Beth Wallace: How the Menopause Impacts Your Sex Life
Feb 5, 2024
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Therapist Beth Wallace discusses how menopause impacts sex life, highlighting the opportunity for reflection, desire, and sexual creativity. They explore societal attitudes towards female pleasure, the impact of porn on relationships, and the importance of balancing individual desires with the needs of the relationship. Shifting language and mindset can improve the couple's sex life, and personal experiences can be transformed into something meaningful.
Menopause can be seen as an opportunity for reflection on desire, expectations, and sexual creativity in a couple's relationship, with good communication being essential.
Accurate information, self-awareness, and open communication are crucial during menopause to address the broad range of symptoms and changes, as well as societal influences on women's desirability and sexual expression.
The importance of open and honest communication, exploring different types of touch and pleasure, and ongoing mutual discovery in order to enhance sexual intimacy and pleasure in relationships.
Deep dives
Balancing Personal Desires and Being a Good Partner
This episode explores the challenge of balancing personal desires with being a good partner. The speaker emphasizes the importance of shifting from individual perspectives to a more collective approach, focusing on the needs and desires of both partners. The guest suggests exploring the concept of a 'good wife' and redefining it to reflect both individuals' needs and desires. The conversation also touches on the impact of menopause on sexual desire and pleasure, highlighting the importance of open communication and experimenting with different forms of intimacy. Overall, the episode encourages couples to have honest conversations, explore new possibilities, and shift away from rigid expectations and assumptions.
Understanding the Impact of Menopause on Sexuality
This episode delves into the impact of menopause on women's sexuality. The guest discusses her personal experience with menopause and highlights the need for accurate information and awareness regarding the broad range of symptoms and changes that women may experience during this phase. They emphasize the importance of self-awareness and self-acceptance during the transition, as well as open and honest communication with partners. The episode explores the societal and cultural influences that can shape attitudes towards women's desirability and sexual expression during and after menopause. The guest also touches on the role of hormone replacement therapy and other potential avenues for managing symptoms and maintaining sexual well-being.
Navigating Difficult Conversations and Sexual Exploration
This episode focuses on navigating difficult conversations and exploring sexual intimacy. The guest underscores the importance of open and honest communication in relationships, emphasizing the significance of positive inquiry and focusing on what works and brings pleasure rather than solely on problems. The episode suggests shifting from a sole emphasis on intercourse to a broader exploration of different types of touch and pleasure. The guest encourages couples to experiment, discuss fantasies, and discover new avenues of pleasure together. They also recommend utilizing resources like card apps and other tools to facilitate conversations and enhance sexual experiences. Overall, the episode promotes the idea of ongoing exploration and mutual discovery, providing suggestions for enhancing intimacy and pleasure.
Addressing Societal Influences and Redefining Roles
In this episode, the guest discusses the impact of societal influences and cultural attitudes on menopause and sexuality. They explore cultural differences and nuances in how sex and sexuality are perceived, particularly in relation to women's reproductive rights. The episode highlights the need for open dialogue and challenging societal assumptions that may devalue women's worth and sexuality during and after menopause. The guest emphasizes the importance of individual empowerment and self-perception, encouraging women to redefine their sense of self and challenge societal norms. The conversation also touches upon the role of comparison and the dangers of creating hierarchies within sexual relationships. They encourage individuals to focus on their own desires, pleasure, and well-being rather than comparing themselves to others.
Embracing Change and Alchemizing Traumas
This episode delves into personal growth and the transformation of past traumas. The guest shares their own experiences of overcoming challenging life circumstances and using those experiences as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, specifically in the field of therapy. They discuss the importance of acknowledging and processing past traumas, embracing vulnerability, and finding healing through self-expression. The episode emphasizes the significance of alchemizing pain and using personal experiences to positively impact others. It also explores themes of grief, loss, and the need for self-reflection. The overall message of the episode centers around finding meaning and growth in the face of adversity.
Menopause is a seismic transition for women, and for their partners. The physical and emotional changes it brings will undoubtedly reverberate into a couple’s sex life.
Irish therapist Beth Wallace believes that this transition can be an opportunity rather than an ending. While decreases in hormones definitely impact women’s bodies in some detrimental ways (which will need management), decreased satisfaction with our sensual and sexual lives is NOT inevitable.
Andrew and Beth discuss the ways in which the natural changes of menopause can be a time to reflect on desire, expectations and sexual creativity. With good communication, menopause can allow a couple to reflect on their new life stage, and maximise its opportunities.
Beth Wallace is a psychotherapist and applied psychology graduate. She supports adults to create and maintain satisfying intimate relationships with themselves, with others & with life itself through private client sessions with individuals & couples, workshops, online courses, retreats & intensives.
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Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall
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