This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. You're listening to I Choose Me with Jenny Girl.

Welcome back to I Choose Me. I've been talking to Dr. Maria Sophocles about midlife and menopause,

not about the symptoms we usually hear about

or talk about the hot flashes, the mood swings, but how our bodies react to sex, desire,

and pleasure. I've asked Dr. Maria to give us some hot tips for jumping back into the bedroom,

so let's get into it. All right. Let's talk about talking about sex with

our partner. One of the first things you can do when you want to improve the state of your sex life

is deciding to communicate, which is easier said than done. So what are the first steps to

communicating when you've had some weeks or maybe months without sex in your relationship.

Yeah, I think the first thing, just like acknowledging a drinking problem or a food addiction

or whatever it is, is to say, there is a problem here. Me rolling over and just pretending

I'm enjoying my book is not okay and acknowledging it to yourself.

And then figuring out how you're going to start that first conversation.

And, you know, I'm not going to, I don't, I won't do the whole book, but I think some little

giveaways are important.

I think having that first conversation for some people is easier in a car or on a walk because

you're actually looking forward. It's a little like the therapist couch. You're not like looking

in each other's eyes and reading the awkward what kind of eye roll or something. Oh, yeah.

My face is so expressive that it's a good idea to not be able to see my face when you're talking to me.

I mean, everybody has to do as best for them, but I am guilty of sharing with my husband,

my judgment through my face, which is not always good. It does not give the, it's not polite.

So I've learned that for us, the walks are the best. We have a beautiful walk in nature.

...