When most women think of menopause, they think of freedom from periods. Imagine all the money you’ll save on tampons or pads and how much easier life will be when you don’t have to deal with bloody messes each month.

“If my period is supposed to stop, then why is it coming every two weeks?”

That’s a great question. It’s most likely because you aren’t quite in menopause yet. You may be entering a stage called perimenopause.

Perimenopause can begin in your mid to late 40s. It’s the step that comes before menopause. You may notice symptoms like:

• Hot flashes
• Lower sex drive
• Breast tenderness
• Fatigue
• Vaginal dryness

Your hormones are beginning to change, which can affect your menstrual cycle. If you look forward to having no periods, then I have some bad news. It may get worse before it gets better.

Perimenopause can cause irregular cycles. Your estrogen and progesterone levels used to fluctuate consistently when you were younger. As you get older, they become more erratic, which can lead to unpredictable cycles.

There may be less time between periods. Some women also notice heavier or lighter flows as well as a worse premenstrual syndrome.

The perimenopause phase can last for up to 10 years. Sorry ladies, we just can’t catch a break when it comes to our reproductive systems.

Figuring out whether you are in perimenopause or menopause is easy. You are in menopause once you have not had a period for at least a year. This usually happens between ages 45 and 55.

You don’t have to cope with perimenopause symptoms alone. Contact Women’s Health and Menopause Center to schedule an appointment and find out how to make the transition easier.

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Sex is great! You may wonder, “Why would I not want to have it with my partner?” That is until the day comes when you notice that you misplaced your libido.

Before you, or your partner, panic, you need to know that every adult experiences high and lower sex drives throughout their lifetime. It can happen for many reasons. Before you can find a way to get your mojo back, you must figure out what drained it in the first place. The most common causes include:

• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Elevated stress levels
• Hormonal changes

All three of these things can occur after having a baby. New parents often feel exhausted while pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding can affect your hormones. Having a baby can push your sex drive down to zero, but that doesn’t mean it will stay there forever.

Women who have not had children can also experience a change in libido. Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use can play a role as well as mental health and medical conditions.

Getting Your Groove Back After Having a Baby

You should never pressure yourself into regaining your sex drive. This will only add stress and may have the opposite effect. New parents are not always able to be spontaneous but you can still schedule together time. This doesn’t have to involve intercourse, either. Make sure you maintain your connection, and the libido will eventually return.

Lubrication is also important if you have recently given birth or are breastfeeding or have started menopause. Hormonal changes can cause dryness, which can make the sexual experience unpleasant (and won’t do your libido any favors).

Maintain good communication and be considerate of each other’s needs. If you are concerned about intimacy changes, a doctor can help. Contact Women’s Health to schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN.

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