Like many other things connected with women’s health, menopause and its impact are still taboo in some circles. Many questions around the topic are often left without any clarification. It may entail self-doubts and a lack of understanding of the processes that are happening in your own body.
Many women feel self-conscious about the symptoms, signs and consequences of menopause and this might even affect how and if they chose to date seriously. If you are reading this, you might be on the lookout for true love, and need to feel reassured that age ain’t nothing but a number when it comes to dating and true happiness. Here is what you should know about what menopause can mean for your dating experience, and how to improve your self-esteem when going out into the world of romance.
Accept the changes
Menopause is a smooth physiological adjustment associated with a decrease in the level of sex hormones until the complete disappearance of menstruation. Hormonal changes begin approximately at the age of 40-50 and can last up to 8-10 years, so it is not going to take you by surprise.
There are many stereotypes around the topic, so women tend to fight the signs of menopause as if it was something preventable – it isn’t. The best thing you can do is to be mindful of the changes your body is going through and alleviate the symptoms and take to heart some permanent changes that are happening to your body and your metabolism.
Menopause entails metabolism decline that will impact your overall appearance. Sticking to a proper diet, exercising, and implementing probiotics like Provitalize for menopause weight management will allow you to take control of the negative consequences. The fact is, that when menopause hits, you simply don’t need as much energy as you used to when you were in your 30s. The reasons for this are still being researched – some scientists believe that your body simply burns around 200 fewer calories a day and your nutritional intake and exercise level should adjust accordingly.
Sex life
Another myth is that menopause affects women’s sex drive, and eventually, they lose interest. It is not entirely accurate. Many women notice it simply takes more to arouse them – and they’re not as sensitive as they used to be. Which is not a bad thing! Another matter is that due to the lack of estrogen, there might be some problems with vaginal moisture – a problem that is fixable.
According to the research, 39% of women in menopause experience vaginal dryness, 34% reported an inability to get an orgasm, 23% did not experience pleasure from sex, and 17% experienced pain during the process. Fortunately, you can overcome these problems. There are many ways to improve the situation – from using lubricants regularly to starting hormonal therapy, so there is no need to give up your sexual relationships and continue getting pleasure out of them.
Why bother yourself with studies and stats? First of all, it will allow you to see that you are not going through this alone. Second of all, sharing this information with your partner will surely improve your dating experience. It will allow them to avoid setting false expectations and understand how things look like for you and what it will take to get pleasure for both of you.
Be yourself
Dating in your 50s does not differ from dating in younger years that much. In the end, the only thing that matters is what kind of person you will spend your weekday evenings and weekend mornings with. And sticking to your authentic self is key to result in an honest and loving relationship.
Do not hesitate to use online dating apps or websites to seek serious relationships. If you are not sure about using the most popular ones, you can find apps specially created for people of a certain age, their dating purposes, and fields of interest. New verification methods will ensure your safety, save you a lot of time and exclude any possibility of meeting scammers.
You can also maintain activity on your social media profiles, as today, the possibility to meet someone online outweighs any other ways. It can be a friend of your friends or a person that joins the same local gardening group as you do too.
In any case, it is essential to keep prioritising your comfort and yourself among anything, as being single – at any age – does not mean you are less worthy. On the contrary, it allows you to stick to the qualities you are looking for in your future husband and be persistent about it. It is an excellent opportunity to evaluate yourself and think if the person you want by your side would want a relationship with you.
It will help you determine your vulnerabilities and areas for personal growth to become a better version of yourself, which is beneficial even if you stay single for some time.
Takeaway
It is crucial to realise that menopause is not a disease but a natural stage of every woman’s life. Thus, it would be a colossal mistake to perceive all the symptoms as the bells of the approaching end and think of yourself as an outdated human being.
In fact, it is only the beginning of their honest relationship with themselves for some women, an opportunity to learn more about their bodies and find ways to get pleasure. As a result, it positively impacts both their dating and sexual experience and diversifies their expectations about it.
Dating in the 50s, 60s, 70s and onwards should be based on keeping yourself your top priority – don’t compromise.
Elena Deeeley did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She has an ongoing interest in mental health and well-being.
