It’s Time to Talk About Sex after Menopause

The Women’s Health Foundation wants us to shout it from the rooftops:

It’s time to talk about sex after menopause!

 Learn more about their campaign here.  (Bloggers, they especially want your support).

Missy Lavender, founder and executive director of the Women’s Health Foundation, gives us this advice about having those conversations:

It’s a question I get asked all the time — how do I broach the subject of sex after menopause with my health care provider?

 First, I tell women they’re not alone in needing some answers, but I know starting the dialogue can be difficult.

Dr. Corrado Altomare, the Vice President of US Medical Affairs at Shionogi Inc., a Women’s Health Foundation partner, recently wrote a blog on our website about techniques for starting the conversation.  He suggests opening with something like, “Is it normal for…” as a prelude to your question.  

Ask about hot flashes, painful intercourse or weight gain.

 Then end the discussion with another question, “Is there anything I can do about it?”

 If you’re afraid, try rehearsing your questions, or write them down and hand them to your health care provider.  

Always use your own words and don’t be compelled to use confusing medical jargon.  

I bet you’ll be surprised by the results.  Most doctors know it’s uncomfortable to talk about sex and often wait for patients to bring up the subject.  

So, don’t be afraid!  Commit to having that conversation today!

Me again: Here are ways we can support the Women’s Health Foundation in the campaign:

1)     Share this video, featuring menopause experts such as Dr. Susan Kellogg-Spadt, CRNP, PhD and Dr. Lauren Streicher, about the campaign and the importance of talking to your provider about sex after menopause, https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QiHjRZrRFxQ.

2)      Sign up via the crowdspeaking platform Thunderclap and commit to having “the conversation.”

3)      Leverage your social voice via Twitter, Facebook, and/or Tumblr and encourage your friends and followers to do the same – below are some sample tweets/posts:

• Women spend approx. 1/3 of life post-menopause. Should they stop having sex? NO! Help get the conversation going: http://ow.ly/yCsO1
• Even your vagina ages – about 32M women in the U.S. have vulvar and vaginal atrophy,#itstimetotalkaboutmenopause http://ow.ly/yCsOd
• Sex is a fundamental part of satisfaction in life and love, even after menopause. Join the conversation: ow.ly/z6vgg
• An estimated 6K U.S. women reach menopause every day often resulting in painful sex, #itstimetotalkaboutmenopausehttp://ow.ly/yCsOd.

The campaign kicked off on Independence Day, to celebrate the sense of freedom and empowerment the foundation hopes women will gain by speaking with their healthcare provider. It will culminate on September 1, the first day of National Menopause Awareness Month, a month that shines the spotlight on health issues facing menopausal women.

So let’s shout it from the rooftops:

 It’s time to talk about sex after menopause!