Recently, Liu Zhaohui, chief physician of the Department of Gynecology at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, treated a woman who had experienced severe vaginal bleeding 11 years after menopause due to sudden sexual intercourse. Xiao Jiu was shocked after hearing this. What happened?
Coincidentally, Xiao Jiu also received several private messages, all about questions regarding "sexual activity" after menopause :
Do postmenopausal women lose their sexual ability?
Is it still possible to continue the sex life?
Do we need contraception during sex?
So Xiao Jiu compiled some information and asked a doctor to answer everyone's questions~
From the perspective of mammalian evolution, when there is no longer the purpose of pregnancy, the meaning of sexual life itself is not significant. However, sexual life is an important part of emotional communication between couples, so there is no doubt that postmenopausal women need this "nourishment". In addition, Dr. Liu Zhaohui also told Xiao Jiu that postmenopausal women still have sexual ability.
Why then does the aforementioned massive bleeding still occur?
Liu Zhaohui explained that this is the reason why women stop having sex for too long after menopause.
It turns out that after menopause, a woman's estrogen levels drop, and the vaginal mucosa begins to atrophy, making the vagina less elastic and unable to stretch to its previous width. This causes pain during sexual intercourse, and the longer the period since menopause, the more pronounced the pain.
Of course, if a woman does not stop having sex from the start of menopause, she can gradually adapt to this pain. However, if she has not had sex for five years and then suddenly resumes, problems may arise.
We all know that menopause has both physiological and psychological effects on women. Physiologically, it can cause digestive problems, insomnia, and decreased skin elasticity. Psychologically, it can lead to anxiety and restlessness. So, can sexual activity improve the condition of menopausal women? Liu Zhaohui said that from a physiological point of view, women's sexual pleasure will definitely decrease at this time, for the same reason mentioned above: "pain".
To avoid serious consequences, Liu Zhaohui suggests that postmenopausal women use lubricants or topical hormones during sexual intercourse to "thicken the vaginal mucosa and improve its elasticity, making intercourse easier. "
Regarding whether contraception is necessary, Liu Zhaohui stated that normally contraception is not required, but from a safety perspective, it is best to use condoms, "mainly to prevent diseases."
In addition, many women are concerned about estrogen supplementation after menopause. Dr. Liu Zhaohui said that appropriate supplementation can indeed make a big difference, but it cannot be done arbitrarily. Not only should estrogen be taken under the guidance of a doctor, but the thickness of the breast and endometrium should also be monitored.
"While hormone replacement therapy has many benefits, it may also increase the incidence of endometrial and breast cancer. Menopausal women can choose to have their bodies managed at a hospital's menopause clinic."
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