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Chen Ting stood in front of the window, looking at the sunset in the distance, with mixed feelings in her heart. Today is her 55th birthday and her first year after menopause.
The laughter and laughter of yesteryear seem to be gone, replaced by an indescribable sense of emptiness. She and her husband, Wang Jianguo, have always had a good relationship, but recently she has found herself less and less interested in sex.
This change left her confused and worried, and she didn't know how to communicate with her husband. Just then, the doorbell rang.
Standing outside the door was Li Meiling, Chen Ting's friend for many years. "Happy Birthday! I have brought you a special gift. Li Meiling smiled mysteriously.
Chen Ting opened the gift and found that it was a book called "Sex and Love After Menopause". She looked at Li Meiling in surprise, and the latter blinked mischievously: "Trust me, this book will change your life."
Chen Ting turned the pages of the book suspiciously and began to read. As she read more, she gradually realized that she was not alone.
Changes in postmenopausal sex life are something that many women experience, and there are many ways to cope with these challenges.
According to the Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women in China (2015), common sexual dysfunctions in postmenopausal women include decreased libido, sexual arousal disorder, and dyspareunia [1].
These problems are mainly related to a decrease in estrogen levels, which can lead to physiological changes such as vaginal dryness and atrophy.
Chen Ting suddenly realized that the troubles she had encountered recently were not unique. She continued reading and found that the book offers a number of practical suggestions:
1. Communicate openly: Be open and honest with your partner about your feelings and needs to find solutions together.
2. Use lubricants: It can relieve vaginal dryness and reduce pain during sexual intercourse.
3. Pelvic floor muscle exercises: help improve vaginal muscle tone and enhance sexual pleasure.
4. Try new ways of sex: Explore non-penetrative sexual practices such as touching each other, oral sex, etc.
5. Hormone replacement therapy: Used under the guidance of a doctor, it can relieve menopausal symptoms.
6. Psychological counseling: Seek professional help when necessary to solve psychological disorders.
The more she read, the more interested she became, and she decided to put these suggestions into practice. She first had a frank exchange with Wang Jianguo, expressing her troubles and concerns.
To her surprise, Wang Jianguo was very understanding and supportive. "My dear, let's face this challenge together," he said. Sex is just one part of our relationship, and the most important thing is that we love each other. "
In the days that followed, Chen Ting and Wang Jianguo began to try the book's recommendations. They bought high-quality lubricants, which greatly relieved Chen Ting's discomfort.
At the same time, Chen Ting also began to exercise her pelvic floor muscles and gradually felt the changes in her body.
One night, Chen Ting and Wang Jianguo decided to try some new ways of intimacy. They turned off the lights and lit only a few scented candles. In the soft candlelight, they began to massage each other, slowly caressing each other's bodies.
This brand new experience left both men excited and relaxed. Chen Ting was pleasantly surprised to find that even without traditional sexual intercourse, she could feel intense pleasure and intimacy.
However, not all problems can be easily solved. Chen Ting found that she still felt low libido from time to time. After consulting with a gynecologist, she decided to try hormone replacement therapy.
Doctors explain that low-dose topical estrogen therapy can effectively improve vaginal atrophy symptoms while reducing the risk of systemic adverse effects[2].
After several months of treatment, Chen Ting's symptoms improved significantly. Not only did she feel more comfortable physically, but her libido gradually returned.
But she also realizes that hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone and needs to be used with caution under the guidance of a doctor.
In the process, the relationship between Chen Ting and Wang Jianguo became closer. They learn to pay more attention to each other's needs and not just limit themselves to sex.
They started taking yoga classes together and enjoying common interests. Wang Jianguo even took the initiative to learn massage skills and often massaged Chen Ting to relax.
One day, Chen Ting met a counselor named Zhang Lei at a community center. Zhang Lei is organizing a support group for postmenopausal women. Chen Ting decided to join, hoping to get more support and advice.
In the group, Chen Ting met many women who had similar experiences to her. There is Wu Fang, a retired nurse, who shared how to improve menopausal symptoms through diet and exercise;
There is entrepreneur Zhao Min, who talks about how to rebalance her career and family; and the artist Liu Jing, who expresses her emotional changes through painting.
Through these exchanges, Chen Ting realized that menopause is not only a physiological change, but also an opportunity to re-understand herself and explore a new stage of life.
She began to re-examine her interests and goals and decided to study gardening, which allowed her to find a new joie de vivre.
Half a year later, on Chen Ting's 56th birthday, Wang Jianguo prepared a surprise party for her.
When Chen Ting walked into the ornately decorated living room, she saw Li Meiling, Zhang Lei, and friends from the mutual aid group. Everyone celebrated Chen Ting's birthday and celebrated her growth and harvest in the year.
In the evening, when only Chen Ting and Wang Jianguo were left, they looked at each other and smiled, and hugged each other tacitly. Chen Ting sighed: "A year ago, I thought that menopause would alienate our relationship.
But now I understand that as long as we are willing to communicate and understand each other, any challenge can turn into an opportunity for us to be more intimate. "
Wang Jianguo kissed her forehead gently: "You're right. Our love is not just in our sex lives, but in every detail of our lives. I love you, no matter what stage of life you are in. "
This story teaches us that despite the challenges of sex life after menopause, couples can still maintain an intimate and harmonious relationship with open communication, a positive attitude, and appropriate medical help.
More importantly, this stage can be an opportunity to rediscover oneself and explore new possibilities in life.
As noted in a study in the journal Women's Medicine, sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women is strongly associated with their overall quality of life and well-being [3].
Therefore, we should take a more holistic and positive view of postmenopausal sexuality as an important but not the only component of the journey of life.
What are your thoughts on this? Welcome to discuss in the comment area!
[This content is a fictional short story, and any name, place name, or other aspects involved in the text have nothing to do with reality (without any implications). If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】