Top myths about women’s health
Sex after 40, libido, hormones and menopause: the myths it is time to talk about openly.
To the questions
There are still a huge number of myths about women’s health and sexuality. And menopause, libido, sex after 40 and changes in the body are often discussed only once a woman has already faced them herself.
Together with Dinara Berezina, an obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences and psychologist-sexologist, we go through the main myths and questions from her practice.
In brief
- Low libido does not need “treating” if it does not bother the woman herself and does not affect her relationship.
- Desire does not inevitably fall after 40: many women enjoy their intimate life more than they did at 20.
- If the cycle is regular and there are no complaints, there is no need to “check all hormones” just to be sure.
- Sex does not cure diseases, and its absence is not a risk factor in itself.
- You can prepare for menopause in advance. The basics are nutrition, movement, sleep and the ability to manage stress.
Can you love your partner but stop wanting them?
Yes.
A huge number of factors affect female libido: from iron deficiency and general well-being to body image and the relationship itself.
There is one more thing to understand: in long-term relationships a woman’s desire is often responsive rather than spontaneous. Attention and emotional closeness matter a great deal.
Is it normal not to want sex for months?
Yes.
In modern sexology the notion of normal is very broad.
If a woman is fine with it and low libido does not affect her quality of life or her relationship, there is no need to “treat” it hard.
It is worth looking into the causes when the lack of desire bothers the woman herself or affects the relationship.
Does desire inevitably fall after 40?
That is a myth.
According to Dinara, many women at 40 enjoy their intimate life more than at 20: they know themselves and their bodies better, understand their desires and are less shy about talking about sex with a partner.
If libido has dropped and this is a concern, in many cases the situation can be changed.
It is important to remember that in sexology the patient is the couple.
Fatigue, irritability, no desire. Is it hormones or stress?
It can be hard to tell one from the other on your own.
“I’m just tired, I’ll rest and it will pass” — you can explain your state this way for months. Meanwhile, similar symptoms can accompany, for example, anemia or hormonal disorders.
If the state does not change for a long time and libido falls at the same time, it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Do you need to “check all your hormones” regularly?
Another myth.
If the cycle is regular and there are no complaints, there is no need to keep monitoring hormone levels just for the sake of it.
The levels can change naturally, so it is not worth taking a long list of hormone tests without an indication or interpreting the results yourself.
What changes after 40?
A woman gradually approaches perimenopause — the period that precedes menopause and can last several years.
The changes can show up in different ways:
- cycle fluctuations
- more pronounced PMS
- lower libido
- sleep problems
During this period it is especially important to pay attention to how you feel.
Can you prepare for menopause?
Yes.
And it is better to learn about the changes in the body in advance, not at the moment they have already begun.
According to Dinara, after 35 a woman should already understand what changes may lie ahead.
And the basics stay quite simple: nutrition, movement, sleep and the ability to manage stress.
“A woman needs sex for her health”
A myth.
Sex can be an important part of quality of life, emotional comfort and closeness.
It does not cure fibroids or organ prolapse, and its absence is not in itself a risk factor for cancer or other diseases.
One piece of advice for every woman, whatever her age
Always choose yourself.
Pay attention to yourself.
Develop your body, mind and soul.
Nobody will do it but you.
Dinara Berezina
The expert
Dinara Berezina
Expert of the Health of the Future forum- Candidate of Medical Sciences
- Obstetrician-gynecologist
- Gynecologist-endocrinologist
- Sexologist
- Author of bestselling popular science books on women’s health
- Educator and lecturer
- Media expert
October 15 · Health of the Future forum
We will continue the conversation at the forum
Dinara Berezina will give the talk “Women’s health without shame: libido, hormones and the questions we put off”. City program, 14:55. To hear the talk and take free check-ups, all you need to do is register.
The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. For questions of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, please consult a doctor.
