Dr Wilson:  Let’s talk about what you can expect. First, I think this sex drive will slow down almost as quickly as it came up. It may last another month or two but I do not think it will last until Thanksgiving. Do no press your bodies to perform any more than it desires. As long as you are both of you are aroused, you’re fine. But if at some point you are not aroused, then you should not proceed. I still expect that arousal will occur two or three times per week. If either of you go a month without feeling aroused, then I want you back in here immediately. Now, you can feel aroused without being wet. Your bodies will slow down its production of lubricants. You need to have a water-soluble lubricant available at all times and use it when you feel appropriate. No sex unless you are properly lubricated. Those tissues are tender and can tear and cause major problems if not properly lubricated.  Also keep your nails trimmed and filed smooth. You do not want to have any scratches in the vaginal area. Should you get a tear in that area, get into this office immediately. As you get older, your immune system does not work as well as a young person. You don’t want any infection in that area. Also, as you get older, you need to be careful with rough sex. If you are experiencing pain, you need to tell your partner to back down. Pain means problems and especially in sexual activities. As long as it feels good, and you are well lubricated either naturally or with some additional, you are okay to go.

Dr Wilson:  You may experience hot flashes especially at night, but they can occur during the day time. Drink water, get in a cool place and wait for them to pass. The average woman will experience hot flashes for about six months to a year after they start into menopause. I suggest you keep a towel under your pillow so it will be readily available it you sweat a lot. If it becomes a social problem, come in and we’ll give you a prescription to help you with it. By social problem, I mean you sweat so much that you are embarrassed that your clothes are soaked all the time. Those cases are really rare.  Lastly, your emotions may seem more intense or even out of control. You may get extremely angry or you cry so much easier than you normally do, or you laugh at things that are not funny. If it starts to interfere with your family life or being in public or your job, we can prescribe an anti-depressant which will help. My advice is for you to keep busy with those things you like to do. This phase should not last long as well. And if you feel that this is interrupting your life entirely too much, we can give you hormones to balance you out.  I do not like to prescribe hormones, but I will.  Menopause is a natural process the body goes through and it will balance out your natural hormones on its own given enough time. But if you feel you are suffering, there are drugs that will help.  The last thing I will say is that your skin will start to produce more wrinkles and may change in texture or appearance. You also may lose some of the thickness in your hair. And you may grow hair where you would rather not have hair. Facial hair or hair around the nipples or around the belly button sometimes happen. If this happens and it bothers you, I recommend someone who can lazar the hair away permanently.