Why You Shouldn't Grin and Bear Painful Sex
Sex is a natural part of life, but there are issues that complicate it, including pain. If you’re a woman struggling with pain during sex, you should get help, and here are some reasons why.
5 Lifestyle Ways to Prepare for Menopause
Hormones are an essential chemical in your body. They regulate, and coordinate important functions in organs, tissue, skin, muscles, and affect growth, sex, reproduction, sleep, and mood.
The boost of sexual hormones that starts during puberty in women begins your menstrual cycle, which continues until menopause sets in and you go through an entirely different set of changes.
The stages of the transition (perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause) come with a lot of changes. It can seem overwhelming, but you can ease into menopause.
If you live in the Lake Mary, Florida, area and you’re starting to experience signs of menopause, Dr. Christopher Quinsey and our dedicated medical team are here to help.
Symptoms of menopause
Menopause is the result of a massive decrease in the production of sexual hormones estrogen and progesterone. This happens gradually (between 7-14 years overall). Over the three stages you experience a range of symptoms.
Physical
Your breasts are likely to change shape or size, become tender and sore. Weight gain is also normal during this time. Other changes include hair loss and hair growing on your face or different parts of the body (hirsutism).
Medical
You can expect night sweats, hot flashes, increased urination, insomnia, itching, muscle and joint pain, vaginal dryness (vulvovaginal atrophy), dry eyes, and headaches.
Emotional
The hormonal shifts can lead to decreased sex drive, anxiety, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and forgetfulness.
Lifestyle changes to ease the process
Here are some lifestyle changes to reduce the impact of the changes your body is going through during menopause.
Make dietary changes
Changing what you eat can help reduce weight gain, lowering the increased risk of heart disease that comes with menopause, and even helping to balance your hormones.
Eat more foods with calcium and vitamin D, vegetables, fruits, beans, flaxseed, tofu, and soybeans, and stay hydrated.
Focus on physical fitness
Regular exercise can reduce night sweats and hot flashes, as well as improve metabolism, energy levels, joints, bones, and sleep, and reduce stress. In menopause, osteoporosis is a major risk, as it weakens the structure of bones, so weight-bearing exercises are especially important.
Manage weight and stress
Focus on maintaining a moderate weight to lower your health risks and get better rest. Work on ways to lower stress, which can affect many of the symptoms you have, so take time for yourself. Mediation and yoga can help.
Get emotional support if you need it
When mood swings and other problems arise, emotional support from friends and family is always welcome, and don’t hesitate to seek out support groups if you need them.
Keep up on your exams and screenings
During this time it’s important to know the changes you’re going through as they happen, so go to your appointments, and ask questions about results and what to do to manage changes.
We’re here to help, and we have the experience helping women get through menopause and thrive.
Menopause is nothing to be afraid of, but your body will go through a lot of changes. You should make the effort to be ready. Make an appointment with Dr. Quinsey and our team today for tips on how to navigate menopause.
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