I just got back from BlogHer '08 where I had the pleasure of attending Liz Rizzo's session on Sex and Relationships. One aspect that was eye opening to me was how invisible older women are in both the blogosphere and in the media. Not only is this happening in general, but it's specifically happening in the area of sexuality. Several bloggers mentioned that there really isn't that much on menopause and sexuality. Inspired by what I leanred I decided to see what bloggers are saying on menopause and sex. While, there was not nearly as much as I had hoped, I was able to find some bloggers talking about it.

KT1 starts out her post by talking about sexually transmitted diseases. She writes about how in the past, STDS were not something that was talked about openly. Today however, there are commercials on TV about them. She writes, "Becoming a menopausal woman carries a certain shame in today's society.
Essentially with social diseases becoming an okay thing in society then why can't older women become a welcome part of life. When a woman ages and loses her beauty, and she gains weight, and her hair turns gray, why is it that society as a whole doesn't notice that woman anymore? When a woman reaches that menopausal age she should be celebrated for all she has accomplished. Men should lust after her, because she has lived life and knows how to do things that younger women don't know how to do. Hint Hint!

"A menopausal woman should be celebrated in our society and lifted up to feel like she is million bucks! She gave birth to children that are becoming or have become terrific people. She has contributed to society by working, making money and creating a life. And people should be informed of this life change that happens to every woman. You mean to tell me that someone out there has not figured out a way to make millions of dollars from some pill or health aid for women to help them with menopause?"

Ms. Menopause writes what many bloggers at BlogHer want to read more about: how to find more pleasure and celebrate sex after menopause. She writes, "So without going into further detail, let me just say that according to my doctor (and Dr. Christiane Northrup on Oprah last week), the only thing we can do is "use it or lose it". There are multiple ways of thinking and being orgasmic, and even a few chi-gong exercises you can do to direct loving energy from your 'high' heart to your 'low heart', as demonstratsed by Dr Northrup on national tv. But if you just want a quick fix, try some sexy ganja".

But are there any medical tests that can be done? The Red Dress Diary writes about how important it is just to understand what is going on with your body. She provides a list of questions and tests for you to talk with your doctor about to help improve your sex drive. "Indeed, the experts I talked to say there is no reason for any woman to put her sex life on the back burner no matter her age - and talking to your doctor about it can help. To this end, here’s a few logs to throw on the fire - and get the conversation going!

1. Get your thyroid tested and have your doctor check for iron deficiency anemia. Experts say both disorders can impact your sex drive - and both are easy to fix.
2. Talk to your doctor about local estrogen therapy - creams and suppositories you apply directly to your V zone. They don’t have the same kind of systemic effects of oral estrogens,
(they remain, for the most part, where you put them) but they can help soothe dry V zone tissue and add the juice necessary to make sex feel good again - in and of itself a boost to your sex drive.
3. If you’re looking for an “all natural” solution, try Vitamin E. Used locally in the V zone, studies show it can rehydrate tissue and increase sensation. Apply it several times a week, whether or not you’re anticipating sex, and over a few weeks time you should begin to feel an increased sensation in your V zone. You can also get a similar effect using KY Jelly or products like Astroglide - but again, doctors say the key is to use them every day, not just when you’re going to have sex."

Menopause and sex drive is an important topic. While I had hoped to find more bloggers writing about the subject, I was pleased to find that my search at least didn't turn up empty. I hope that we will continue to find more women blogging about this important topic as well as the topic of women aging in general.

Alex Elliot also blogs at Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting.