Morning Glow Newsletter Vol 27.
- Team Yara - Writing
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Dryness? Low Desire? Please… We’ve Fixed Worse.
Menopause can change your body in many ways, and some of those changes can affect your sex life too. It is common for natural hormone shifts around midlife to reduce oestrogen and testosterone levels. This can make vaginal tissue thinner, less elastic and drier, which may cause discomfort during sex and make arousal and orgasm more difficult.
Many people notice they need longer, more direct stimulation to feel pleasure. This does not mean great sex is over. It simply means the body may need different kinds of care and attention during and after the menopause. According to experts, understanding these changes can help you work with your body rather than feel at odds with it.
One of the most helpful steps you can take is to talk openly with your partner about what feels good and what does not. Honest communication allows you both to explore new ways of connecting and to find rhythms that feel enjoyable. Intimacy does not depend solely on penetration. Touch, massage, cuddling and slow foreplay can strengthen connection and build arousal at a pace that suits your body. Experts describe this as adapting to changing needs and creating your own pleasure map rather than trying to repeat the sex you had in your twenties or thirties.
There are practical options that make sex more comfortable. Many people find that good quality water-based lubricants and vaginal moisturisers reduce dryness and discomfort. Some hormone treatments may also help by improving natural lubrication and reducing pain during intercourse.
Your healthcare provider can discuss whether these are appropriate for you. Experts encourage weighing both the benefits and possible risks when considering hormone treatment.
Menopause can also affect desire. This is normal and varies from person to person. It can help to focus on pleasure, well-being and connection rather than meeting expectations. Learning about your body, trying new things and being patient with yourself and your partner can turn this time of life into an opportunity for fulfilling intimacy and a sex life that feels right for you.
Practical tips you can try today:
• Set aside relaxed time for touch that is not performance-driven.
• Try a few types of lubricant to see which texture feels best.
• Keep vaginal moisturiser as part of your weekly routine.
• Explore new positions that reduce pressure on tender areas.
• If pain appears, stop and reset rather than trying to push through.
• If you have a partner, keep talking. Small conversations help more than big debates.
• Treat your body with curiosity rather than judgement.
— Yara x
Morning Nausea: Because Your Body Loves Plot Twists
Waking up queasy is one of life’s least glamorous surprises. You open your eyes, stretch, take one breath and… the stomach says absolutely not. Morning nausea is common in midlife, and the causes range from harmless to mildly annoying. The trick is understanding which signal your body is trying to send.
One of the big culprits is fluctuating hormones. Oestrogen and progesterone can play havoc with digestion and appetite, especially around perimenopause. Some women describe it as seasickness that arrives without the cruise. Blood sugar dips can add to the drama. If your last meal was early, your body may wake up slightly low on fuel and respond by sending a wave of nausea instead of a polite memo.
Stress and poor sleep also take their turn. If your mind has spent the night rehearsing every possible disaster, your stomach will often join in by tightening up the moment you rise. Acid reflux is another morning mischief-maker; lying flat can encourage acid to creep upwards, leaving you with a sour taste and a rolling stomach when you get up.
Medications can be part of the story too, especially if taken late in the evening. Even supplements can upset your stomach if they are not paired with enough food.
Most morning nausea fades within an hour or two, and usually isn’t a sign of anything serious. What it does mean is that your body wants a gentler start to the day and a bit of routine.
Practical tips you can try today:
1. Eat a small protein snack before bed. Keeps blood sugar steadier overnight.
2. Hydrate before you rise. Keep a glass by the bed and sip slowly.
3. Sit up slowly. Sudden movement can make nausea worse.
4. Try ginger tea. A classic for a reason.
5. Avoid heavy evening meals. They linger and cause reflux.
6. Check your meds. Some work better earlier in the day.
7. Track it. If nausea becomes daily or severe, speak to your GP.
No Oestrogen? No Problem… Probably
Navigating menopause can feel a bit like getting to know your body all over again. Changes in oestrogen affect more than hot flushes and periods. They can affect sleep, mood, joints, and overall well-being.
Not everyone wants or can take oestrogen-based hormone therapy, so it’s not surprising that people are curious about other ways to feel more comfortable during this transition.
There is a range of herbal and nutrient supplements on the market that promise relief without hormones. Many of these focus on supporting your body’s systems rather than replacing what it no longer produces. Black cohosh has long been used to ease flushes and night sweats, while red clover contains plant compounds sometimes thought to create a gentle oestrogen-like effect. Sage or liquorice root is often included in remedies for temperature swings and digestive issues, particularly when symptoms seem to shift throughout the week.
It’s important to remember that “natural” doesn’t automatically mean “safe for everyone.” Some supplements can interact with medications, raise blood pressure or complicate conditions you already manage. A quick chat with your GP or menopause specialist can help you avoid the wrong fit.
Supplements are only one piece of the puzzle. Balanced meals, regular movement and healthier sleep habits still carry weight. Menopause is a shift, not a crisis, and you deserve support that feels right for you.
Practical tips you can try today:
• Start with one supplement at a time so you can tell what actually helps.
• Keep a simple symptom diary for two weeks before and after starting anything new.
• Buy from reputable brands; bargain-basement herbs often behave like bargain-basement herbs.
• If you take regular medication, check for interactions before adding anything to your routine.
• Give it time; most supplements need several weeks to show their true colours.
Breathe Like You Mean It: Calm Nerves and Sleep Better Tonight
If your mind feels like a hamster on an espresso wheel just as your head hits the pillow, you are not alone. Modern life has a talent for keeping nerves switched to “alert,” which often turns calm evenings into mental marathons. The good news? Your breath is one of the simplest tools you already own to dial it down and ease into better sleep.
Breathing techniques work because they speak directly to your nervous system. When you slow your exhale, your body senses safety and shifts away from stress mode. It is a bit like teaching your nervous system to relax by example. You do not need fancy gadgets or yoga mat fortresses, just a few mindful breaths and a bit of patience.
A popular method is box breathing: inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four, and repeat. It might feel awkward at first, but it quickly becomes comforting, like a trusted playlist for your nervous system.
These small rituals are not an instant cure, but they can make a real difference when used consistently, especially during the hour before bed.
Practical tips you can try today:
• Practice breathing for five minutes before sleep.
• Try exhaling longer than you inhale.
• Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
• Put a hand on your belly to feel deeper breaths.
• Use a gentle breathing app or timer to stay present.
• If your mind wanders, gently return to the count.
Simple breath, calmer nights, better sleep. You’ve got this.
Why Menopause Feels Like Your Body’s Rebranding Itself
Menopause is a natural milestone in a woman’s life, but that does not mean it arrives quietly. It’s the time when your body gradually makes less oestrogen and progesterone, and that shift can nudge your system in all sorts of unpredictable directions. Some changes are physical, some emotional, and many fall somewhere in between.
Perhaps the most familiar symptoms are hot flushes and night sweats. These sudden waves of heat can arrive with a throbbing heartbeat and leave you sweaty or flushed, sometimes even in the middle of the night. It can feel as if your internal thermostat has gone rogue and decided to try every setting on the dial. Alongside this, many women struggle with poor sleep, not just because of night sweats but also because hormone changes can disrupt the natural sleep cycle.
Mood can wobble too. Fluctuating hormones can lead to irritability, anxiety or low mood, and at times it can feel like your brain is running in slow motion when you least expect it. Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and the much-talked-about “brain fog” are all common parts of the journey for many women around midlife.
Your body can feel different in other ways as well. You may notice joint aches, muscle stiffness or headaches that were less frequent before. Some people experience changes in libido or vaginal dryness, making intimacy uncomfortable. Even the urinary system can join the chorus with increased urgency or susceptibility to minor infections. You might also notice changes in your menstrual cycle long before periods stop completely, including variations in timing and flow.
Every woman’s experience of menopause is personal and unique. Some breeze through with only mild discomfort, while others find their symptoms significantly affect daily life. There is no right or wrong way to go through this transition, and there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can help manage symptoms if they become intrusive.
Learning to recognise and adapt to these changes takes patience. Menopause is a shift and an opportunity to understand your body better, not a sign that life’s joys are behind you.
Practical tips you can try today:
• Keep a symptom diary to spot patterns.
• Stay cool at night with breathable bedding.
• Prioritise sleep hygiene and a regular routine.
• Try gentle movement like walking or yoga for aches and mood.
• Talk to your GP if symptoms are severe or affecting daily life.
• Don’t underestimate the power of community and open conversation.
Unravelling Old Wounds: How EMDR Is Helping Women in Midlife Heal
Growing older does not mean carrying every emotional scar around forever. Yet many women in their fifties and beyond find that old hurts, anxieties, or unresolved memories resurface with extra weight. Emotional health is just as important as physical health, and sometimes a different kind of support can open a door that felt locked for years. That is where EMDR therapy comes in.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. Despite sounding technical, at its core, it is a gentle way to help the brain revisit troubling memories without reliving them with the same pain. The idea is to help your nervous system see those old moments differently, so they lose their grip on the present. It is not about forgetting; it is about reframing and understanding so those memories no longer hijack your emotional well-being.
Many women over 50 carry life stories that include loss, major transitions, long-buried worries or even decades of coping that never quite healed. EMDR does not require you to tell your whole story in detail. Instead, a trained therapist guides you through a series of structured steps using gentle bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or tones. This can help the brain move old painful material into a place where it feels less charged and more manageable.
This kind of work can feel profound because it targets emotional intensity rather than just talking around it. It is invaluable when recurring patterns appear in relationships, mood, or self-esteem. For many women, EMDR brings renewed clarity, calm, and a lighter sense of self, like a deep breath after years of holding tension.
Practical tips you can try today:
• Consider an initial chat with a qualified therapist to see if EMDR feels right for you.
• Ask about sessions tailored explicitly for midlife and menopause challenges.
• Set intentions for therapy that focus on wellbeing, not perfection.
• Give yourself time to process between sessions with gentle self-care.
• Pair EMDR with mindful habits like journaling or relaxing movement.
• Trust your pace; healing does not rush.
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment. It is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
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