Menopause can bring about physical and emotional changes that lead to a loss of libido. Hormonal fluctuations and the knowledge that a stage of life is ending can take a tremendous toll on intimacy for some women during menopause. Understanding what is happening to you and what you can do about it will give you the knowledge that you need to regain your normal levels of sexual desire.
Physical Reasons behind Loss of Libido
As the ovaries begin to cease their functioning, estrogen levels rapidly decline. Estrogen is a sex hormone and it interacts with other hormones that regulate body functions related to reproduction and libido. Some of the symptoms that result from hormone imbalances are the culprit behind loss of libido. Hot flashes and night sweats are among the most common. These can cause discomfort and anxiety in some women. Fatigue often results when night sweats and feelings of nervousness or anxiousness interfere with normal sleeping patterns and in some cases lead to sleep disorders. Exhaustion or feeling tired takes a toll on the level of sexual desire that a woman feels.
In addition, lower estrogen levels affect the condition of the vagina and surrounding tissue. Estrogen helps in the production of natural vaginal lubrication. When there is not enough, vaginal tissues can become dry and more fragile. This can result in painful intercourse for women. Incontinence can also occur when there is a weakening of the muscles that allow urine to leak from the bladder. This can be a real turn off for some women as they worry about leakage during sex.
What you can do about physical reasons for loss of libido?
1. Consult with an expert
Start by making an appointment with your health care provider to discuss the symptoms that you are experiencing. Each woman is different and may have other health considerations or living circumstances affecting their physical and emotional health. Your healthcare provider will have information that can help in identifying the best treatment approach to meet your individual needs. They can help you to determine if your condition is mostly caused by the physical aspects of menopause, the emotional, a combination of both, medications you may be taking or by other health conditions
2. Consider hormone treatments
There are a few different approaches that can be taken for replacing the lost estrogen in your body. The traditional treatment of hormone replacement therapy is an option that some women are eligible for. This remedy involves the use of synthetically engineered estrogen and some formulations include progesterone as well. This treatment is not recommended for long term use in eligible women as it is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer later in life. Natural remedies that work in the same way that HRT does use compounds called phytoestrogens, which are found in certain plants such as soy, black cohosh and wild yams. These ingredients are extracted from plants, concentrated and combined in supplements that act like estrogen in the body and help to restore normal hormonal balances. These can be effective in restoring a woman’s libido to her pre-menopausal state.
3. Lubricate against dryness
There are several different vaginal lubricants available over the counter. These can help to ease the vaginal dryness during menopause and discomfort during intimacy. They provide a temporary form of relief and will need to be repeated for each encounter, unlike the longer lasting effects of HRT or natural supplements.
4. Practice your kegel exercises
Kegel exercises can help to strengthen the muscles in the bladder area and the urethra. This helps to reduce episodes of incontinence and the embarrassment and fear that can accompany the condition
5. Introduce personal massages to your sex life
The use of intimate aids such as personal massages can help to stimulate a sagging libido. They are useful in helping you to become aroused and to get things going so to speak.
Psychological Reasons behind Loss of Libido
In some cases, cognitive function is also affected by hormonal imbalances. The hypothalamus is responsible for producing the feel good hormones that help us to have a sense of well being. When this process is disrupted due to hormone fluctuation, mood swings, nervousness, anxiety and depression can present as symptoms of menopause. These emotional disturbances often have their roots in the physical changes that are occurring in the body during menopause and can have a detrimental effect upon a woman’s libido. It is difficult to become sexually aroused when you feel tired, nervous anxious and experience pain during intimacy. In addition to this, some women experience a period of grieving due to their inability to conceive and bear children. They somehow feel that they are less feminine and no longer attractive to their mates.
What You Can Do About Psychological Reasons Loss of Libido?
1. Talk
If possible, talk to your partner about your feelings. You may find that this is a place where you find understanding, emotional support and confirmation that you are still sexually appealing. Confiding in a trusted friend or relative may also be helpful. If these are not options, you could consult with a professional counselor. Getting your feelings out is often a big relief and in talking you may come up with your own solutions.
2. Don’t be afraid to say what feels good, and what doesn’t
As your body is changing, you may need to become more sexually creative in finding the most comfortable and pleasurable ways to stimulate your sex drive. Tell your partner what you enjoy and what is less enjoyable. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know.
3. Practice with personal massages
Take the time with these devices to learn more about your body and how it responds to specific touches in certain areas. This can help to stimulate your sexual desire as you learn new and exciting ways to become sexually aroused.
How menopause supplements can help to deal with the loss of libido
Menopause supplements go to the root of the problem in many cases. They help to restore the body to a normal hormonal balance. This often addresses most of the symptoms of menopause, which can lower sexual desire. When the symptoms abate, you may find that you return to the degree of sexual desire you experienced prior to the onset of menopause.
Conclusion
For the many women who do experience the loss of libido during menopause, there is effective help available to regain your former sex drive. First understanding why the changes are occurring is important. Next, knowing which remedies can get you back on your feet will empower you to take corrective action. The use of menopause supplements can help restore sexual desire in women who have suffered a loss of libido.