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Rekindle the Romance: How Hormone Balance Impacts Your Libido
Are you not in the mood? If you find that you’re rarely in the mood for sex, you may have a low libido. Low libido is common, with 40-70% of women reporting that they experience it.
There are various reasons women experience low libido, with hormonal imbalance due to perimenopause or menopause being one of the most common. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways you can boost your sex drive.
At Female Health Associates of North Texas, located in Fort Worth, board-certified gynecologist Dr. Jeffrey Hantes can help you figure out if a hormone imbalance is the cause of your low libido. If it is, he can recommend effective treatments that can help you rekindle your romantic relationship.
What is low libido?
Libido refers to your desire to have sex. Low libido means a low desire for sex and intimate relations. However, low libido can mean different things for different women. Some women have little or no interest in sex. Others don’t find sex pleasurable. Other symptoms of low libido include:
- No desire to masturbate
- An inability to get aroused
- Anxiety related to not wanting to have sex
Most women (and men) experience low libido on occasion. Not everyone who experiences a diminished interest in sex needs to seek treatment for it. However, if you find that it’s long-lasting and is something you’d like to address, Dr. Hantes can determine the cause and help you get that loving feeling back.
How do hormones affect libido?
Female sex hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These hormones affect your sex drive and ability to get aroused. Higher levels of estrogen help promote vaginal lubrication, arousal, and sex drive.
Estrogen levels fluctuate and eventually drop during perimenopause and menopause. As a result, women going through menopause may experience less interest in sex, vaginal dryness, and painful sex. Additionally, other common menopause symptoms, such as sleep issues, mood swings, and hot flashes, can impact a woman's interest in sex.
How can hormone therapy help boost my libido?
Hormone therapy can treat a variety of menopause symptoms that can affect libido. If you experience vaginal dryness and painful sex, for example, hormone therapy can help address these issues by boosting vaginal lubrication.
Additionally, hormone therapy can help reduce hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep issues. Better sleep and mood can help put you in the mood to have sex.
If you want to boost your libido and suspect hormone imbalance is the culprit of diminished sexual interest or pleasure, make an appointment with Dr. Hantes for an evaluation and effective treatment plan. Call Female Health Associates of North Texas to schedule a hormone replacement therapy consultation or book an appointment online today.