S-E-X. Yup, I'm goin' there...

"Sex at age ninety is like trying to shoot pool with a rope." ~ George Burns

Men reach their sexual peak at eighteen. Women reach theirs at thirty-five. Do you get the feeling that God is playing a practical joke?" ~Rita Rudner

• There is much to be said for post-menopausal celibacy. Sex is rough on loners because you have to have somebody else around, but now I don't. No more diets to stay slim and desirable: I've had sex and I've had food, and I'd rather eat. Florence King.
  I visited over 20 websites to get quotes about SEX AND MENOPAUSE and the three above were the only humerous ones. Most of the "funny" ones were really just plain sad.

  Here is a statistic I found that made me even sadder: "Between a third and a half of peri- and postmenopausal women experience one or more sexual problems."

  
  

  At a time in our lives when we can really just have sex for the good old fashioned fun of it - no worries about baby-making, surprising and untimely periods showing up, etc - there are some inherent problems with the mechanics and psychology of the act that need to be addressed so that we don't stop doing what comes naturally: namely- enjoying it
  
  Since sex is a topic near and dear to my..... heart, I'm going to write about it for the next couple of blog entries.  I'll discuss the mechanical problems first. This topic may seem a little, well, dry, but stick with it. The info is vital.
  
  When naturally occurring estrogen levels fall, women may experience a a decrease in vaginal secretions and a thinning of the vaginal wall, making the area feel like the Sahara on a normal day. This may make penetration uncomfortable and in some cases even painful. No woman wants to have pain during a time when the outcome should be all pleasure. The clinical name for painful sex is Dyspareunia. Apart for the actual pain itself, this syndrome can result in a myriad of psychological problems such as performance anxiety, and a desire NOT to engage in sex due worry about what it will feel like. Worry or anxiety about the outcome can cause a rebound decrease in vaginal secretion flow, resulting in a cycle of pain and anxiety that may eventually lead to total abstinence. This is not a choice for me!
  
  So, what do you do to prevent this from happening or fix it if it is occurring?
  
  First and foremost, regular sexual activity goes a long way in promoting and sustaining vaginal blood flow and vaginal health. There really is something to the adage "Use it or lose it!" The more you engage in the act itself, the more attuned your body gets to the production and flow of vaginal secretions that aid in sex being a fun and pleasurable event.
  
  I've always been a believer that the mind is the best sex organ we have. Why do you think Romance Novels are so popular? Women - and even men- are easily aroused by the verbal and visual images their imaginations conjure when presented with a "hot" storyline and description. Imagine your partner in that hero role when you're reading that new Nora Robert's book. Guaranteed this will "get the juices flowing."  Better yet, read it aloud, together. In bed. Naked.
  
  When you were twenty it probably didn't take much to "get you in the mood." A look, a slight caress and you were good to go. We're older now and our engines take a little more stoking to get fired up. Time, patience and perseverance go a long way to stimulating someone sexually. If "it's not happening" after five minutes, try for ten. You won't be disappointed. And all that lead up time will end in a great climax. No pun intended. Well, maybe a little.
  
  If patience and dedication to the task at hand don't help, there are some external vaginal creams and lubricants that can. Why do you think KY Jelly was invented? There are low dose estrogen rings, creams and pills as well that attempt to reverse the dryness syndrome when used regularly. For those women for whom nothing helps, higher dose estrogen therapy can. I always like to talk about replacement therapy last, because I feel you can try the other non-hormone attempts first. If they work, then great. If not, you've always got this to fall back on and try.
  
  The common sense stuff requires stating here as well. Make sure you are hydrated from within - lots of water intake helps keep our organs and skin supple and productive. Adequate sleep helps. Who wants to have sex when all they want to do is slip into the oblivion sleep affords? Being with the right person at the right time is ALWAYS  a turn on. Taking time for adequate arousal is a must. Unless you like it fast and hurried, take your time and express this need to your partner.
  
  Sex is truly a gift from the Creator. Just because the babymaker is done with production, the factory should not be closed for business.