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Sexual Health & Libido
Treatment for Boston Women struggling with Low Libido
Your sexual health and your libido, or sex drive, are closely intertwined. But your libido isn’t constant. It ebbs and flows normally — and then, as you reach perimenopause and menopause in your 40s and 50s, it ebbs. For most women, it keeps ebbing.
The decrease in female hormones that occurs with menopause results in decreased libido for most women, along with other symptoms that can include hot flashes and mood swings. Most women have less interest in sex and may find sexual intercourse painful due to the vaginal dryness that often occurs with menopause.
Your lowered sex drive during menopause is normal. But there’s good news. Lifestyle changes and at-home treatments may provide some relief for your decreased libido. Even better, a sexual health doctor can help you achieve a full and satisfying sex life through hormone replacement therapy. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of your low libido and what you can do about it.
What Is Low Sex Drive or Low Libido?
Low libido occurs when you have little interest in sex. Biological factors are among the prime drivers of libido, which can fluctuate based on issues involving health and stress. If you are not experiencing any sexual attraction to your partner or others, sexual thoughts or genital tingling, chances are your libido is reduced for some reason. Negative feelings about sex and lack of a caring relationship can be other factors that influence low libido.
What Causes Low Libido?
One of the primary causes of low libido is the decrease in estrogen levels that occur naturally at menopause. While both men and women experience a lowered sex drive with age, this occurs more rapidly for women as they reach menopause.
The decline of estrogen production in your 40s and 50s brings with it an array of symptoms that can decrease sex drive, including vaginal dryness and hot flashes. In addition, women’s production of testosterone at midlife may also affect sex drive.
About 33% of women report low libido, most of them in the 45-64 age range. While declining hormone levels play a role, other factors are closely intertwined. Younger women tend to be more concerned about declining libido than older women, and mental health conditions such as depression can also be factors.
Not all women experience loss of sexual desire at menopause. Some, in fact, find themselves feeling a greater sense of freedom as their kids are out of the house and they no longer have to worry about pregnancy.
When Does Low Libido Become a Reason for Concern?
While some women don’t experience a loss in their quality of life as their sexual desire wanes at menopause, other women find themselves distressed. They miss the libido they once enjoyed and sometimes even find their sense of self changing. They may be frustrated at the way their lack of libido is affecting their sexual and romantic partner, and they may worry about losing a relationship they care about.
If the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause affect your daily life, including your sexual desire and activity, you should reach out to a doctor experienced with female sexual dysfunction. Your doctor can rule out any medical conditions that could be contributing to your lowered libido and discuss possible routes for treatment, including hormone replacement therapy.
Treatment for Women's Low Libido
Fortunately, menopause doesn’t have to mean the end of your libido. You can take steps to restore your libido and sex life, starting with hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy is the primary and most effective way to treat the symptoms of menopause, including low libido. By replacing the estrogen that your body doesn’t produce in sufficiency any longer, you can do away with hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal atrophy and other uncomfortable symptoms — and you can give your sex drive a boost as well. Scientific studies show that women who use hormone replacement therapy experience higher levels of sexual drive.
Women who are primarily suffering from localized vaginal symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and thinning, may choose to use topical estrogen in the form of vaginal rings or creams. In addition, some studies show that adding testosterone to your regimen during menopause may increase libido.
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Other Remedies for Low Libido
While hormone replacement therapy is the only menopause-related treatment that deals with a wide array of menopause symptoms, you have other options that may help with your low libido and sexual health. Among them are the following:
- Lubricants. If vaginal dryness is the primary factor putting you off sex, water-soluble lubricants can help ease discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse.
- Communication with your partner. Being open with your sexual partner about what you’re going through can help you feel more emotionally comfortable with sex. Nonsexual cuddling, caressing and other intimate acts may also help boost your sex drive.
- Exercise. Exercise fights the weight gain associated with menopause. It also releases endorphins, which push back against the stress and mood swings you may be experiencing, triggering the positive emotions you need to fuel your libido.
- Therapy. Whether you seek therapy on your own or with your partner, counseling can help you get through menopause, learn how to manage the mood swings you’re experiencing and understand how to approach a diminished libido in an emotionally healthy way.
- Natural remedies. While some women turn to over-the-counter sleep aids or soy products (such as black cohosh) for help with sleep disruption during menopause,
many of these are not officially approved and may be ineffective. Discuss any natural remedies with your doctor before you try them.
Low Libido and Sexual Health Treatment in Massachusetts
If you’re experiencing a loss of libido due to the decreased estrogen levels of perimenopause and menopause, there’s hope for you at a sexual health clinic. At Hormonally Balanced, we strive to provide the best women’s sexual health care in Massachusetts. We’re ready to help you with your vaginal dryness, loss of libido and overall quality of life as you approach your 40s and 50s. Call us today or complete our confidential form to speak with one of our women’s sexual health experts and get your sexual health back on track.