Health
Sex After Menopause: What Changes and What Helps
Vaginal dryness, discomfort and changing desire after menopause are common and treatable. Here's what helps, from lube to vaginal estrogen.
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Menopause doesn't mean the end of a satisfying sex life, but it can change how sex feels. Falling estrogen thins and dries vaginal tissue, which can make sex uncomfortable. Doctors call this genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), and it affects a large share of postmenopausal women.
What helps
- Vaginal moisturizers, used a few times a week, help between intimate moments.
- Lube during sex: silicone lasts longest, and water-based is gentlest for sensitive tissue.
- Regular arousal and activity, solo or partnered, support blood flow to the tissue.
- Low-dose vaginal estrogen is a prescription treatment that's very effective for GSM. Ask a menopause-trained clinician whether it's right for you.
- Pelvic floor physical therapy can help if there's tightness or pain.
Getting care is easier now
This guide is general education, not medical advice. If you have pain, bleeding, unusual discharge or symptoms that worry you, see a doctor or OB-GYN.