The Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) held a public event on health throughout perimenopause and menopause on September 28th at the Italian Cultural Centre.  The event, Aging Well for Women, was hosted by Shirley Weir (founder of MenopauseChicks.com), and welcomed a wonderful turnout of women eager to join the dialogue.

The first speaker of the evening was Dr. Nicole Todd answering the question What is Menopause Exactly?, followed by Dr. Joanie Sims-Gould talking about the magical number ‘23.5’ in her presentation The Magic Bullet for Aging Well: Exercise.  Dr. Liisa Galea explored whether we lose our memory along with our periods in Where Are My Keys?, and finally WHRI’s Executive Director, Dr. Lori Brotto, concluded the presentations with by delving into the intersections of mood, desire, and menopause in Weathering the Emotional Storm and Intimacy.

If you weren’t able to attend the event you can check us out on Twitter (#AgingWellForWomen) for highlights, or read on for some tips from the four experts!

• • Don’t like to “exercise”? Not to worry!  As Dr. Sims-Gould notes, the term ‘exercise’ has bad connotations – especially for women since it’s often been associated with spandex and their physique over physical health.  Spending just 30 minutes three times per week getting active is great for your health, sex life, and overall wellbeing.  The other 23.5 hours in a day?  You’re free to spend those sitting or lying down!

• • Low desire and other sexual problems such as painful sex, inability to reach orgasm, or dryness can be common during menopause. What to do?  Seek out good sources for sex education; find a health professional – or more than one! – with whom you feel comfortable talking to help you find solutions; and practice good communication with them as well as your partner.

• • If you aren’t sure how to start a conversation with your doctor try writing your concerns down. This ensures that you won’t forget your points in the moment, or lose your nerve.   Remember that if it’s happening to you, you’re probably not the only one.

• • Finally, be insistent with your concerns, and be open to consulting multiple professionals such as counsellors or experts to get the help you need.

Looking for more resources?  Check out these sites, as suggested by the panelists:

• • http://menopauseandu.ca/
  • http://menopause.org/
  • http://lssvd.org/
  • http://sexualityandu.ca/