Research Insights:

Sexual health and Menopause

Sexual health is important for your overall health and well-being, but menopause can contribute to some difficulties. These can include vaginal and vulvar dryness that may cause difficulty with lubrication, arousal, orgasm and subsequent pain with sexual play. Other midlife conditions that can contribute to difficulties with sexual play including diabetes and heart disease. Lastly, the sociocultural changes in menopause can also contribute to sexual difficulties such as changes in relationships, careers, and aging parents.

This doesn't mean you should ever tolerate pain or lack of sensation with sexual play but rather you have options to improve your sexual health.

Favorite Recipe: Skinny Black Bean Quesadillas

Jean's pick: In my quest to cut down on my meat consumption and increase vegetarian meals I came across this recipe.

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

2 garlic cloves minced

1 yellow onion chopped

1 red bell pepper diced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Dash of salt and ground black pepper

13.5 ounces canned black beans drained and rinsed

1 cup baby spinach

4 low carb tortillas 8 inch

1.5 cup low fat shredded Mexican blend cheese

1/2 cup salsa

Instructions

1.In a large non-stick pan, heat olive oil over medium heat

2.Once hot, sauté garlic for one minute, then add onion and red bell pepper. Cook for 6-7 minutes

3.Season onion and bell pepper mixture with cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well.

4.Add black beans and spinach, cooking until warm and wilted, about 1 minute

5.Remove the bean and veggie mixture from the pan and set aside.

6.Increase the heat to high and place the tortilla on the pan.

7.Sprinkle with cheddar and add some of the black bean and veggie mixture. Flip one half over the other.

8.Cook on one side until lightly browned, then flip it over

9.Top with salsa and enjoy!

"A few of our favorite things:" Psyllium Fiber

Anna 's pick: Part of my daily regimen that I often recommend to patients is taking fiber. Metamucil aka psyllium fiber is often thought of for constipation but it works for diarrhea and when you find yourself wiping a lot. It’s used for IBS, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems and can lower cholesterol.  But start slow, build up to the bottle dosing. Not all supplements are the same and my go to right now is puritan’s pride on amazon. But I’m sure there are lots of good ones out there. 

What we are reading:

When Sex Hurts

By Andrew Goldstein, Caroline Pukall, Irwin Goldstein, and Jill Krapf

Rachel's pick: Overall, the book serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals grappling with pelvic pain, offering insights into its multifaceted causes, the importance of finding specialized healthcare providers, the role of genetics, diverse treatment options, and the impact of psychological factors. Through a combination of medical expertise and personal narratives, it seeks to empower and support individuals on their journey toward managing and overcoming pelvic pain.