Menopause and relationships

20 Dec Menopause and relationships

Menopause causes both physical and emotional changes that can affect your social life and your relationships. In this post we will focus on relationships with your partner and sexual life, although it can also help you understand all kind of relationships.

The menopausal transition is a natural process. Recognizing the symptoms and factors that may be causing problems will help you understand yourself and improve your communication and relationships.

Factors that can cause problems with your partner

These are the factors that can cause problems with your partner. Know the reasons and learn to deal with them. You’re not alone!

1)    Loss of libido

This is the first reason that usually comes to mind to most people. Many women can experience a loss of sexual desire during menopause, just as vaginal dryness, what can lead to painful sexual relations. This is caused by hormonal imbalances and, again, it is totally normal.

You can improve this discomfort during sex by using an intimate lubricant (always water-based) or trying coconut oil, a natural solution which also hydrates and relieves the vaginal area. Doing Kegel exercises daily can help you boost your sexual life. The blood flow in your vagina increases when you do the Kegel exercises, which allows the blood to arrive faster to the clitoris and your genital area becomes more sensitive. This can increase your sex interest.

2)    Physical symptoms and discomfort with your body

Beside hormonal changes that can alter your sexual behavior, other symptoms related to menopause can make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Menopause usually includes hot flashes, night sweats, itching, headaches, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and weight gains.

All these symptoms can make you feel uncomfortable and, sometimes, even unattractive. This can cause you to reject your partner because you feel too uncomfortable to pay attention to any other thing.

3) Emotional changes

Hormonal changes entail fluctuating emotions. During menopause, a lot of women experience mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and even depression. Many of these changes can cause problems with your partner, due to a lack of communication or the loss of sex drive.

Stress causing factors in middle-aged, such as professional changes or the empty nest after your children leave home, can also cause imbalances that affect your family dynamics. With such emotional pressure in your life, you may not have time to worry about your intimate relationships.

Now that you know where the changes and the feeling of discomfort come from, you can be more understanding with yourself and your body, and also look for ways to relax and improve communication with your partner. Find out more in our post: “How to improve your intimate relationships during menopause”.

Referencias

1. MedlinePlus, N. (2017). Cambios en el aparato reproductor femenino con la edad: MedlinePlus enciclopedia médica. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/004016.htm  [Accessed 31 Oct. 2017].
2. J Korean Community Nurs. 2001 Dic;12(3):680-695. Korean.The Study on the Family Functionality and Spousal Relationship of Middle-aged Women to Develop Health Promoting Program.  [online] Available at:  https://koreamed.org/SearchBasic.php?RID=1200JKCN/2001.12.3.680&DT=1 [Accessed 31 Oct. 2017].