Your partner is still keen, but sex may well be the last thing on your mind. Before you start thinking this is something peculiar to you, rest assured you are not alone. Many women find that their desire for sex starts to wane as they go into menopause. Studies show that up to three-quarters of women feel their sex drive has reduced since menopause. That's not surprising when seventy percent suffer with vaginal dryness and report it having a significant impact on the ability to be sexually active. Spontaneity and enjoyment go out the window as a result.
Many women regard their loss of libido as part of their fading youth. Our libido levels are most often a well-kept secret, and not something we consider an acceptable part of social chit-chat over cocktails, even with our best friends. There are no hard and fast rules about what is a normal level of libido, and there is no such thing as a ''normal" sex drive. What is normal to one couple may be abnormal to another. So, you can only judge your libido by your own standards, and if you feel that your sexual desire has diminished, the good news is that you can take action to restore it.
Falling levels of oestrogen can result in the lining of your vagina becoming dry and uncomfortable. When the vaginal tissues dry out, penetration can become painful and, in extreme cases, they may tear and bleed. Add all this to night sweats, it's not surprising that you don't feel very sexy.
Many women suffer in silence, thinking this is an inevitable part of growing older. But the good news is it doesn't have to be this way. There are plenty of things you can do naturally repair the vaginal lining, encourage the cells to produce mucus again and rekindle your libido.
Lynn's Story
When I first met Lynne she had been on HRT for more than 10 years, had gained masses of weight and described her vagina as a burning fire ball. She couldn't sit down comfortably, let alone contemplate having comfortable sex. She was very depressed and her relationship was severely strained. Fast forward a few months and Lynne was back to feeling well, having comfortable enjoyable sex again and decides to retrain as a healer.