During menopause, it is common for many women to experience an imbalance of hormones and loss of libido. Loss of libido can be extremely upsetting for women for a number of reasons. Not only do some women feel as though they are missing out on something that was previously very important to them, loss of libido can have a negative impact on relationships. Many couples are left struggling to adapt when a menopausal women experiences loss of libido. However, there are different treatment options menopausal women can turn to for help with their loss of libido.
What Is Libido?
Very simply, the libido is a woman's sex drive; the desire a woman has for sexual relations with another person. Loss of libido is not a problem for everybody, and for many couples it heralds a new stage in their relationship where they can become closer in other ways.
Why Am I Experiencing Loss of Libido?
There are many reasons for women to experience loss of libido. However, for menopausal women it is usually because of changing hormone levels. Shifting levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body can leave women with a low sex drive. For example:
Estrogen hormones control the lubrication of the vaginal walls and maintain the health of vaginal cells. When there is a deficiency of estrogen hormones, vaginal dryness can occur, making sex extremely uncomfortable.
Progesterone hormones can affect many of the other bodily functions that influence sexual desire. For example, irregular periods and extreme fatigue are both caused by a lack of progesterone hormones and can cause loss of libido.
Human biologists have also said that a drop in testosterone levels can also leave women with a low sex drive.
Loss of libido can also be due to emotional issues. If women are experiencing tension within a relationship, they will have less desire to be close to their partner, and loss of libido can occur.
How Can a Loss of Libido Be Treated?
There are different ways that women can boost their hormone levels and thus increase their libido levels. However, they should start by making healthy lifestyle changes, such as:
- Eat a healthy, well balanced diet filled with fruit and vegetables
- Exercise regularly
- Sleep for eight hours a night
- Drinking eight glasses of water a day
If these measures do not help women with their libido, there are different natural supplements and prescribed medications they can turn to in order to boost their libido.
However, if menopausal women are concerned that their loss of libido is not due to hormone imbalance, they should visit their medical practitioners. Loss of libido can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as depression, for example. Click here for more information about libido, hormones, and menopause symptoms treatments.
