Thanks, CLKD! It's great to have such a place where I can write and learn.
Yes, I'm stateside -- in Maryland, in fact. I'm 51 years old, my last period was the end of November 2012 when I was 48. I started noticing a change when I was 47 years old. My periods were getting strange and I was having other physical discomforts. That was also when I started losing my libido. Eventually, my hubby and I just rarely had sex. I noticed when we did, it would cause me to bleed and I felt VERY sore afterwards. Now when we try, like you said, it feels like razor blades are inside me. I stared having hot flashes about a year ago but have been taking Black Cohosh which seems to have taken them away. On occasion I'm overcome with a hot flash, but it's rare anymore.
Have you heard of DHEA? Do you know of anyone who's used it? I've read that it's best to take them vaginally and here's just one of the articles I've read =(
http://www.clevelandclinicwellness.com/Features/Pages/DHEA-Suppository.aspx).
Anyway, I will look above as you've suggested, and yes please do bounce the threads about VA if you can find them.
Also, I had to start seeing a therapist a few years ago (when I was about 47) and a psychiatrist because I couldn't stop crying. I felt so depressed and anxious. They now have me on 3 medications for depression and anxiety, but from what I'm reading, I wonder now if it was just the menopause causing this?!
Appreciatively,
laurathelynn