Menopause and decreased desire: physiological consequence or commonplace to dispel?

Sexuality is probably one of the areas richest in urban legends and clichés to dispel. Among these, a place of honor deserves the assumption that a menopausal woman would experience a dizzying decline in desire. But is it really so or are we simply faced with the classic lie that, repeated endlessly, turns into truth, at least according to common thought?
The psychologist and sexologist helps us to clarify Azzurra Carrozzo, that first excludes drastic stances on the subject.

THE ROLE OF HORMONES
«The menopause and decreased desire equation is not mathematics, despite physiological events occur in that phase of life which, undoubtedly, can determine it. When the fertile period ends, in fact, a woman undergoes enormous changes, such as the decrease in estrogen, progesterone and androgens, three types of hormones essential to keep well-being and sexual desire high. The role of androgens is to fuel libido. The best known of the family is the male testosterone but they are present, albeit in different quantities, also in women. From the age of 25 onwards, their level begins to drop significantly and over the years this descent increases in speed, so much so that a 60-year-old has 50% less androgens than a 40-year-old».
This inevitably leads to a decrease in desire, which however also depends on other factors, more strictly physical. “Decreased hormones in menopause can cause vaginal atrophy, clitoral fibrosis, and thinning of the vaginal walls. Especially the latter aspect, combined with vaginal dryness, which is also quite widespread, often generates dyspareunia, the sensation of pain during penetration. If we add the high possibility that a rubbing on a thin and dry wall can create redness and lacerations, it goes without saying that the desire to have sexual intercourse drops to an all-time low “.
In this case, however, menopause is not the direct cause of the phenomenon, but rather these physiological events which, however, fortunately do not affect all women.

MENOPAUSE AND SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE
However, even if the factors described so far are certainly not marginal, to make menopause a period considered to be the polar opposite of a satisfying sex life, it is above all psychological or social conditioning, which still exists strongly. “Many women experience the end of menstruation as a mourning because they associate it with the official loss of youth. Socially, this passage is still often considered the entrance into old age and the consequent abdication of any desire for sexual life. It is understood that pleasure under the covers is a thing for young people and that when they reach a certain age, especially women, they should no longer think about it. This is an aspect that has a huge impact on the psyche and that more than others can cause a decrease in desire. Seeing oneself old and ugly, also as a result of the inevitable changes in the body, led to withdraw and seek less sexual opportunities, especially if with new partners “. And to think that instead, in some cultures, the opposite is true. In the oriental tradition, in fact, the menopausal woman is seen as a human being in bloom, finally far from the risk of pregnancy and therefore free of the experimental, strong also of the appellation of wise that, always on a sexual level, is conferred on her.
A status of grace that, on the other hand, in our country still seems far from reaching, but which is probably the secret of a fulfilling sex life at any age.

HOW TO CONTRAST THE DECREASE OF DESIRE
If the decrease in desire depends on physiological factors, it is possible to resort to a method still little used in Italy but extremely valid: hormone replacement therapy which «using the administration of a personalized combination of hormones allows tissue rejuvenation. Obviously this is a medical treatment to be carried out on the strict recommendation of your gynecologist », says Azzurra Carrozzo.
Less invasive but super effective for maintaining the elasticity of vaginal tissues is also the pelvic floor gymnastics, simple to perform and which, if practiced consistently from a young age, can give excellent results. When the problem is in the head, however, the primary job to do is to fuel your self-esteem and indulge in emotions. “It has been shown that menopausal women who do not experience this passage as a bereavement but, on the contrary, have sexual fantasies, watch pornographic videos with or without a partner and still want to play with their intimate sphere, develop good lubrication despite advanced age “concludes the expert.