Menopause

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause, or menopause transition, occurs when the ovaries begin to slow down estrogen production and prepare for menopause. Perimenopause can begin as early as 10 years before menopause begins. During perimenopause, you can experience symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, decreased fertility, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and changes in sex drive.

Menopause Symptoms

The symptoms for menopause are similar to the symptoms of perimenopause.

• Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. When hot flashes occur, there is an instant rush of heat in the body which could cause skin redness and sweating. Hot flashes can occur randomly multiple times throughout the day and usually last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Women usually experience hot flashes for on average about 7 years, but some women can even experience them for over 10 years.
• Difficulty sleeping is a symptom that goes hand and hand with hot flashes. Experiencing hot flashes throughout the night can cause night sweats and night chills due to the body experiencing such drastic temperature changes.
• Weight gain isn’t directly related to menopause, but the two often go hand in hand due to a slow metabolism as people age and hormonal changes during menopause.
• Decrease in bone production comes with the decrease in estrogen levels. You start to lose bone quicker than you can replace it. This could increase the risk of osteoporosis (disease that causes fragile bones). 
• Menopause vaginal dryness is caused due to decreased levels of estrogen. Learn more about vaginal dryness.
• Loss of breast fullness occurs as a result of aging and declining estrogen levels caused by menopause. 

What is Vaginal Atrophy?

Vaginal atrophy most often occurs due to menopause and is the thinning and drying of the vaginal walls. With the estrogen levels naturally decreasing during menopause, this is when most women experience vulvar atrophy. Honor Everyday Balm helps to add back some needed moisture to the vulva.

Sex After Menopause

Is it possible to have sex after menopause? Short answer: Absolutely! With the myriad of symptoms that come with menopause, having sex during and after menopause can be a challenge, but doesn’t have to be. Due to vaginal atrophy/vaginal dryness, sexual intercourse can be a painful experience. You may even have a decreased sex drive due to menopause. Despite all this, menopause does not mean you can’t enjoy sex anymore. Arouse Stimulating Serum is a three-in-one arousal product that helps stimulate natural lubrication and contains aphrodisiacs which can bring on arousal.

If you or someone in your life is going through menopause, you really can’t go wrong with our set of feminine care products. You can give them to someone as a menopause gift or even use The Ritual as a menopause emergency kit. All of these products will help to alleviate some of the menopause symptoms and make the journey a little easier.