Collagen benefits for women: improving your sex life after menopause

Perimenopause and menopause bring some of the biggest hormonal, physical and emotional shifts a woman will experience — and many of them are underdiscussed. With women often living several decades after menopause, changes to skin, joints, bones, hair and intimate health deserve honest attention, not silence or hype. This article covers what marine collagen can genuinely support during and after menopause, where the evidence is strongest, and — importantly — the areas where a different treatment is what actually works.

What happens to the body around menopause

The transition through perimenopause and into postmenopause involves a decline in oestrogen and progesterone. Oestrogen isn't only involved in reproduction — it also supports collagen production, skin elasticity, bone density, cardiovascular health and the tissues of the vulva, vagina and urinary tract. As oestrogen falls, many tissues that depend on it undergo changes.

According to Brincat and colleagues' research, up to 30% of skin collagen can be lost in the first five years after menopause, with further gradual loss continuing after that. This is one reason why so many women notice changes in skin, hair and joints all around the same time — the underlying driver is hormonal, and the effects are widespread.

Vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy — what's really going on

Vaginal dryness (part of what's now called genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM) affects a very large proportion of women during and after menopause. It happens because the tissues of the vulva, vagina and urinary tract are oestrogen-dependent — as oestrogen falls, these tissues become thinner, drier, less elastic and more prone to irritation.

Symptoms of GSM can include:

• Vaginal dryness, burning or itching
• Soreness or discomfort of the vulva
• Pain or bleeding with sex
• Discomfort with everyday activities — sitting, exercise, walking
• More frequent urinary tract infections
• Changes in urinary urgency or frequency
• Reduced libido, often linked to the discomfort itself

Unlike hot flushes, GSM does not typically improve on its own — in fact, without treatment it usually gets worse over time. That's genuinely important context for anyone experiencing symptoms.

What the evidence-backed treatments are for vaginal dryness

Being honest about this section, because it's what matters most for readers with actual symptoms:

Vaginal oestrogen (topical)

This is the first-line medical treatment for GSM and by far the most effective. It's a prescription treatment applied locally as a cream, pessary, tablet or ring — meaning the oestrogen acts on the vaginal and urinary tissues rather than being absorbed systemically. Vaginal oestrogen is safe for the vast majority of women, including — per current British Menopause Society and international guidance — most breast cancer survivors when discussed with their oncologist. It's genuinely underprescribed relative to how effective it is. If you have GSM symptoms, this is worth a specific conversation with your GP.

Vaginal moisturisers and lubricants

Long-acting vaginal moisturisers (different from lubricants) can be used regularly to maintain tissue hydration. Lubricants are used for intercourse specifically. Both are available over the counter and can be combined with medical treatments.

Systemic HRT

Systemic hormone replacement therapy (patches, gels, tablets) can help with broader menopausal symptoms including some vaginal symptoms, though localised vaginal oestrogen is often still needed alongside for GSM specifically. Read our guide to menopause supplements with HRT for more on combining HRT with a broader wellness routine.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy

Genuinely helpful and underused — a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist can help with GSM-related symptoms, urinary urgency, and pelvic floor function generally.

Ospemifene

A prescription non-hormonal option (a selective oestrogen receptor modulator) available for women who can't or don't want to use vaginal oestrogen. Discuss with your GP or menopause specialist.

Where does collagen supplementation fit in?

Here's the honest position: oral collagen supplementation does not have strong evidence for treating vaginal atrophy or GSM. The core issue in GSM is oestrogen deficiency in oestrogen-dependent tissues — and providing amino acid building blocks for the body's own collagen production doesn't directly address the hormonal driver. If GSM symptoms are what you're dealing with, the treatments above are the ones with the evidence.

Where marine collagen does have stronger evidence — and where it makes sense as part of a broader daily routine during and after menopause — is in the tissues and systems it's actually been studied in:

• Skin — improved elasticity, hydration and the appearance of fine lines with consistent daily supplementation over 8-12 weeks. This is the strongest evidence base.
• Joints — emerging evidence for reduced joint pain and improved function over 12+ weeks, particularly when paired with movement
• Bone density — emerging evidence in post-menopausal women, alongside adequate vitamin D and calcium intake
• Hair — emerging evidence for hair condition; the base is less developed than for skin
• Nail strength — some evidence, often one of the earliest changes women report

Featured Product

Premium Liquid Marine Collagen

10,000mg of clinically studied marine collagen daily — for visibly smoother, firmer, more hydrated skin in as little as 28 days.

Shop Liquid Collagen →

A daily routine that supports menopausal wellbeing

Alongside any medical treatment your GP has recommended, some daily habits genuinely support how you feel and function through and beyond menopause:

Foundations

• A balanced diet with adequate protein, plenty of vegetables and fruit, and enough water
• Regular movement — a mix of aerobic activity and weight-bearing/resistance exercise, which specifically supports bone density
• 7-8 hours of sleep where possible, though sleep is often disrupted during menopause and worth discussing with your GP if persistent
• Skincare with daily SPF (UV accelerates collagen breakdown)
• Sensible alcohol intake and not smoking

Supplements that complement well

• Marine collagen — skin, hair, nail and joint support
• Vitamin D and calcium — bone density support alongside HRT if prescribed
• Magnesium — sleep, muscle function, general wellbeing
• B vitamins — energy and reducing tiredness (authorised EU health claims)
• Omega-3 fatty acids — cardiovascular support, mood

Kollo Premium Liquid Meno Support is a daily liquid formula developed specifically for menopause. If you're on HRT or any other medication, check with your GP or pharmacist before starting any menopause supplement — see our menopause supplements with HRT guide for the full picture.

Featured Product

Premium Liquid Meno Support

A daily liquid formula developed for menopause — designed to complement a broader routine of nutrition, movement, and medical care.

Shop Meno Support →

Why Kollo

Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen uses Naticol® marine collagen from sustainably certified fisheries. Every batch is Informed Choice certified — independently tested for over 250 prohibited and potentially harmful substances. Not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy.

Beyond that, we won't claim Kollo is a treatment for GSM or a substitute for the medical care your GP might recommend for menopausal symptoms — because it isn't. What it is: a well-formulated daily supplement with a strong evidence base for skin and emerging evidence for joints, bone and hair, that fits comfortably alongside a broader menopause plan built with your GP.

Frequently Asked Questions