If you’ve just recently entered menopause, you might be noticing some of the changes that accompany this major shift. There are the emotional changes, the mood swings, hot flashes, disrupted sleep, and of course, the vaginal pain and dryness, which can make sex suddenly uncomfortable.
If you’ve never used a personal lubricant before, looking into getting a good one can alleviate a lot of the discomfort you may have never experienced during sex before.
The Best Lubricant to Use During and Post-Menopause
Some women are lucky enough to have plenty of natural lubrication for most of their reproductive years and may choose not to use a lubricant, simply because they don’t see the need. Other women have used lubricants before, but when they hit menopause they might find that their old standbys just don’t do it for them anymore.
If you’re wondering what the best lubricant for menopause is, look no further than Good Clean Love's better-for-you lubricants; gynecologist-recommended and specifically designed to balance your pH and mimic natural vaginal moisture.
Why a Natural Lubricant for Women?
A dirty little secret of the industry responsible for bringing you high-quality products for intimacy is that many of these products are made with things like petrochemicals, parabens, and other additives that frankly shouldn’t be used anywhere on your body, and especially should not come into contact with sensitive vaginal tissues.
As you age and your vaginal tissues become more sensitive, it’s particularly important to use a natural lubricant for menopause. That way, you can worry more about planning your next date with your partner and less about what you’re putting in your body.
Other Must-Haves for Menopause
Menopause is a big change. The best sex of your life is still ahead of you, and you’re off to a good start by using the best personal lubricant for menopause, but you might need a few other things on your journey.
A Vibrator
In addition to a natural lubricant, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about other ways in which you can combat the thinning of vaginal tissues and potential vaginal atrophy, which can cause pain with sex. Surprisingly, this may be an excellent time to bring some new toys or vibrators into the bedroom. In fact, many doctors recommend vibrators to menopausal or post-menopausal women because the regular use of a quality vibrator can mitigate the effects of vaginal dryness and atrophy.
If you’ve never looked for a vibrator before, our advice to you would be to use one that you can use both solo and with a partner, so you can get comfortable with your new toy in a variety of positions. It’s a good idea to look for one that you can insert inside but also are capable of playing with around your clitoris for external stimulation.
Finally, we recommend looking for one that’s made of medical-grade silicone that’s easy to clean and that you can use with a natural lubricant for menopause. If you’d like a specific recommendation, we’re gaga over these beautiful, rechargeable vibrators from Lelo, a Swedish company that prides itself on ergonomic design, soft finishes, and toys that last for years.
Supplements
While finding the best personal lubricant for menopause and the best vibrator may be easy, you might be wondering if there are any vitamins or supplements that can help counteract the sometimes jarring effects of menopause.
It is always a good idea to focus on eating well and exercising, but we recognize that sometimes when it comes to the effects of menopause, good food just won’t cut it.
This is why we recommend Femmenessence, a company that specializes in high-grade Maca root products just for women. Maca is a root plant that is native to Peru, known for its powerful influence on sex drive and fertility. Along with being very nutritious, maca is also known for its ability to not only increase libido in men and women, but also mitigate the effects of menopause, including hot flashes and disrupted sleep.
We like Femmenessence because they’ve designed unique maca products for women at all stages of their lives. Their MacaLife and MacaPause are designed for peri-menopausal women and post-menopausal women, and have been proven to be highly effective in helping to balance the hormonal shifts that happen throughout a woman’s life.
In addition to Femmenessence, a high quality, therapeutic grade Clary Sage essential oil may help balance estrogen in women and may help with depression.
A Natural Vaginal Moisturizer
In addition to a quality natural lubricant for menopause, if you’re having regular vaginal dryness and pain with sex, it might be worth it to look into a daily vaginal moisturizer.
What exactly is a vaginal moisturizer? It’s a product designed to lubricate the inner vaginal walls in the same way that a regular moisturizer might keep your skin moisturized.
The great thing about using Restore Vaginal Gel is that not only does it act as a natural vaginal moisturizer, but it’s also pH balanced and salt balanced, so it supports the good bacteria that will keep your vagina healthy and feeling its best. Restore can be used as a regular natural vaginal moisturizer for menopausal dryness, but it can also be used during intercourse as a natural lubricant.
Having Sex Again After Menopause
Now that you know about the best personal lubricant and moisturizer for menopause, as well as the best supplements and sex toys, you might be wondering about having sex again after menopause. First off, if you haven’t had sex in a while due to the onset of typical menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, or vaginal atrophy, know that sex is likely to feel different. You might even need to try out some new positions. While it is always important to use a natural lubricant for vaginal dryness when engaging in sex again after menopause, the position you choose can also be key to making sex pleasurable and fulfilling.
Some recommended sexual positions include rear-entry vaginal intercourse (aka doggy style), side-lying sex, or woman on top (aka cowgirl). All of these positions give the woman the ability to control the depth of insertion, which can aid in lessening the potential pain with sex.
Another strategy for making sex after menopause the best sex of your life is to make sure to engage in plenty of foreplay. While foreplay is good for women of any age, it is particularly important for women who frequently experience vaginal dryness or pain with sex. The best lubricant in the world won’t do anything for you if you’re not already in the mood. But it’s more than just that; the act of foreplay primes the psychological and physical systems in the body and brain so that all systems are primed to go.
Foreplay with Lubricant
Armed with the best lubricant for menopause dryness, it’s easy to incorporate some lube into your foreplay with your partner. What are some ways in which you can do so?
To start off with, make sure you’re using a natural vaginal moisturizer on a regular basis. This may help support your vaginal pH balance and will also help maintain a proper moisture balance, the kind that you remember from your pre-menopausal days.
Once you’re in the bedroom, start off with some light touching and making out. It’ll feel a bit like being teenagers again, something that is sure to make the idea of actual penetration that much more exciting. While making out, allow your partner to apply some lubricant to a high-quality toy, which they can then use gently around your clitoris and vulvar region. If you prefer, they can also apply lubricant directly to your genitals. Allow them to gently finger you and play with your clitoris either with their fingers or a toy.
Remember there’s no rush — after a while, your natural sexual instinct will kick in. Once you can’t stand it anymore is the time to reapply and try out penetrative sex. You can even experiment with a new position!
Tackling Sex and Menopause with Lubricant
Menopause, like any major life transition, can feel a bit daunting at first. But armed with a few tools, such as lubricant, a few good supplements, and a new toy, you’ll find that experimenting with a new part of yourself will be easier, less painful, and more enjoyable for you and your partner.
