Let's Talk About (Great) Sex

February is all about the heart, yes, but sexual health deserves some love, too. It’s a meaningful part of overall wellbeing, connection, and quality of life.

Intimacy matters, especially in midlife. Yet for many women, the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause can quietly disrupt it.

As estrogen levels decline, vaginal tissues can become thinner, drier, and less elastic. This can lead to discomfort or pain with sex, vaginal irritation, and recurrent infections.

The not-so-sexy facts: Research suggests that up to 50–80% of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women experience these symptoms at some point. NOT fun!

Add in hot flashes, fatigue, weight changes, and anxiety, and it's no wonder sex slips to the bottom of your to-do or wish list!

Alongside these physical changes, thanks to declines in estrogen and testosterone, many women notice shifts in libido, arousal, and natural lubrication. When sex becomes more uncomfortable and arousal is harder to achieve, desire drops naturally. These changes can erode confidence and pleasure, and they are still not discussed openly or honestly enough.

But this does not mean you're doomed to unpleasant sex the rest of your life!

Too often, women are told this is just “normal” and something to endure. But normal does not mean inevitable, and it certainly does not mean untreatable.

Caring for your sexual health is an act of self-respect and self-care. While sexual health is integral to overall well-being, studies also show that treatment has a positive effect on women who are not sexually active, too. Menopause.org suggests that treatment should be offered to anyone with symptoms, whether engaging in sexual activity or not, stating that “normalizing use of local low-dose estrogen therapy should be a thing.”

Feeling comfortable in your body, connected to pleasure, and supported in intimacy matters at every stage of life. In fact, regular sexual activity itself increases blood flow and helps maintain tissue health. Sounds intimidating? Do not worry. Amazing sex in menopause is possible. You just need the right support.

That’s why I love and partner with Alloy Health. Alloy offers doctor-led, evidence-based care and sexual health treatments* designed specifically for women navigating midlife changes. And because midlife health goes beyond one concern, Alloy also offers evidence-based solutions across skincare, hormone therapy, weight care, and more.

Their prescription-based sexual health treatments, including vaginal estradiol and the O-mazing bundle, are clinically proven options that help restore vaginal tissue health and improve comfort during intimacy, even in as little as 4 weeks!  

Research shows that local low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy is safe and highly effective at alleviating bothersome symptoms that contribute to pain and avoidance of intercourse. These products are designed to help you feel comfortable, confident, and connected again without waiting for an in-person doctor’s visit (because who has 8-12 weeks to wait to see a Gyn when her vagina is dry, and she can’t have sex?!)

What I appreciate most is that Alloy treats sexual health as healthcare, not as something frivolous or embarrassing. They make great sex and expert doctor guidance accessible. Their approach centers on dignity, science, and individualized care because they believe women deserve comfort, pleasure, and fulfillment in their bodies at every age.

Alternatives to vaginal estrogen therapy:

This depends on the severity of symptoms, but may include a natural oil (like coconut or sunflower) as a lube, or other prescription medications. For some women, this may be all that is needed, but these options don’t treat the root cause (which is low or depleted estrogen). Anything other than estrogen is like putting ice on top of a cracked driveway.  It might be slippery, but it is still cracked at its foundation/surface.

So, don’t be afraid to look into treatment options in general, and vaginal estrogen therapy specifically. You deserve to have whatever level of physical intimacy you want, without pain! And there’s nothing sexier than that.