One habit that can improve sex during menopause
The mind-body connection can have a huge impact on sexual wellness – and researchers have just uncovered how it can affect women experiencing menopause. It turns out, going to therapy can be a game-changer during this natural yet often challenging change.
A new study explored the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), one of the most widespread forms of psychotherapy, in addressing various sexual health concerns related to menopause. The results were promising, with a unanimous 100% of participants reporting that CBT helped them manage their symptoms more effectively.
“These findings are significant because menopause can often be overlooked in mental health, though it profoundly affects both psychological and physical wellness,” says Dr. Max Riv, clinical psychologist at the Love Discovery Institute.
Here is what you need to know about the important role CBT can play in menopause care – in and out the bedroom.
How menopause can interfere with intimacy
Even though menopause is often associated with symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, it can wreak havoc on a woman’s ability to be sexually active and enjoy intimacy. First, there’s the fact that it’s a significant life change that can bring on complex emotions related to aging and mortality.
Also, according to the researchers behind the study mentioned above, several women report a decrease in desire, pain during intercourse and overall dissatisfaction as they go through menopause.
While these issues can be attributed to a decline in estrogen levels – hello, vaginal dryness – they can have a profound effect on a woman’s psychological well-being. When your sexual function suffers, so can your self-esteem, body image, and emotional state.
You may feel shame about the fact that your libido has disappeared. You may feel less desirable because of societal conditioning and ideas around youth and fertility.
How CBT can improve sex during menopause
To explore the impact of CBT on these struggles, the study had participants go through a four-session individual therapy protocol focused on improving sexual function and addressing concerns around desire, arousal, pain and satisfaction.
The researchers also assessed the effects of CBT on body image, relationship satisfaction and other menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, depression and anxiety.
Not only did the participants report significant improvements across various areas of sexual function, but they also experienced increased relationship satisfaction and body image and decreased menopause symptoms, including depression and anxiety.
Considering that the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging revealed that one in four women aged 50-80 said that menopause symptoms interfered with their ability to have sex, these insights are important.
As Riv notes, hormone treatments and other physical interventions are often the first line of treatment offered to women who feel comfortable enough discussing their symptoms with their healthcare provider (only 44% of respondents in the National Poll on Healthy Aging reported doing so). “Many view menopause solely as a physiological process, so the psychological aspects like stress, low self-esteem, and mood swings often go untreated,” says Riv.
Mental health support like CBT isn’t emphasized, but it’s crucial and could even eliminate the need for further intervention in some cases.
CBT offers women tools to reshape any negative thought patterns they may be experiencing around menopause, manage anxiety and communicate effectively with their partners, adds Riv.
Sometimes that is all it takes to revive your sex life – and perhaps even liberate you to have the best sex yet, menopause and all.
(PS Bloomi features intimacy essentials specially formulated to cater to those experiencing menopause, such as the Luxe Arousal Oil and the Smooth Water-Based Lube.)
