Hesperian Health Guides
Sexual relations after the end of monthly bleeding
HealthWiki > A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities > Chapter 13: Growing older with a disability > Sexual relations after the end of monthly bleeding
As you grow older, some of the changes in your body may affect your sexual relations. You may take longer to become excited during sex (this also happens to men). And because your body no longer makes as much of the hormone estrogen, your vagina may be more dry. This can make sex with a man uncomfortable, or more easily lead to infections of the vagina or the urine system.
Also, the skin inside your vagina will also get thinner, so make sure to take more time before having sex so your vagina can make its own natural wetness. You can also use spit (saliva), vegetables oils (corn oil, olive oil), or water-based lubricants.
If you are having sex with a man and it is difficult for him to get his penis hard (erection), try to learn what he likes. Touching him may help make him excited.
- Do not use oils for lubrication if you are using condoms. Oil will weaken the condom and it may break.
- Do not use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or oils that contain perfumes to increase wetness in the vagina. These can cause irritation.
- Do not use anything in your vagina to make it dry. This can also cause irritation in the vagina, which can make it easier to get HIV or other infections.
- To prevent urine problems, pass urine before having sexual intercourse and as soon as possible afterward. This will help flush germs out of the urethra that may otherwise get into the bladder and cause an infection.
Protect yourself against pregnancy
and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
You can still become pregnant until your monthly bleeding has stopped for one full year. To prevent unwanted pregnancy, you should continue to use a family planning method until you have no monthly bleeding for one whole year (12 months).
If you are using a hormonal method of family planning (the pill, injections, or implants), stop using it around the age of 50. Use another method of family planning without hormones until 12 months have passed since your last monthly bleeding.
Unless you are certain neither you nor your partner has an STI, including HIV/AIDS, be sure to use a condom each time you have sex with a man—even if you can no longer become pregnant.