If I could give women only one piece of health advice as they age, it would be this: Put the responsibility for your health in your hands. If you don’t advocate for yourself, how can you expect others to?

As a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist in the Atlanta area, I have had the opportunity to treat women at every pivotal life transition. And while each life stage comes with its own set of questions and challenges, the menopausal stage for women may feel like an accumulation of all the stages packed into one.

Duringmenopause, overall wellness is the sum of all the parts of physical and mental health, so it’s crucial for you to work with your healthcare providers to manage this stage of life.

Put the responsibility for your health in your hands.

Creating a Healthy Relationship With Your Healthcare Provider

Equipping yourself to navigate a transitory stage in your health—and life—starts with learning to trust your own voice.

You know your body and health better than anyone else, so sharing that knowledge with your healthcare provider helps strengthen that relationship.

The following are some questions to think about or jot down before you head to your next appointment to help guide the conversation:

Once you’ve jotted those down, at the top of your list, write down and underline: “What are my next steps?” This is crucial because you want to break the habit of walking out of an appointment not exactly knowing what you and your healthcare provider have agreed upon.

Jotting down notes on your cell phone or a piece of paper can help keep you on track to feeling empowered and heard.

While many issues can occur due to aging and menopause, decreased sex drive, painful sex, and vaginal dryness are common concerns.

Something to keep in mind: Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad.

Your sex life may shift as you age, but there is absolutely the opportunity for it to be better than ever. Noticing how your libido has been impacted can help you chart out a roadmap for what enhancements will be helpful to bring joy and love back into your life.

Some ways to take charge of your sex life as you age include:

If you’re experiencing vaginal dryness and/or pain during sex, do not keep it to yourself. If you don’t bring it up, your healthcare provider won’t know it’s happening, and they can’t help you.

Understanding Treatment Options

The more details you can provide your healthcare provider about your menopausal symptoms, the better they can direct you to helpful treatment options that may include:

No matter your symptoms, age, or circumstances, you’re entitled to a medical experience that will leave you feeling good when you walk out of the healthcare provider’s office. Practicing and preparing for that medical interaction will help ensure you get what you need and deserve from every encounter.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Sex and menopause: treatment for symptoms.Harvard Health.Can supplements save your sex life?National Library of Medicine.Hormone replacement therapy.Mercier J, Dumoulin C, Carrier-Noreau G.Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: why, how and when?.Climacteric. 2023;26(4):302-308. doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2194527

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Aging.Sex and menopause: treatment for symptoms.Harvard Health.Can supplements save your sex life?National Library of Medicine.Hormone replacement therapy.Mercier J, Dumoulin C, Carrier-Noreau G.Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: why, how and when?.Climacteric. 2023;26(4):302-308. doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2194527

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Aging.Sex and menopause: treatment for symptoms.Harvard Health.Can supplements save your sex life?National Library of Medicine.Hormone replacement therapy.Mercier J, Dumoulin C, Carrier-Noreau G.Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: why, how and when?.Climacteric. 2023;26(4):302-308. doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2194527

National Institute on Aging.Sex and menopause: treatment for symptoms.

Harvard Health.Can supplements save your sex life?

National Library of Medicine.Hormone replacement therapy.

Mercier J, Dumoulin C, Carrier-Noreau G.Pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation for genitourinary syndrome of menopause: why, how and when?.Climacteric. 2023;26(4):302-308. doi:10.1080/13697137.2023.2194527

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