Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby By Liz Abel, Licensed Integrative Nutritionist, with Dr. Joanne Kakaty-Monzo, Board-Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Those words are easier said than done according to a staggering statistic that more than 60 percent of medical practitioners don’t ask their female patients about sexual health. Within the privacy of extended appointments at the First State Health & Wellness Integrative Health Center, we’ve recognized that women not only need, but want a place to vent, talk, and find answers to their most intimate concerns—not just physically but emotionally. Intimate health is a core component of your overall well-being and to find balance, optimal health and contentment…we need to go there! I had a frank conversation with our own Dr. Joanne KakatyMonzo, Board-Certified Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and renowned vaginal health expert specializing in peri- and post-menopausal issues and sexual dysfunction, in hopes of empowering you to initiate a conversation with a trusted practitioner and to receive the support you deserve: Liz: Let’s start with the basics: How do you define menopause? Dr. Jo: “Many women begin to feel the effects of fluctuating hormones during perimenopause--the transitional time leading up to the cessation of menses. Menopause is when you haven’t had a menses for 12 consecutive months during these years.” Liz: A lot of peri- and post-menopausal women complain that they experience pain, dryness, itchiness and spotting especially during intercourse. Some women are frustrated that they don’t reach orgasms like they used to. What is going on? 20
Dr. Jo: “As we age, our vaginal tissue changes. Multiple factors may be responsible for this change including menopause-related hormone changes, having given birth, or simply the aging process—all of which can leave us with symptoms that make intimacy difficult or uncomfortable. In the case of dryness, itching and pain during sex, it’s likely due to a woman’s estrogen levels decreasing during peri-menopause and into her menopausal years. It’s mostly estrogen that is believed to keep vaginal tissue healthy. When estrogen levels fall, vaginal tissue becomes thin, dry and looses its elasticity and this can worsen symptoms.” Liz: Why would a woman who hasn’t had her period in two years still be experiencing hot flashes? Dr. Jo: “Hot flashes or night sweats, also called Vasomotor Symptoms, are due to hormonal changes and can unfortunately last longer than the peri-menopausal phase. There are a variety of non-prescription herbal supplements available to help relieve symptoms, such as Evening Primrose Oil, Black Cohosh, Red Clover or over-the-counter Promensil. Functional nutrition is also helpful in identifying nutrition and lifestyle modifications that can help women find relief.” Liz: I remember when Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) became undesirable. Can you remind us why? And what’s happened in the world of HRT since then? Dr. Jo: “In 2002, a very large study conducted by the World Health Initiative raised concerns over hormone replacement therapy and the possible increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular events in women. At that time, physicians and patients began to significantly decrease their use of HRT, leaving us with a void in options for treating a range of peri- and postmenopausal symptoms including vaginal health, bone health, dementia and vasomotor symptoms.
www.livingwellmagazine.net
August 2019
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