone. Many women experience this and there are solutions available.
Author bio
Jane Silverstein is the owner of Soul Source Therapeutic Devices located in Los Angeles. She is committed to women’s health issues and to helping women worldwide regain and/ or maintain their sexual health. She is passionate about helping others and has always been involved in a multitude of charitable causes.
