This is for the ladies! Sorry fellas. (But, you might find this interesting, so by all means, read on.)
So, personal question. When’s the last time you got any? Okay, this is for my menopausal sisters. When’s the last time you wanted any?
Julie Holland’s book, “Moody Bitches: The Truth About The Drugs You’re taking, the Sleep You’re Missing, the Sex You’re Not Having, and What’s Really Making You Crazy,” will explain a lot about the “not wanting any” situation. There are a lot of factors involved there. Hormones. Medications. Available Penises or someone you actually WANT to have sex with!
Let’s be real. More often than not, when we are in our menopausal years, typically 50+, men our age are looking for younger women! I know for me, I feel like I live in the gray area. Too young for an old dude, and too old for a young one!
But know this. You are not crazy if you could care less! Menopause does a number on us. Did you know, way back in the day, what was probably just some good old-fashioned menopause was referred to as FEMALE HYSTERIA? FEMALE HYSTERIA was actually a medical diagnosis for women.
The symptoms included anxiety, shortness of breath, insomnia, loss of appetite for sex or the completely reversed extreme, intense sexual desire. (among other things) This diagnosis and treatment were the norm for hundreds of years in parts of Europe, although it can be traced back to ancient times in Egypt. It was referred to as, “The Wandering Womb.” The womb was said to wander throughout the body, causing disease! Crazy. Now you know some man came up with that one!
What were probably our basic menopausal symptoms at one time were sometimes thought to be demonic possession! Yup. Demons were causing those hot flashes. (There are times when it feels that way!)
But wait, in extreme cases women were put in insane asylums and forced to undergo hysterectomies. If they couldn’t diagnose or cure you, you were considered to be mentally ill or possessed by the devil!
The APA (American Psychiatric Association) ditched the term “Hysteria” around 1952. In Western medicine hysteria was considered both common and chronic among women, but it was categorized as a disease.
As late as the 17th Century, hysteria was thought to be caused by sexual deprivation. But masturbation was considered taboo and not recommended for treatment, so you were sent home to just do your husband as a treatment, “to purge the uterus of fluid.” Semen was said to heal you. How many of us have heard that line before? How convenient.
But what if you had no husband. Or you no longer like him? You were told to go find one!
It gets better ya’ll. In the early 20th century, doctors treated hysteria by “manually stimulating the genitalia of female patients to achieve orgasm!” Can you imagine going to your HMO for that? Well doctors in the 19th century were making a boatload of cash performing these assisted masturbations! You read that right! Assisted Masturbation!
One technique was high pressure shower hoses. (And you thought you invented that!) Massaging women’s genitals was considered a cure for hysteria. Not sure if it’s a cure for hysteria, but it might be a cure for wanting to slap the living daylights out of someone.
Again, I don’t know about curing any hysteria, but there are benefits to having an “O” on the regular especially for women approaching or going through menopause. Here are a few:
Keeping it alive in case you do decide later, you like someone and want to have sex. (Like, if you decide, old men aren’t too old and young men aren’t too young!) Orgasms increase the circulation down there. Keep blood flowing and keep the tissue healthy. In other words, it won’t turn to dust and leave a trail behind you!
Relieve stress! But I’m sure you already knew that. We can all use some stress relief in these trying times.
And best of all! It’s exercise!!!! BONUS. Because an orgasm increases your heart rate and gets the blood pumping, it is considered cardio and beats the hell out of jumping jacks.
So, if you want to find out why you don’t want any, I suggest reading Julie’s book! If you don’t have any issues with lack of desire (often hormonal) then get you one on the regular! And you don’t have to buy a vibrator or like anyone. You just need good water pressure!
While female hysteria might not be a thing and you may not be heading for the asylum, orgasms have anti-aging and health benefits.
So, get busy ya’ll!
hum . . . sounds like a miracle cure for all that might ail ‘ya!
Might be!
Yes the big “O” does have many benefits we take for granted. The work, balance and stress trifecta plays a huge part. As we age unfortunately our priorities often change, and what becomes the norm wasn’t always the norm.having a healthy relationship is something all women strife for especially in our 30s and 40s. but as we head to our fifties it’s just not a priority anymore if we’re not already in a fulfilling relationship. I found myself anyone recently just because I got super busy. And I just didn’t feel like making the time! Sad as that is it’s becoming my new norm and several my girlfriends feel the same way. We all just hope and pray for that happy break if you will where everything is just normal and going the way it should be. I’m sure in the future I will make room for someone in my life. Stay blessed Kay!
Truth. I feel you on the shift in priorities and the new norm. LOL I just want it to work later if things change again. And one thing is for sure. Things always change.