6 things women wish their doctors told them about turning 50

About 17 to 45 percent of postmenopausal women say they find sex painful, according to studies cited by the North American Menopause Society. Although it can feel awkward, it’s important to

communicate problems with your partner and your health care provider, Eilber says, because the condition is treatable. THE FIX: For some women, over-the-counter lubricants and moisturizers

do the trick. If not, talk to your doctor about different types of hormone therapy. Vaginal estrogen cream is safe for most women, Eilber says, and it “can build back up the lining of the

vagina, which helps with lubrication and to maintain elasticity.”   5. YOUR SLEEP PATTERNS CHANGE If you’ve gone through menopause, you may already know how a hot flash can wake you up,

drenched in sweat, from a deep sleep. But even after hot flashes subside, other hormonal changes and the increase in your core body temperature that happens in middle age can impact the

quality and duration of your sleep, says Kristin Daley, a psychologist and sleep medicine expert who chairs the clinical practice committee for the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine.

Women in their 50s are more likely to struggle to get quality sleep. Getty Images You may wake more often during the night or notice that your sleep seems less restful. In addition, you

won’t be able to bounce back as quickly from a poor night of sleep or if you experience a time change while traveling, Daley says. “Our time in bed and our circadian rhythm become more

vulnerable to negative influences,” Daley says. “If you were the person who could sleep with the blinds open, you might not be that person anymore. We become incredibly sensitive to light

exposures.” THE FIX: Research shows you can still get a great night’s sleep by practicing good sleep hygiene. Try to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every night. Keep your

bedroom as dark as possible. And turn the thermostat down to 65 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Getting exercise and exposure to bright light every day are also important, Daley says.

(See “7 Expert Tips for a Better Night’s Rest.”) 6.  YOUR BONES GET MORE BRITTLE Beginning around age 50, everyone starts to lose some bone density. For women, however, menopause

significantly accelerates that bone loss. By some estimates, women lose as much as 20 percent of their skeletal mass during menopause. “The drop in estrogen has a very direct effect on

bone,” Rexrode says. That puts women at greater risk of osteoporosis, a bone-weakening disease that can lead to fractures.  Osteoporosis affects about one in five women over age 50, but only

one in 20 men. THE FIX: Weight-bearing exercise such as strength training, walking, hiking, climbing stairs, tennis and dancing can help strengthen bone. “It shifts the formative structures

inside the bone, telling the bones to stay strong,” Rexrode says. At the same time, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D, either from your diet or from supplements. Aim for 1,200

milligrams of calcium and at least 600 IU of vitamin D per day. (See “7 Surprising Ways to Strengthen Your Bones.”)