Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/251527
44 BRAVA MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2014 Can women over 50 still have great sex? Sex experts offer up a lusty "You betcha!" "I just got off the phone with an 83-year-old woman who's buying her ǠRSTVIBRˬTORo#ˬRNˬRDSˬYS But, that old constant of change is still hard at work, and that means women may have to change the way they look at sexuality. Once menopause hits—typically be- tween the ages of 51 and 53—hormones that once had us panting in a heartbeat are on the way out. ŀˬT MEˬNS IT TˬKES LONGER TO GET ˬROUSEDˬNDISMOREDIǝCULTTOREˬCH orgasm. Other physical issues also may present themselves related to that decline in es- trogen levels, Schurr says. ŀELININGOFTHEVˬGINˬBECOMESMORE fragile, drier, less elastic and sometimes women experience pain with inter- course, Schurr says. While that may prompt some women to nix sex altogether, there are ways to maintain sexual function. Like every- thing worthwhile, it takes a little effort. A Woman's Touch, for example, offers a program called Vaginal Renewal, which may help women maintain a healthy vulva and vagina without the use of hormones. Other providers offer physical therapy FORTHEPELVICǢOORˬGROUPOFMUSCLES that forms a supportive sling in the lower pelvis and are integral to sexual pleasure. If weak or damaged, women can have problems with orgasm and other issues. Keeping up that routine of healthy eat- ing, exercising, getting enough sleep and limiting alcohol use is all needed to keep that libido in tune. Even just a brisk 15-minute walk before sex can enhance the experience, Barnard says. "A lot of women would say 'I just wish it was like before'—and that's a self- DEFEˬTINGMESSˬGEo#ˬRNˬRDSˬYSnŀE MESSˬGEHˬSTOBElŀINGSHˬVECHˬNGED What do I need to do now?'" Q: What effect does a cancer diagnosis and treatment have on sexuality? A: For many women, the body's response to arousal and stimulation changes. Removal of ovaries, or a complete hysterectomy, may force women into "surgical menopause." Medications to prevent recurrence, radiation and chemotherapy all can affect a woman's sex drive and performance. Q: Can a woman get her sexual quality of life back? A: Yes. In some cases, the effect of radiation or chemotherapy is temporary. When conditions persist, women can do a variety of things to help. For example, they can use lubricants, vibrators and massage to treat dry or painful genital tissue. They can do pelvic floor therapy to strengthen the muscles involved in sexual arousal. They may also have to revise their expectations about sex. "We try to talk to people about shifting their focus in their sex lives, so sex and orgasm don't have to be the only goal in having an intimate relationship with their partner," says Lori Seaborne, a physician assistant at the UW's Carbone Cancer Center who conducts workshops on women's sexual health. ASK THE SEXPERT: IT'S CANCER. NOW WHAT? 50s Sex in Your CHA-CHA-CHANGES and Beyond