Thank you for this video! I didn’t realize there was an official area for post menopausal symptoms listed by commenter Karen/discussed briefly in video. I agree that embarrassment is one of the issues along with memory for addressing issues while at the doctor. If the doctor and I are discussing other common physical changes, and I am meanwhile thinking how do I bring up this uncomfortable subject, then during the discussion of the regular stuff get taken away from my subconscious thought (ie. distracted by a new topic) I forget then to bring it up. After I leave I remember and then put it off until next yearly appt to figure out how to bring it up and/or not forget/get distracted to do so. The two highest concerns - desire and pain - are concerns of mine, especially the desire. My desire was higher than average and over the course of 6 years has gone to unreadable on a scale (once in a blue moon). He has been pretty patient, but is also getting more frustrated. I feel bad I don’t have any desire, even if he is rubbing up against me. It always starts with him initiating and I eventually go with it and the engine finally starts further down the line. My lack of desire makes him feel unwanted. I like how she phrased “want to want to desire” because that is exactly it. I used to really enjoy sex. Now take it or leave it (and likely to leave it). I am on HRTs and thought it was just something I would just have to deal with. I started searching around for possible additional help or suggestions and read maybe my HRTs need to be raised. I didn’t realize this was an option silly enough. To boot, I am tired more than normal and have been for awhile (I have a PCP appt this week to go over norms like TSH and such just in case). I see a specialist for older women’s gyn issues, HRT, etc. She’s is a good doc. I really like her. I finally got the bravery to book an appointment and specifically ask about desire and tiredness/sleep issues. She said she’d take the levels of my estradiol to see and that no one expects a woman over 40 to initiate sex. Honestly it floored me because this doctor is always up with the latest research and very conscientious. I didn’t know what to say after that. She said she’d send out a message to my sleep doc and psychiatrist and see if giving a sleep prescription would help put things in order. She also prescribed DHEA. Its been two weeks and I haven’t heard anything. It was pretty off-putting about the desire comment and sad that it was something I just will never get back and will have to deal with. I am hearing differently here. I will continue to advocate for myself and search out there for things that would work for me. And yes, many doctors have the “hurried” air about them (not all) and it makes it difficult to ask or expound on something when you feel like you would be keeping them from moving on. Again, thank you for you video!
Excellent interview and communication between these two docs. Just to help clarify what GSM is: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause - which is a huge category that includes many "conditions" which may occur as we gradually transition through menopause - felt due to the decline of hormones. Though it's important to also realize these conditions can also be experienced long before menopause as well - they are not considered GSM until they are associated with a decline in hormones. Included in GSM: bladder issues such as losing urine, low libido, inability to orgasm, pelvic floor issues (which is huge by itself), vaginal dryness and atrophy, and painful intercourse. And so much more. We're complicated down there! But deserve to have the intimate lives with our partner for as long as we desire. I am very happy to see this topic discussed here.
Thank you for the more detailed explanation of GSM. I thought it all just fell under general post-menopausal GYN, but it’s nice to know it has its own verbiage so when I go searching for information, or even another practitioner in the future, I know how to more specifically address it.
Thank you for this video! I didn’t realize there was an official area for post menopausal symptoms listed by commenter Karen/discussed briefly in video. I agree that embarrassment is one of the issues along with memory for addressing issues while at the doctor. If the doctor and I are discussing other common physical changes, and I am meanwhile thinking how do I bring up this uncomfortable subject, then during the discussion of the regular stuff get taken away from my subconscious thought (ie. distracted by a new topic) I forget then to bring it up. After I leave I remember and then put it off until next yearly appt to figure out how to bring it up and/or not forget/get distracted to do so.
The two highest concerns - desire and pain - are concerns of mine, especially the desire. My desire was higher than average and over the course of 6 years has gone to unreadable on a scale (once in a blue moon). He has been pretty patient, but is also getting more frustrated. I feel bad I don’t have any desire, even if he is rubbing up against me. It always starts with him initiating and I eventually go with it and the engine finally starts further down the line. My lack of desire makes him feel unwanted. I like how she phrased “want to want to desire” because that is exactly it. I used to really enjoy sex. Now take it or leave it (and likely to leave it). I am on HRTs and thought it was just something I would just have to deal with. I started searching around for possible additional help or suggestions and read maybe my HRTs need to be raised. I didn’t realize this was an option silly enough. To boot, I am tired more than normal and have been for awhile (I have a PCP appt this week to go over norms like TSH and such just in case).
I see a specialist for older women’s gyn issues, HRT, etc.
She’s is a good doc. I really like her. I finally got the bravery to book an appointment and specifically ask about desire and tiredness/sleep issues. She said she’d take the levels of my estradiol to see and that no one expects a woman over 40 to initiate sex. Honestly it floored me because this doctor is always up with the latest research and very conscientious. I didn’t know what to say after that. She said she’d send out a message to my sleep doc and psychiatrist and see if giving a sleep prescription would help put things in order. She also prescribed DHEA. Its been two weeks and I haven’t heard anything. It was pretty off-putting about the desire comment and sad that it was something I just will never get back and will have to deal with. I am hearing differently here. I will continue to advocate for myself and search out there for things that would work for me.
And yes, many doctors have the “hurried” air about them (not all) and it makes it difficult to ask or expound on something when you feel like you would be keeping them from moving on.
Again, thank you for you video!
Excellent interview and communication between these two docs. Just to help clarify what GSM is: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause - which is a huge category that includes many "conditions" which may occur as we gradually transition through menopause - felt due to the decline of hormones. Though it's important to also realize these conditions can also be experienced long before menopause as well - they are not considered GSM until they are associated with a decline in hormones. Included in GSM: bladder issues such as losing urine, low libido, inability to orgasm, pelvic floor issues (which is huge by itself), vaginal dryness and atrophy, and painful intercourse. And so much more. We're complicated down there! But deserve to have the intimate lives with our partner for as long as we desire. I am very happy to see this topic discussed here.
Thank you for the more detailed explanation of GSM. I thought it all just fell under general post-menopausal GYN, but it’s nice to know it has its own verbiage so when I go searching for information, or even another practitioner in the future, I know how to more specifically address it.
Am so happy right now am Herpes negative thanks #drodukuhome