The new gel that boosts a woman"s sex life after the menopause

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By Jenny Hope, Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail

 

A new once-daily hormone treatment has boosted the sex lives of older women.

 

Using VagiCap increased by a third the number of women getting sexual satisfaction, say findings from a trial.

 

The treatment, which is not yet available, is aimed at women who experience pain during sex and other symptoms caused by the menopause.

 

More than half of post-menopausal women suffer vaginal dryness that can make sex uncomfortable because of a lack of the hormone oestrogen.

A new gel claims to be able to boost a woman’s sex life after the menopause – by relieving the pain and discomfort associated with a  lack of oestrogen

 

The new treatment is a tear-shaped softgel capsule designed for easy insertion once a day, alleviating local symptoms.

 

However, the oestrogen has less effect throughout the body than hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which should lessen any side effects.

 

Dr Sheryl Kingsberg, chief of the Division of Behavioral Medicine Department at UH Case Medical Center in Cleveland, presented the trial at the International Society of Women’s Sexual Health Annual Meeting, in Austin, Texas.

 

Dr Kingsberg said: ‘Menopause is typically associated with hot flashes (flushes), but there are other common and distressing symptoms such as pain and discomfort during sex due to lack of oestrogen.

‘Approximately 30 million women in the United States experience this condition, which can really impact their quality of life.’

 

She said the VagiCap, if approved by regulatory authorities, could be a treatment that women ‘may find to be convenient and easy to use’.

 

At least half of menopausal women experience uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms such as dryness -making sex painful.

 

In the UK, the average age of the menopause is 51 years, when periods stop and oestrogen hormone levels decline.

 

Research earlier this week found at least half of menopausal women experienced uncomfortable, often distressing symptoms for more than seven years on average and often much longer.

 

The latest study involved women between the ages of 40-75 who were assigned to use the VagiCap once daily – usually at the same time in the morning – or a placebo (dummy) treatment.

 

A qualitative survey by the researchers found that 63 per cent of women on the VagiCap reported an improvement in quality of life after only two weeks of therapy treatment, compared to 48 per cent on the placebo.

 

Dr Kingsberg said: ‘For many women, symptoms such as these have a major impact on frequency and spontaneity of their sexual activity.

 

‘It is essential that health care attendants routinely engage in open and sensitive discussions with postmenopausal women to ensure that symptomatic atrophy is detected early and appropriately managed.’

 

New treatment options have the potential to improve satisfaction for these women, she said.

 

‘There is medical consensus that oestrogen administered locally is the preferred mode of treatment for both symptom reduction and restoring and maintaining healthy vaginal tissue and sexual function’ she added.

 

TherapeuticsM, manufacturers of the VagiCap, began a phase three trial in September 2014 which is investigating 4 mcg, 10 mcg and 25 mcg doses of oestrogen as different options to meet women’s treatment needs. 

 

Categories: distressing symptoms, dr kingsberg, menopausal women, nbsp, nbsp dr, original site, sex life, treatment, Women

Depression and Menopause - The Myths and Secrets

Once women pass the age of 40, the dreaded menopause becomes a ticking time bomb of worrying for them. With so many myths surrounding this stage in a woman’s life, it’s easy to understand why so many women worry about what’s to come. Most women, however, come out the other side unscathed – this is a normal process in the human body after all. It’s vital that women undergoing ‘the change’ do so with a positive outlook and optimism. Failing to do so can result in depression and anxiety, which could have a damaging effect on the body. Most of the stories put out into the media about the menopause aren’t actually true, which means women are becoming scared of a natural process for no reason. Here are some of the more common myths and what really goes on.

 

Menopause makes you unstable

There are some changes to your behaviour during this time, as your hormones shift and this can make you act in a way you wouldn’t normally. You may react strongly to things or be a little unpredictable at times. However, just because you’re going through the menopause doesn’t mean you’ll be like this for life. This is a brief stage where you’re experiencing some internal changes, but they will revert back to normal soon. Relaxation techniques can be a good way of keeping a control over your behaviour while your hormones are erratic, though.

 

Menopause leads to memory loss

There is no memory loss with menopause – this is purely a myth. Young women can be just as absent minded and forgetful as older women, and there has been no relation to menopause and loss of memory despite numerous tests to determine this. Low oestrogen levels can slow the cognitive process down, but this doesn’t really affect your memory a great deal.

 

Menopause leads to weight gain and consequent depression

Some women do find that they gain a little weight during the menopause, which they find results in a lack of energy and consequent depression about their body. This isn’t always the case though, with so many women taking better care of themselves during the menopause than perhaps they did when they were younger. It’s just a fraction of women who become lazy during this stage, which has perpetuated a myth that all menopausal women do this.

 

Menopause makes you look shaggy and unattractive

There are bodily changes to expect with menopause, such as the darkening of the skin on the face, sagging muscles and greying hair, but you can also feel rejuvenated and still look attractive for your age. Depressed women tend to start giving up with taking care of themselves, which only makes the problem worse. You don’t have to give up just because you’re menopausal – it can be an incredibly freeing time for many women, it simply depends on your outlook.

 

Menopause can hamper work efficiency

This is also a myth that has become attached to the very concept of a menopause, but it isn’t true. In fact, the many years of experience these women have makes them wiser and less likely to make risky choices at work. Yes, some women may find that they get tired more easily, but this doesn’t mean that their efficiency is affected in any way.

 

Menopause causes depression in every woman

Only 10 to 15 percent of menopausal women become depressed, which is a fraction of those assumed to be at risk of this. The hormonal changes can affect your mood swings, which can mean your reactions to things are little more extreme than they would be normally, but depression is a condition which isn’t automatically a result of this.

Categories: consequent depression, memory loss, menopausal women, Menopause, menopause leads, nbsp menopause, Symptoms, women's health