Experts share five ways women can boost libido and improve sexual wellbeing during menopause

From having honest and intimate discussions, through to lifestyle changes and different medical treatments, there are many approaches that menopausal women can take to help reignite their sex life and overall sexual wellbeing.

This is according to the research and recommendations from UK thermal clothing brand Heat Holders in its recent ‘Menopause Wellbeing Guide’, which saw the retailer work with the experts at Health in Menopause to get advice on this important, but often seldom-discussed topic.

The specific sexual wellbeing guidance given by Health in Menopause – a specialist clinic led by Dr. Alice Duffy, offering evidence-based, holistic and empathetic care for women navigating perimenopause and menopause – was in response to some of the key findings from Heat Holders’ guide.

After carrying out a survey of over 1,000 menopausal women, it was found that 54% claim their sex lives have been negatively impacted by their menopause symptoms and experiences. 

Other findings included:

• 24% of claim they aren’t having as much sex as they did pre-menopause
• 18% say they’re having ‘much less sex’
• 12% say they’re having ‘no sex at all’ because of menopause

To help improve this, these are five approaches to try, according to the experts:

1. Talk about it – Open communication with your partner is key. Share what’s changed and what you need, emotionally and physically. Many couples avoid the topic, but honest dialogue can reduce tension and rebuild connection.

2. Seek medical support – A menopause specialist can assess symptoms and recommend HRT or vaginal oestrogen treatments to ease discomfort and restore libido.

3. Explore lifestyle boosters – Healthy diet, exercise, dental hygiene, daylight exposure, and even cold-water swimming have been shown to improve sex drive. These habits support circulation, mood, and hormonal balance, all of which influence sexual desire.

4. Reframe intimacy – Intimacy doesn’t have to mean intercourse. Touch, affection, and emotional closeness matter just as much. Rediscovering pleasure through massage, shared rituals, or sensual exploration can rebuild confidence and connection.

5. Address pain proactively – Pain during sex is treatable. You don’t need to ignore it or “push through.” Vaginal moisturisers, lubricants, and targeted therapies can help. An important point here is that postmenopausal symptoms like dryness and itch can persist for life if untreated.

A spokesperson from Heat Holders, offered these comments about the findings:

“One of the main reasons we created our ‘Wellbeing Guide’ is we know that a large number of our customers are facing struggles with menopause every day, so we wanted to create a useful and informed resource for them. However, it’s fair to say that the data we’ve uncovered around sexual wellbeing was one of the more notable discoveries. 

“This is why we’ve turned to professionals like the Health in Menopause team to provide practical advice that women and their partners can use to address this sensitive subject. On a general level, we also hope our guide can be something that helps break down awareness barriers on what’s clearly a very important subject.”