Women expect hot flashes and mood swings at menopause. But if you’re like most, you’re unprepared for another common problem: the loss of your sex drive.
There’s a strong link between menopause and low libido, yet few women are aware of the issue, likely because they don’t talk about sex problems after menopause.
Studies show that many women don’t discuss their declining libido with their female friends or partners. Women and health care providers may talk about vaginal problems like dryness but not sexual desire.
And if they dare to tell their health care provider, they often feel brushed off or dismissed and seldom get helpful advice or treatment suggestions.
At Women’s Wellness MD, we nurture a safe space where we always listen to and honor your concerns.
We understand that menopause-related libido changes are physical problems that have a tremendous impact on your self-image and relationships. We’re here to find solutions, offer treatments, and restore the vibrant sexual life you deserve.
Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop producing hormones and releasing eggs. The dramatic drop in hormones is why symptoms develop, including those affecting your sex drive.
These are four changes that impact your sexuality:
Estrogen has a vital role in keeping the vaginal tissues healthy. The vagina becomes dry without estrogen and produces less of the lubrication needed for sex. Additionally, the vaginal lining thins and loses elasticity.
These vaginal changes make sex painful. The vagina may bleed during or after intercourse, and itching may develop. For some women, sex is so uncomfortable that they can’t tolerate penetration.
Before long, women lose interest in sex and avoid their partner or make excuses at bedtime.
Several hormones trigger sexual desire in women, and they all decrease after menopause.
Estrogen: As we mentioned above, estrogen supports your sexual well-being by maintaining a healthy vagina. Estrogen is also crucial for erogenous desire, sensitivity, and arousal.
Androgens: Women produce a small amount of androgens (male sex hormones), which enhance their libido, boost sexual arousal, and help them achieve orgasm. Unlike estrogen, androgens don’t suddenly decline. Their levels gradually decrease in the years after menopause.
Oxytocin: Oxytocin gets released during orgasm. It boosts sexual desire by promoting feelings of pleasure and intimacy with your partner. In addition to declining at menopause, you can’t get the benefits of oxytocin if you’re avoiding sex due to low libido.
Weight gain is a typical issue that happens with aging and menopause-related hormonal changes. Additionally, estrogen and androgens get out of balance.
Low estrogen combined with higher levels of androgens may cause problems like dark hair growth on your face, hair thinning, acne, and voice changes — physical changes that affect your self-image and make you feel less desirable.
Estrogen and progesterone have vital roles in regulating energy and sleep. As these hormones change, many menopausal women have difficulty sleeping and feel fatigued throughout the day. Fatigue puts a damper on sexual desire.
You may have noticed a theme: Low libido relates to low and imbalanced hormones. You can’t avoid these hormonal changes, but you can reverse them and restore your sex drive with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
As menopause and hormone therapy specialists, we have years of experience carefully evaluating your medical history and health to be sure you can safely take HRT.
HRT is safe for most women, with only a few health concerns that may prevent you from getting the treatment that can rejuvenate your sex life.
Your health is further protected because we prescribe bioidentical hormones. They’re chemically the same as your body’s natural hormones and made from plants.
We put your customized dose in a tiny pellet and implant it under your skin. The pellet releases a steady amount of the hormone, restoring your health and well-being.
Call Women’s Wellness MD to learn your treatment options for overcoming the low libido caused by menopause.
