How to ease menopause

Let’s be honest, menopause can feel like a rollercoaster. Hot flashes that arrive uninvited, sleep that plays hide-and-seek, and that oh-so-fun vaginal dryness – it’s a symphony of symptoms that many women navigate with incredible strength. While hormone therapy and lifestyle tweaks are often the go-to solutions for how to ease menopause, get ready for a potentially delightful and empowering addition to the conversation: self-love, aka masturbation!

Now, we know what you might be thinking. “Wait, that’s a menopause treatment?” Well, buckle up, because some fascinating early research from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University is suggesting that solo pleasure might be more than just a feel-good activity; it could actually offer some surprising relief for those pesky menopause symptoms. So, let’s dive into this intriguing topic with a sense of curiosity and a sprinkle of playful exploration as we uncover how to ease menopause in potentially pleasurable new ways!

The Kinsey Scoop: What the Research Says About Self-Love and Menopause

The Kinsey Institute, in partnership with the sexual wellness gurus at the Lovehoney Group, embarked on a two-phase study to explore public knowledge about menopause and the experiences of women going through it. Their findings, released in September 2024, offered some eye-opening insights into how to ease menopause.

In the first phase, surveying over 1,500 American adults, they found that while most women knew menopause meant the end of periods, awareness of the symptoms was surprisingly low. This highlights the need for more open conversations about the realities of this significant life stage.

The second phase focused on 1,500 women aged 40 to 65, delving into their personal experiences with menopause. And here’s where things get interesting for our discussion on how to ease menopause:

A significant 36.2% of women going through menopause reported an improvement in their symptoms when they masturbated.
While only one in ten women primarily used self-pleasure to cope with menopausal symptoms, a whopping 46% said they would be open to trying masturbation for relief if a healthcare provider recommended it.

This suggests a potential link between self-pleasure and symptom management, and a significant openness among women to explore this avenue for how to ease menopause if given the green light by their doctors.

The Science of Self-Love: How Could Masturbation Actually Help Ease Menopause?

It’s crucial to emphasize that the Kinsey Institute’s research highlights a correlation – women reporting symptom improvement with masturbation – rather than proving a direct cause-and-effect relationship in a controlled lab setting. However, there are some compelling theories, backed by existing scientific understanding, about why self-pleasure could be a helpful tool in learning how to ease menopause.

As women’s health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider explains, “Masturbation has been shown to improve mood, improve sleep, and promote vaginal health. This is why it may help alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause.” Let’s break down these potential benefits and how they relate to how to ease menopause:

The Mood Booster: Riding the Wave of Pleasure

Menopause can bring about emotional fluctuations, including feelings of anxiety, irritability, and even mild depression. Engaging in pleasurable activities, like masturbation and achieving orgasm, triggers the release of endorphins – those glorious natural mood boosters and pain relievers. This surge of feel-good chemicals can help to counteract some of the emotional ups and downs associated with menopause, offering a natural and accessible way to learn how to ease menopause on an emotional level. Think of it as a little internal happy pill, powered by you!

Sweet Dreams are Made of This: Orgasms for Better Sleep

Sleep disturbances are a common and frustrating symptom for many women navigating menopause. The hormonal shifts can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and impacting overall well-being. Interestingly, the release of hormones like prolactin and oxytocin after orgasm has been linked to feelings of relaxation and sleepiness. Incorporating self-pleasure into your routine, especially before bed, might just help you drift off into a more restful slumber, contributing to how to ease menopause-related sleep issues. It’s like a natural lullaby for your body and mind!

Keeping Things Juicy Down There: Masturbation and Vaginal Health

Vaginal dryness, a hallmark symptom of menopause due to declining estrogen levels, can lead to discomfort, pain during intercourse, and a general decrease in sexual well-being. Regular sexual activity, including masturbation, can help to increase blood flow to the pelvic region. This increased blood flow can stimulate natural lubrication and help maintain the elasticity and health of vaginal tissues. For women experiencing vaginal dryness, self-pleasure can be a gentle and empowering way to promote vaginal health and potentially make partnered sex more comfortable when desired, offering a direct approach to how to ease menopause-related vaginal discomfort.

The Orgasm Advantage: Partnered or Solo, Pleasure Matters

Dr. Wider also points out that achieving orgasm through partnered sex might offer similar benefits for some women. However, for those experiencing significant vaginal dryness, intercourse can be painful, making it difficult to reach orgasm and potentially negating the desired results. This highlights the beauty of masturbation as an accessible and comfortable way for all women, regardless of their partnered status or the presence of vaginal dryness, to experience the mood-boosting, sleep-enhancing, and potentially vaginal health-promoting benefits of orgasm when exploring how to ease menopause.

Doctor’s Orders? The Medical Community’s Take on Self-Pleasure for Menopause

While the Kinsey Institute’s findings are intriguing, it’s important to note that mainstream medical recommendations for how to ease menopause don’t typically include masturbation as a primary treatment. However, the fact that 5% of the women surveyed reported their doctors suggesting it indicates that some healthcare professionals are already recognizing its potential benefits.

Ultimately, as Dr. Wider wisely states, “This is a risk-free recommendation and has little downside – and it has the potential to alleviate some unwanted menopausal symptoms.” In other words, if you’re curious and comfortable with the idea, exploring self-pleasure as a way to potentially ease your menopause symptoms is unlikely to cause harm and might just offer some delightful relief.

Integrating Self-Love into Your Menopause Management Toolkit

So, how can you practically incorporate self-pleasure into your journey of how to ease menopause? Here are some fun and empowering ideas:

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Make it a Mindful Practice: Don’t just rush through it. Create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. Light a candle, put on some soothing music, and take your time to explore what feels good to your body. This mindful approach can enhance the mood-boosting benefits and help you connect with your sensuality.
Experiment with Toys: Vibrators and other sex toys for women can offer a variety of sensations and help you discover new pathways to pleasure. They can also be particularly helpful for women experiencing vaginal dryness, providing targeted stimulation without the discomfort of penetration.
Prioritize Pleasure, Not Performance: The goal isn’t necessarily to achieve a specific outcome every time. Focus on the sensations and the enjoyment of the process. The relaxation and endorphin release are beneficial regardless of whether you reach orgasm.
Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to what feels good and what doesn’t. Menopause can bring about changes in sensitivity, so be gentle and explore at your own pace.
Combine with Other Self-Care: Think of self-pleasure as another valuable tool in your self-care arsenal, alongside healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management techniques.

The Takeaway: Pleasure as a Potential Pathway to Menopause Ease

The early research from the Kinsey Institute opens up an exciting and empowering perspective on how to ease menopause. While it’s not a magic bullet, the potential for self-pleasure to improve mood, promote better sleep, and support vaginal health makes it a worthwhile avenue for exploration.

Cynthia Graham, PhD, senior scientist at the Kinsey Institute, aptly stated, “This survey shows self-pleasure offers an effective, accessible tool for menopausal symptom relief, which is important to integrate with existing care strategies.”

So, ladies, as you navigate the transformative journey of menopause, remember that taking care of yourself includes embracing your sensuality and exploring what brings you pleasure. Self-love might just be a surprisingly delightful and empowering way to find some ease and reconnect with your amazing body. Here’s to feeling good, inside and out!

Disclaimer: Please note that the Amazon links provided above are general search links and may lead to a variety of products. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. Always read product descriptions, ingredients, and reviews carefully to ensure they meet your needs and are body-safe. Prioritize open communication and consent in all your intimate activities.