Feb
29
2008
I remember in my youthful 20s, always joking to my friends that I would retire from the world of sex at the age of 40. In your 20s, when you are very young, 40 seems old and such a long way off. And then the 40s arrive and the whole world looks very, very different.
It seems, according to an article on the BBC News Health pages that “age is no barrier to sexual activity”. Sex is no longer the domain of youth but rather, those happiest and healthiest are those that are sexually active far into their 70s and 80s. The internal sex drive in both men and women remains strong for a lot longer than most people suspect. A large percentage of people in their fifties to mid-sixties reported having sex in the last year and that sex occurs two to three times per month. Both males and females continue to masturbate whether or not they have a sexual partner.
Sexual problems for older adults include erectile dysfunction for males and problems of lack of sexual desire and the problem of lubrication for women. However, the problem of erectile dysfunction for men is easily solved with Viagra and for low libido and problems of lubrication in women, there is bioidentical hormone supplementation and many easily obtainable over the counter lubricants. Read more about bioidentical hormone supplementation in our article here.
Feb
28
2008
Perimenopause is the medical term for the time before menopause which can begin 10 to 15 years before actual menopause. The average age for menopause to begin is about 51 years of age, but it can occur sooner or later than that. Perimenopause can occur in women as young as 35 years old. At this time, your body is changing and producing less hormones. You can experience some or all of the following physical and emotional symptoms:
• Menstrual changes – your periods become sporadic, some months you begin to skip your period or you could have heavier or lighter flow
• You could experience hot flashes or night sweats
• Unexplained weight gain – especially around the waist area as your body begins producing less estrogen
• Mood changes – depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings due to fluctuating hormone levels
• Vaginal dryness – caused by decreased levels of estrogen
• Urinary problems causing increased urinary tract problems
• Loss of libido due to hormonal fluctuations – declining levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA
• Sleep problems due to hormonal fluctuations which cause hot flashes and night sweats
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
Healthy Solutions:
• Eat a healthy low carb diet, supplemented with vitamins and plenty of vegetables
• Have your doctor monitor your hormone levels and supplement if necessary with bioidentical hormones
• Quit smoking if you haven’t already
• Eliminate stress from your life
• Follow a regular exercise program
• Reduce your alcoholic consumption
• Add organic soya milk to your diet
• Switch to organic foods
• Consult a naturopathic doctor for information on nutritional supplementation for this stage in your life.
Speak with your health practitioner. You can deal with the symptoms of perimenopause or premenopause naturally and have a high quality of life.
