Let's talk about Sex: Menopause and a low
libido
" You are in complete and total charge of your life
and happiness, and that includes your sexual happiness."-Suzanne
Somers, The Sexy Years
Why does Menopause cause a low sex drive?
During Menopause your estrogen levels decline to such a negligible
level that you begin to experience all of the all too familiar
symptoms: hot flashes, night
sweats, itchy skin, vaginal dryness, sleepless nights, memory
loss or foggy thinking and most importantly
the loss of interest in sex.
Why does all of this happen?
Because Estrogen is your primary sex hormone and after menopause,
estrogen is no longer being produced and the lack of estrogen
causes all of the symptoms listed above. This is especially
true for women who have had either a
hysterectomies (even if the ovaries were left in) or an
oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries)
In addition, while your estrogen levels are dropping simultaneously
your testosterone levels are dropping. Why is testosterone
important? Even though Estrogen is a woman's primary sex hormone,
testosterone plays an important role as well in a woman's
sex drive. It is all about the
balance. One cannot have the Yin without the Yang and
still function normally.
Could low testosterone levels be to
blame?
Women who experience low testosterone
levels present with most of the following symptoms:
It is easy to confuse these vague and non-specific symptoms
with life. Financial stress, work stress, family stress could
easily contribute to any of these symptoms.
However, women that are menopausal,
post-menopausal or in surgical
menopause (hysterectomy) who are on some sort of HRT therapy
and still not getting relief from hot
flashes, night sweats, fatigue and diminished sex drive
probably are experiencing low testosterone levels.
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