Coping With the Onset of Menopause
- New data from The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, partnered with sexual wellbeing company the Lovehoney Group and its Womanizer brand, has found that 36.2 percent of menopausal women found masturbation helps relieve symptoms.
- Menopause, which the National Institute on Aging describes as a normal part of aging, typically begins in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Symptoms of menopause include body changes, hot flashes, and aches and pains.
- Perimenopause, which 51-year-old actress and mom of two Gwyneth Paltrow previously admitted she’s in the “thick” of, is the transitional time frame surrounding menopause. A time when a women’s body releases eggs less regularly, makes less estrogen, becomes less fertile, and has shorter and more irregular menstrual cycles, as per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
- “Menopause means different things to different people. The average experience begins with sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, and cessation of periods. The actual medical definition of menopause is more than twelve months of no periods,” Cedars-Sinai Medical Center OB/GYN and oncologist Dr. Bobbie J. Rimel explains to SurvivorNet.
According to early data released this week by The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, partnered with sexual wellbeing company the Lovehoney Group and its Womanizer brand, 36.2 percent of menopausal women reported that masturbation helped relieve symptoms.
Read MoreMeanwhile, perimenopause, which 51-year-old actress and mom of two Gwyneth Paltrow previously admitted she’s in the “thick” of, is the transitional time frame surrounding menopause. A time when a women’s body releases eggs less regularly, makes less estrogen, becomes less fertile, and has shorter and more irregular menstrual cycles, as per Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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Results also showed that only 1 in 10 women currently use masturbation as a top tool to help symptoms, and approximately 46 percent of the women surveyed revealed interest in trying self pleasure for symptom relief if a healthcare provider recommended.
Dr. Cynthia Graham, Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute, said in a statement, “This survey shows self-pleasure offers an effective, accessible tool for menopausal symptom relief, which is important to integrate with existing care strategies.”
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The study authors also point out how more conversations on menopause and masturbation are needed in medical settings as nearly half [44 percent] of respondents recounted never speaking about menopause with their doctor. Among those surveyed, only five person said their healthcare provider advised that masturbation may help reduce symptoms.
Verena Singmann, Lovehoney Group’s Head of Pleasure Advocacy, also stated, “There’s no reason masturbation should remain a secret in menopause care.
“Women have the right to know all of their options when it comes to managing the challenges of menopause, and we’re here to break the silence around masturbation as an empowering and effective choice.”
Expert Resources On Menopause & Body Positivity
- Brave, Bold, and Beautiful in the Face of Cancer — Reclaiming Confidence Through Makeup And Skincare
- How to Be Realistically Optimistic: Coping With Mental Health Long-Term
- SurvivorNetTV Presents: ‘SN & You – Body Image: Embracing Your Body’
- Managing Sudden Menopause After Ovarian Cancer Surgery
- The Flat Movement: Embracing Your Body After Treatment
Lastly, Dr. Shamyra Howard, LSCW and AASECT-certified sex therapist, addressed the racial disparities, adding, “This is an opportunity to destigmatize menopause and masturbation for all women, particularly women of color who are disproportionately affected by the Gender Health Gap and the lack of menopause education.
“The more women learn about this tool, the more empowered they’ll be to take control of their sexual health and overall well-being.”
Understanding Perimenopause
According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), “the gradual transition between the reproductive years and menopause (the cessation of menstrual periods) is called perimenopause (literally meaning around menopause”).
“It is generally a transition that is many years long and can be associated with shorter menstrual intervals, irregular menses, night sweats, and other symptoms. In some women, these symptoms are troublesome enough to need medical intervention.”
Meanwhile, when menopause (whether natural or induced) occurs when a woman is 40 years old or younger, it’s dubbed as premature menopause.
“This occurs in about 1% of women in the United States,” the NAMS explains. “Premature menopause that is not induced can be genetic, metabolic, autoimmune, or the result of other poorly understood conditions. Premature menopause should be evaluated thoroughly.”
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The Difference Between Menopause and Early Menopause
Menopause is described by the National Institute on Aging, as “a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period.” Additionally, “The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause.”
