Menopause can bring about a number of mental, physical and emotional changes — including some shifts in your sex life. Clinically speaking, menopause is reached when you’ve gone 12 straight months without a period, marking the end of one’s reproductive years. The average age of the last menstrual period is 51, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
But the transitional phase leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, typically lasts about four years — though it can be as short as a few months or as long as 10 years. Colloquially, however, many use the word “menopause” as an umbrella term to encompass the whole process. During perimenopause, which often begins in your mid 40s , levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone fluctuate .
This can lead to irregular periods, hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, mood swings, vaginal dryness and low libido — all of which can impact one’s sex life directly or indirectly. It’s worth noting that, for some individuals, symptoms may be intense and last a while, and for others they may be more mild and fleeting . And although certain symptoms like hot flashes tend to dissipate over time , others like vaginal dryness often persist and may even worsen .
The loss of estrogen during menopause can cause the vaginal and vulvar tissue to become thinner, dryer and less stretchy, which can lead to pain during sexual activity, Dr. Stephanie Faubion , director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women.