Ladies: It’s Time to Reclaim Your Libidos!
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder, menopause, birth control, or just life – how to overcome challenges to your libido
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is known as a long-term or frequent lack of interest in sexual activity. While fluctuations in sexual interest are expected from time to time and throughout a person’s life, it’s always a good idea to consult with your physician if you notice something is consistently off.
Testosterone: It’s not just for men
The causes of changes in our sex drive range from normal aging to stressful life events, to health problems such as adrenal insufficiency. In many cases, low testosterone levels are the culprit – even in women.
Women rely on testosterone for many of the same reasons men do, including a healthy libido. Similar to the effect of menopause, birth control pills are known to atrophy testosterone levels. However, whether or not they have the same impact as menopause is still up for debate.
Regardless of the cause of a testosterone deficiency, the hormone helps drive blood flow to the vagina. Without enough of it, sensitivity and lubrication can suffer, creating a less exciting and potentially painful, sexual experience.
Psychological issues, medications, heart disease, and a range of other conditions can also impact sexual desire and performance.
8 ways for women to give their libido a boost
Whether symptoms are hormone-related or not, the best treatment strategies begin with a doctor’s assessment and recommendation. Therapy can be as simple as lifestyle changes to as complex as medical interventions, depending on each individual’s condition.
1. Enlist a sexual medicine specialist. To get right to the point, consider consulting a urologist or other expert in sexual medicine. Not only will they be able to provide a more profound analysis, but you can also expect them to be more comfortable and skilled in discussing sexual concerns.
2. Sex therapy. The mind is said to be the most powerful sex organ. Our mental state can have a significant impact on our desire for sex. For women who have psychological concerns directly connected to sexual activity, therapy might include some form of sex education or couple’s exercises. In other cases, relationship counseling can help restore a romantic spark – however, any stressful life event can lead to a decreased libido.
3. Review your medications. Ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking. Some medicines – for example, antidepressants, birth control pills, and hypertension drugs – are known to dampen libidos. Your doctor might suggest an alternative prescription or another new treatment plan. Always consult with your physician before making changes to your medication routine.
4. Hormone therapy. Women with vaginal atrophy may be prescribed estrogen simply to help relieve associated dryness and discomfort during sex. Some doctors may recommend testosterone to enhance a woman’s libido – though this is controversial, and it’s not specifically FDA-approved for treating female sexual dysfunction.
5. De-stress yourself. Exercise, don’t watch so much news programing, take walks, pet dogs, live-and-let-live, or whatever relaxes you – stress can be your libido’s biggest enemy.
6. Exercise: Part II. If you’ve never been in shape, you really don’t know what you’re missing. The benefits of yoga, Pilates, running, and other exercises include: improved body image, clearer skin, mental clarity, stamina, and it can make you want to have more sex! Once you’re introduced to the euphoric calm of a post-workout high, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
7. Rediscover communication. If you’re not comfortable discussing sex with your partner, then there’s room for improvement in that department. Talk about what you like, fantasies you’ve wanted to try – or ones you would rather just fantasize about. On the opposite end of the spectrum, get a feel for what isn’t working as well. The more open you are with your partner, the better the sex will be and your desire for it may improve.
8. Make time for sex. A busy schedule can push your sex life to the bottom of your to-do list. Sometimes, simply designating time for sex can help re-ignite desire.
A new, noninvasive solution for women
One of the best ways to address erectile dysfunction (ED) and diminished performance in men is now available for women who experience sexual dysfunction. High-intensity, low-frequency sound waves have achieved excellent results by breaking up plaque in blood vessels and stimulating the growth of new vessels.
Improving blood flow to the vagina through this non-invasive, in-office procedure can help rejuvenate a woman’s sex life, just like it’s done for men all over the world.
Find a FemiWave Provider near you.
