Menopause Arthritis and Intimacy

If you have menopause arthritis, you know all about aches and pains. It can limit your activities, interfere with your life, and even cause some problems in the bedroom.

It’s frustrating enough when you find opening jars, cleaning the house, and doing yard work difficult. At least you can have someone else do those tasks for you. But when your aches and pains won’t let you enjoy an intimate relationship with your partner, that’s another matter altogether.

To add insult to injury, you may also be dealing with menopause induced vaginal dryness, low libido, and other menopause related symptoms. But don’t give up yet. You have some options.

Plan Ahead

Planning can be the key to enjoying intimacy despite menopause arthritis. Choose a time of day when you tend to have less pain and fatigue. Ease the aches and pains before intercourse by taking a warm shower, using a heating pad, or snuggling under your electric blanket. Incorporate massage into foreplay to help ease stiff or sore joints and muscles. You can also use pillows and positions that support your joints and avoid putting too much stress on particularly painful areas.

Communicate

You need to talk to your partner. Being open and comfortable with each other is important for finding a solution that keeps you close and connected–physically and emotionally. Together, you can come up with some creative ways to add spice to your relationship, find alternatives, and maintain emotional closeness.

Medicate

Timing pain medications around intimacy can be helpful. But be careful–you don’t want to use medications that inhibit your thinking or make you too drowsy. You might want to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which could reduce your aches and pains, restore your vaginal tissues, and help with a number of menopause symptoms which zap your desire.

Although menopause-related arthritis, vaginal dryness, and libido problems can put a damper on your sex life, they don’t have to put an end to intimacy. You may need to be willing to make some changes and get creative, but you can have a satisfying sex even during menopause.

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This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support. Reprinted with permission: Menopause Arthritis and Intimacy