yourexperts Q&A
Your Health
I wantto know… You asked: “I used to enjoy a fulfilled sex life, but now that I am going through the menopause making love has become painful. Is there anything I can do about this?” Susi Lennox, co-founder of The Yes Yes Company, answers: Menopause changes sex for women. The well publicised effects of menopause that most women are familiar with include the infamous mood swings and hot flushes. Less well known is the onset of vaginal dryness and the painful sex it can cause. Sadly, as the oestrogen runs dry, so can the vagina, and this can come as an unpleasant shock. Prior to the hormonal changes that herald menopause, most women will be used to producing their own vaginal lubrication as part of the arousal process. But as oestrogen production goes into decline, the ability to self-lubricate also decreases. The walls of the vagina become thinner, making the area itchy and uncomfortable. Perhaps you and your partner have not previously explored the use of intimate lubricants, or regarded them as a “pleasure accessory” – but now is the time to discover the benefits of using
Reader Marianne won this month’s prize: a Yes Water-Based Organic Lubricant and Moisturiser (RRP £16.49). Email your health question to editor@yourhealthyliving.co.uk natural products which will moisturise your intimate tissues, restore comfort and ease penetration. When the fear of pain is removed, stress is reduced, desire can be restored, the pleasure of intimacy can be rediscovered and, in some cases, relationships repaired. So the use of a safe and effective lubricant can revive your libido and enable you to reclaim a fulfilling sex life together. n The Yes Yes Company produces a range of water-based and oil-based intimate lubricants and moisturisers. Visit www.yesyesyes.org
You asked: “I have got sensitive skin, and it has been quite dry lately. I thought I would try using organic products to see if this helps. What do you recommend?” Jo Blaylock, Pravera General Manager, answers: The problem is that many of us may be using products every day which contain ingredients that are not naturally designed to assist skin recovery or to complement our skin’s natural make-up. So, read the ingredients. Avoid mineral oilbased products, i.e. those containing parabens, SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphates) and synthetic fragrance, as these ingredients are not naturally occurring and
Reader Catherine won this month’s prize: a lavera Basis Sensitiv Moisturising Cream (RRP ££10.45). Email your beauty question to editor@yourhealthyliving.co.uk
can cause irritations leading to sensitivity. Switching to using natural and organic products will eliminate this problem immediately. Also, a lot of people who think they suffer from sensitive skin actually don’t – they might just be using the wrong products for their skin type. Make sure you are using the right type of products for the type of skin you have. If you are using the wrong products, this can create skin problems that you don’t necessarily have. If your skin is dry, this is different to dehydrated; similarly if you have combination skin, don’t use a product specifically for oily skin. n Pravera Ltd distribute lavera, MADARA, Primavera, Alma Win, Monte Bianco, Sodasan, Florascent, terre d’Oc and Organyc. Visit www.pravera.co.uk
You can also write in with your health query: Your Healthy Living Q&A, Unit 2, Three Hills Farm, Ashdon Road, Bartlow, Cambridgeshire, CB21 4EN. See www.yourhealthyliving.co.uk for terms & conditions. We reserve the right to edit or shorten questions, and regret YHL and our experts cannot reply individually to your health and beauty questions.
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August 2012
16/07/2012 12:13