Embracing A New Era - Sex and The Menopause

Until I turned 50 earlier this year and experienced the first signs of the menopause, I realised that women are still having to deal with stigma and prejudice when they approach their midlife years.

In a dating forum I once noticed a discussion between men, who agreed not to date women, who were currently going through the menopause, because 'they could be moody and unpredictable'.

When you google the term 'menopause', you will notice that most links relate to health issues, mental disorders and sexual dysfunction.

Menopause is still regarded first and foremost as a disease rather than a new life phase that will offer new possibilities and opportunities.

There isn't much about the positive aspects of the menopause, and that indeed you can still have a great sex life despite falling oestrogen levels. Discover vaginal moisturisers (the hormone free varieties), and painful sex will become a thing of the past.

In your later years, you can even become a best-selling and prolific novelist like Mary Wesley, who in her seventies gave us the beautiful and timeless Camomile Lawn and A Sensible Life.

Above all, it's about mindset. Reject words and phrases like can't, lost youth, too old, over the hill, past it etc. You can make bold fashion statements, be a sex goddess or achieve business success even when you're well past 50.

Honestly, you can.

Nowadays there is no longer any reason whatsoever to become invisible, lose your passion or turn into an old hag of the fairytale variety.

And if you wonder, what to look forward to when you've reached the menopause, then read this inspirational article.