Women who have already undergone natural menopause may have experienced changes in their sexual functioning related to this phase of life. Knowing how menopause affects sexuality will help you understand how to cope. It is a natural end to the reproductive years. The average age of menopause is 51, but it may be a normal occurrence anywhere between the late forties to early fifties. Hot flashes, a sensation of heat and flushing that suddenly spreads over the body, are the most common symptom.
Medical menopause tends to cause more severe symptoms in all ways.
Women who have an abrupt loss of ovarian estrogen due to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy often report the worst hot flashes. For more information on hot flashes, click here . The most common problems affecting woman s sexuality in menopause are vaginal dryness and infections of the vagina and urinary tract . Both are related to the loss of estrogen, and can cause pain during sex. Because the ovaries continue to produce androgens , natural menopause does not usually cause problems with sexual desire.