Menopausal symptoms affect greater than 75 per cent of ladies, in accordance with the British Menopause Society
Although not all women going through the menopause will experience a big selection of menopausal symptoms, the bulk will.
What’s most difficult about coping with menopause symptoms, is that the menopause can last for a very long time, around seven years to be precise, with 1 in 3 women experiencing symptoms beyond the seven years (post-menopause).
experts consider there are around 34 symptoms of menopause
Whilst most girls attribute hot flushes, night sweats and changeable moods to the menopause, many are unaware that there are a plethora of other menopausal symptoms.
The truth is, experts consider there are around 34 symptoms of menopause.
To call a number of – tiredness, anxiety, poor memory, brain fog, irritability, itchiness and even painful sex can all be linked to the menopause.
Healthista spoke to Remi, 60, who reveals how several intimate health symptoms related to the menopause left her avoiding sex and intimacy along with her partner for years and the way she got her sex life back after the menopause…
‘The pain during sex was unbearable’
Painful sex, vaginal dryness, heavy periods – I had never experienced intimate health struggles before, but just before I turned 50, my periods became extremely heavy.
On the time, I used to be in an incredibly stressful job, so I put my heavier periods all the way down to stress. I didn’t for one moment think that this was the beginning of the menopause, because it wasn’t as widely spoken about on the time.
Little did I do know that heavy periods were to be the least of my worries.
Not long after my fiftieth birthday, I used to be offered a job in Kuwait, which I took. I used to be dating my now husband on the time, who agreed to maneuver to Kuwait with me.
After we moved there, my husband managed to get a job, but after that job finished, he moved back to the UK.
It was during this long-distance a part of our relationship, that I noticed sex had began to turn out to be painful.
At first, I assumed sex was painful because I used to be only seeing him every six weeks, as while you haven’t had sex for some time that may occur. But sex progressively became more painful.
Vaginal dryness was a significant component causing the painful sex, and I actually have never had an issue previously.
But I also began to have thoughts of ‘oh gosh is it me, do I not desire my husband anymore?
READ MORE; Vaginal dryness and incontinence? Expert reveals what causes these common menopause symptoms plus what may help
‘I continually made excuses to not be with him because I didn’t need to have sex’
Aged 54, 4 years after my heavy periods began, the pain during sex was unbearable, to the purpose where I might continually make excuses to not have sex with my husband.
Even after I got here back to the UK, I didn’t need to have sex, and if we did, it was only the once.
My husband and I might meet up and go on holiday to chill out, but at the back of my mind I used to be continually stressed and anxious, serious about how much sex was going to harm – and it did, loads.
I even began staying in hotels as an alternative of on the flat in order to not endure painful sex
At this point, it was clear that my husband was beginning to feel dejected, as I had made up so many excuses as to why I couldn’t stick with him after I was back within the UK. I even began staying in hotels as an alternative of on the flat in order to not endure painful sex.
After I explained why I used to be avoiding intimacy, my husband felt bad as he didn’t need to hurt me.
‘I didn’t realise it was all related until we had seen the article’
In 2018, my husband saw an article about titled ‘Is the menopause ruining your sex life?’, which after all resonated with each of us.
The article mentioned many suggestions corresponding to changing your weight loss program to be able to cleanse your body. So, cutting out coffee, sugar, alcohol and gluten. It also suggested taking supplements and multi vitamins.
I began to make some changes to my weight loss program, but I wasn’t consistent with it.
I used to be also having heart palpitations, experiencing brain fog and naturally intimate health issues
After I moved back to the UK in 2020, I signed up for a 6-week menopause course. On the time I used to be having about ten hot flushes a day, I wasn’t drenched during these hot flushes, but I might continually feel hot throughout the day.
I used to be also having heart palpitations, experiencing brain fog and naturally intimate health issues corresponding to painful sex, vaginal dryness and a lack of libido.
I hadn’t realised that every one these symptoms were related to the menopause, until we had seen the article.
After just 4 weeks putting what I learnt through the menopause course to work, the recent flushes had gone. I also learnt that I used to be magnesium deficient, which is why I used to be having the palpitations.
I began taking Omega 7 and sea buckthorn, which is imagined to help with the liner and lubrication of your vagina, however it wasn’t working, and the painful sex remained which was still an enormous concern.
‘I purchased the device and used it religiously’
Looking around for other remedies, I got here across an operation called ‘Mona Lisa Touch’, a sort of laser therapy to treat symptoms of vaginal atrophy like vaginal dryness and painful sex.
I used to be desperate for help, so I used to be willing to undergo with the operation, despite the cash and possible uncomfortable side effects.
resurfacing vaginal tissue and rebuilding collagen to tighten and rejuvenate
Luckily, at around the identical time, I heard about a less expensive alternative to the operation. The Issviva X Joylux device – which also uses red-light therapy, aimed toward resurfacing vaginal tissue and rebuilding collagen to tighten and rejuvenate.
I purchased the device and used it religiously, once every other day for 12 weeks, and progressively increased the red-light therapy.
The device looks a bit like a vibrator, and was barely uncomfortable at first, but I believe that was my anxiety as obviously you’re inserting it, but once I relaxed and used the lubricant photonic gel, it was advantageous.
REAC MORE: ‘I’m a skincare scientist – here’s 4 things it’s good to do for menopausal skin’
‘I now not felt pain during sex’
After the 12 weeks, my intimate health symptoms had significantly reduced. I felt I used to be around 75 to 80 per cent there where pain was concerned, but there was still some discomfort.
So, I used the device for an additional 12 weeks and amazingly I got to the purpose where I now not felt pain during sex, I couldn’t consider how well it worked.
One other thing noticed was a tighter pelvic floor after using the Issviva X Joulux device.
I had never had a major issue with my pelvic floor previously and I wasn’t one among those individuals who would go to the bathroom multiple times in an evening, but I has began to notice that my bladder function had turn out to be weaker.
So, not only had the device given me back my sex life, however it also brought my bladder function back to what I used to be used to.
Physically I used to be cured after using the device for twenty-four weeks, but unfortunately, I still had some anxiety towards sex after coping with painful sex for thus a few years.
not only had the device given me back my sex life, however it also brought my bladder function back to what I used to be used to
Mentally it took me some time to get past the anxiety, but now I actually have come out the opposite side and now not feel pain or anxiety surrounding my sex life.
I still use the device once every week, to make sure the lining of my vagina is kept healthy.
I’m so thankful and amazed that this device that only cost me lower than £2000 has given me my sex life back.
I like to recommend it to everyone who’s experiencing painful sex or vaginal dryness – it has truly modified my life!
The Issviva x Joylux device costs £299 and will be bought from issviva.co.uk