Self-Pleasure Is Self-Care for Menopausal Women

"Menopause is a stage of life during which most women will experience at least some bothersome symptoms, such as hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and mood changes. This is a natural byproduct of the body producing less estrogen and progesterone, which is why hormone replacement may be prescribed for symptom management. Although highly effective, hormone therapy is underutilized. Only about one in 20 women over the age of 50 is currently using it, with concern over potential side effects being perhaps the biggest barrier to more widespread usage."

"In a representative survey we conducted at the Kinsey Institute last year in partnership with the sexual wellness brand Womanizer, we found that lifestyle changes were the most common way that peri- and post-menopausal women manage their symptoms. Near the top of the list were things like physical exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and stress reduction techniques. However, this survey uncovered another lesser-known, but highly effective lifestyle factor that can also alleviate symptoms: self-pleasure."

"One of the most surprising findings from that survey, currently in press at the journal Menopause, was that approximately one in 10 menopausal women said that regular masturbation was one of their primary approaches to symptom management. Those who were using self-pleasure in this way actually reported that it was more effective than other lifestyle changes with respect to its effect on symptoms."

Menopause commonly causes hot flashes, sleep problems, headaches, and mood changes due to reduced estrogen and progesterone. Hormone therapy effectively treats symptoms but is used by only about one in 20 women over 50, largely because of side effect concerns. Many peri- and post-menopausal women rely on lifestyle approaches such as physical exercise, healthy diet, and stress reduction to manage symptoms. Self-pleasure emerged as an additional lifestyle tool that can alleviate symptoms. About one in ten menopausal women reported using regular masturbation as a primary management strategy, and those women reported greater symptom relief than with other lifestyle changes.

Read at Psychology Today