Life is a series of stages, each different, but all essential to our development. Sexuality is not unconnected to them, being a fundamental aspect with a rhythm that evolves as the years pass by.

Menopause is a physiological process that typically occurs in women during their late 40s to mid 50s, signaling the end of the fertile phase of a women's life with the cessation of hormone production (estrogen and progesterone) in the ovaries. This process occurs gradually, allowing the female body to adjust slowly to the changes. However, most women experience symptoms at different intensities, such as: hot flashes, flushing, excessive sweating, less lubrication, insomnia and mood swings.

Nonetheless, even though a women's fertile phase ends with menopause, their sex life doesn't. On the contrary, sexuality continues to be an important part of every person's life and, for it to be fulfilling and satisfying, we must embrace and accept the changes that take place in our bodies as we age in a natural, healthy way.

It is important to remember that a woman may still become pregnant even while going through menopause, due to sporadic ovulation, and therefore a form of birth control should still be used during this period.

As it is well known, menopause is filled with changes and doubts, both for women and men. Here the most common ones:

• What happens with libido in women? It may decrease, increase or simply remain the same. It decreases in approximately one third of women. Most studies show that after menopause a couple's sex life remains similar although, over time and with the onset of various health conditions, it may gradually decrease, without necessarily disappearing.

• What about men? With aging, men also experience changes that may alter their sex life. The most common: difficulty attaining and maintaining an erection, therefore requiring more time and stimulation to do so and difficulty in attaining ejaculation (which is regarded as a positive thing by some). Finally, with aging and after ejaculation, men tend to lose their erection rapidly, requiring more time to recover before the next sexual encounter.

• Is it true that sex life may actually improve as we age? Many couples affirm that their sex life improved with aging for various reasons: for one, not having to deal with concerns of becoming pregnant and generally being more financially stable. In addition, many are retired and their children have already left home, therefore giving them more time to themselves, with no distractions.

• Is it true that some drugs and medications have an effect over sexual response and libido? Yes. Among them sedatives, several antihypertensives, antidepressants and some hormone replacement therapies. Some of the aforementioned drugs have a depressant effect over the central nervous system and, in doing so, may alter erections and ejaculation in men and libido and sexual response in both men and women. If you have any doubts or concerns about the effect that a drug that you are taking may be having over your sex life, ask your physician about its side effects and, if you feel the need to do so, about the possibility of replacing it with another drug. However, never stop taking your medications, do not self-medicate or make any changes to the dosage or way in which you take them.

During our adult life and as we age: accept the changes your body is going through, lead a healthy and fulfilling sex life, always do so responsibly and enjoy greater physical and emotional well-being!