The average age women go through the menopausal transition, which usually lasts approximately seven to 14 years, ranges between ages 45 and 55.
“The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity,” the institute explains. “The menopausal transition affects each woman uniquely and in various ways. The body begins to use energy differently, fat cells change, and women may gain weight more easily. You may experience changes in your bone or heart health, your body shape and composition, or your physical function.”
As for early menopause, the National Cancer Institute says it’s a condition which causes the ovaries to stop working and menstrual periods to stop before a woman turns 40. It’s a transition that can lead to fertility issues and symptoms of menopause.
Additionally, early menopause is split up into two types, primary and secondary. According to the National Cancer Institute, “There are two types of early menopause, primary and secondary. Primary early menopause means that the ovaries do not function normally. This may be because they have been removed by surgery, or it may be caused by some cancer treatments and certain diseases or genetic conditions.
“In secondary early menopause, the ovaries are normal but there is a problem getting hormone signals to them from the brain. This is usually caused by diseases of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Some women with early menopause sometimes have menstrual periods and may be able to have children. Also called ovarian failure, ovarian insufficiency, and premature menopause.”
Managing Menopause Symptoms
Although menopause is a natural occurrence, there are some things women can do to minimize the impact of menopausal symptoms.
We must first outline some well-known menopause symptoms, which include:
- Menstruation changes
- Hot Flashes
- Bladder control issues
- Difficulty sleeping
- Vaginal health and sexuality changes
- Mood changes
- Body changes
- Aches and pains
The Office on Women’s Health suggests options for dealing with these symptoms.
To help with hot flashes, women may consider hormonal medication or, cooling off with a cold beverage or seeking air-conditioned air. To help with vaginal complications, moisturizers, and lubricants can offer relief. When having difficulty sleeping, consider exercising, avoid eating or drinking immediately before bed, and practice good sleeping habits such as darkening the bedroom and keeping it cool and quiet. To help with mood changes, consider getting enough sleep, minimizing stress, and seeking a support group or a therapist.
“There are certain instances where physicians can prescribe medications that may improve the vaginal dryness, or some other things that may be able to be prescribed, but it very specifically depends on what type of ovarian cancer a patient had, what their outcome was, and their risk of recurrence in the future,” explains Dr. Daynelle Dedmond, a gynecologic oncologist with Centura Health.
“Most of the time, we suggest lubricants for dryness and to help with elasticity of the vagina for more comfort during intercourse. We also want patients to be very deliberate and careful and have good communication with their partner, including about allowing plenty of time to be able to relax,” Dr. Dedmond continued.
Ovarian cancer survivor Araceli Rubi said when she experienced menopause earlier than she could have ever expected, it was a complete shock.
Though her doctor had warned her that she would go into early menopause, “I didn’t know what I was expecting,” says the stage I ovarian cancer survivor from Memphis, Tennessee. Her immediate response was,” ‘Ok, what’s going on? What’s this?’”
When Rubi would wake up in the middle of the night with her pajamas drenched in sweat, she’d call the nurse to ask, “Is this normal?” The nurse responded that night that feelings of intense heat accompanied by sweating in the middle of the night were normal parts of surgery-induced menopause.
Leading Experts Urge Patients to Be Proactive
As we highlight in several areas of SurvivorNet, highly respected doctors sometimes disagree on the right course of treatment for an ailment, and advances in medicine are always creating new options. Also, in some instances the specific course of treatment is not clear cut.
That’s even more reason why understanding the potential approaches to your disease is crucial.
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Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
Furthermore, getting another opinion may also help you avoid doctor biases. For example, when seeking care for cancer, some surgeons may have an affiliation with a radiation center.
“So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, previously told SurvivorNet.
Other reasons to get a second opinion include:
- To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of disease
- You have a rare disease
- There are several ways to treat your illness
- You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
- You have trouble understanding your doctor
- You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
- Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
Bottom line, being proactive about your health could be a matter of life or death. Learn as much as you can from as many experts as you can, so that you know that you did your best to take control of your health.
Advocating for Yourself While Navigating the Medical World
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
