Better Sex for Better Health

Listen up ladies, there’s a sexual paradox. Just as you’re getting older and when – for some – sex may not be a priority, that is exactly when you need it most.
Indeed, a recent study released this May suggests as many as six in 10 women – ages 55 to 65 – avoid sexual intimacy. Yet, sexual activity is good for a woman’s health – especially if she is entering into any of the menopausal phases of life – peri-menopause, menopause or post-menopause.
“Sexual stimulation releases hormones that positively affect a woman’s overall health and well-being and keeps her vagina youthful,” says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin,-Ob/Gyn and author of-“The Yale Guide to Women’s Reproductive Health.” “The vagina, like any muscle found in the body, is best kept healthy with exercise – if you don’t use it, you can lose it.”
According to Dr.Minkin, the benefits of healthy sex are manifold, ranging from stress reduction and improved mood to protection of a woman’s reproductive and pelvic health. Some proof points: a study in “Biological Psychology”-shows the rush of hormones released from sex boosts mood, fosters feelings of closeness and helps manage stress for days.-Another study in the-“Journal of Sexual Medicine”-reveals that regular sexual stimulation is essential for positive sexual functioning – arousal, lubrication and avoidance of pain.
“When a patient is not sexually active, I encourage her to consider a sexual aid like a vibrator to protect the pelvic floor by increasing blood flow to that area of her body,” says Dr. Minkin. “Vibrator use can help prevent certain conditions such as vaginal atrophy – vaginal dryness or a weakening of the muscle tone in the pelvic area that can lead to sexual dysfunction and painful sex.”
Dr. Minkin advises middle-aged or older women who are not getting enough sexual stimulation to try a vibrator like the Thrill by We-Vibe. It ensures regular blood flow to the pelvis, which is particularly important for women who are in the peri-menopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal stages of life.–
What’s more, the use of a vibrator may help some women by increasing their desire for sexual stimulation.-The same study in May uncovered that 63 percent of women ages 55 to 65 shy away from sex because they are experiencing a loss of libido.