Though it may feel like the last thing you want to do, if you are going through menopause, regular physical activity is critical. It can, first of all, help you avoid gaining weight, which is important because as you age, your metabolism drastically slows down.

Regular exercise can also help decrease your risk of contracting breast cancer. If you maintain a healthy, stable weight, you help protect your body from breast cancer.

If you make a point to exercise regularly, you are also strengthening your bones–something that women of your age need to be worried about. As you age, you are at a much higher risk of getting osteoporosis, so it is important that your body gets regular physical activity because it has the ability to slow your bone degeneration.

So what type of exercises should you be doing?

The physical activities that doctors highly recommend for menopausal women are broad; they mostly just want you to make sure to include aerobic activity, strength training, stretching, and balance exercises.

For aerobic exercise, you have a lot of really fun activities to choose from. Some of our favorite ones are swimming, biking, and water aerobics. Walking and jogging, of course, are also great options.

In order to get your strength training, you should try weight machines, hand held weights, or resistance tubing.

When getting your stretching in for the day, you should stretch not only before your other exercises but also afterwards. That way, you will be helping your warm, pumped muscles be even more receptive to increasing their flexibility.

Some of our favorite balance exercises include tai chi and even just making yourself balance on one leg for an extended period of time. As you practice your balance, you will improve your stability and help prevent bad falls.

You can turn almost any hobby into a fun way to get your physical activity in: things like dancing, gardening, and playing golf are great ways to exercise! Have fun with this!

Menopause has had a tendency to interfere with our sexual experiences. If you used to enjoy your sex life and now find yourself thinking of it more as a chore (and maybe even a painful chore), here are a few tips that might make you and your partner much happier with the new direction your life is taking.

1. Think like a Teenager

Even though sex might be the last thing on your mind, make a point of thinking about it throughout the day. This may lead to an increased desire to have sex.

2. Don’t be Afraid to talk about it

If you were having sex with your partner before you started going through menopause, then you have every right to expect a listening ear and understanding. Don’t be afraid to open up about concerns that you are having. In particular, if you want to talk to your doctor about these concerns, don’t be afraid to speak up.

3. Accommodate Changing Physical Needs

During menopause, many women complain of vaginal dryness, making intercourse very painful. If this is the case for you, there are solutions to this problem. Make sure to purchase a lubricant that will make sex much more enjoyable for both you and your partner.

4. Don’t Neglect Your Body

If menopause has made you feel less attractive, then focus on your body! Take time to exercise regularly so that you feel better about yourself and more confident in your body. This confidence may even translate to an increased sexual desire.

5. Maintain an Active Sex Life

There is no reason for you to feel like you need to quit having sex because your hormones are changing. If anything, it is an excuse to get creative and practice with your partner. Don’t stop because of your changing body, continue to make your sexual experiences a satisfying and important part of who you are.

With hot flashes, cold sweats, mood swings, and other annoying symptoms, menopause can leave women over 50 struggling to cope with the changes in their body.

Because menopause happens to women sooner or later, shouldn’t there be a solution for treating the symptoms naturally?

Scientific research and advances in medical technology suggest that hormone replacement may be a potential treatment for menopause, but many women are afraid that hormone therapy can cause more problems than it solves.

Pros of Hormone Therapy

HRT, or Hormone Replacement Therapy, combines the hormones estrogen and progestin to treat hot flashes and vaginal dryness caused by menopause.

Dr. Roger Lobo, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University states that “young healthy women at the onset of menopause shouldn’t be afraid to use hormones,” and Dr. Melissa McNeil, chief of the section of women’s health at University of Pittsburgh agrees, “Women need to know that hormone therapy in early menopause is safe and is absolutely the most effective way of managing the menopausal transition.”

Benefits of HRT include:
• Controlling menopause symptoms
• Preventing osteoporosis
• Lowering risk of heart disease
• Lowering risk of female cancers

Cons of Hormone Therapy

Unfortunately, many still believe that HRT is still in its initial stages, and doctors may still be hammering out the kinks. According to the FDA, hormone therapy can come with its own set of health risks because preparation may vary from one pharmacy to another.

Risks of HRT include:
• Long term usage may increase risk of breast cancer
• Clinical trials suggest that estrogen-progestin can increase risks blood cots
• A few cases have reported mammography abnormalities

Is it Worth it?

The debate between the pros and cons of HRT still continues. Although many doctors are declaring HRT to be an effective, and more importantly safe, treatment for menopausal symptoms, you should carefully consider whether or not the risks outweigh the benefits. Consult your doctor for more information to see if HRT is right for you.