Low sex drive and hormones

Is having a low sex drive considered to be a medical disorder?

Despite what one reads and sees on the internet, not all women have high libido. A woman’s sex drive and desires fluctuate considerably throughout life and get even more unpredictable in middle age. The sex drive in a woman may be related to a personal relationship, marriage, children job, menopause, illness or there may be no obvious cause. One common cause of decreased sex drive in women is the use of certain drugs like the anti-depressants. In most of these cases, the sex drive reverses when the condition is treated or the drug is discontinued. , some women may have a persistent low sex drive or have a complete lack of interest in sex. If this low sex drive does not bother the female or causes no distress then it is not a medical disorder. The low sex drive is only considered to be a medical disorder if it causes you stress and you agonize over it.

In any cases, in many cases of low sex drive, there are simple changes in life style that can help boor libido. In rare cases, some women may need medications.

How much sex is considered to be less than normal?

There is no number that classifies low or high sex drive. If you are your partner are happy and have have a loving relationship and you have sex once a month (or more frequently), then that is ok . if the number of times you have sex does not bother you or your partner then you are normal. Many people are in a great relationship and do not have sex more than once a week and that is perfectly okay. There is such a range of sex drive that there is no such thing as normal. With the advent of the internet, it appears that having sex all the time is the norm- this is a delusion and myth propagated by people who want to sell porno. As long as you are happy and in a loving relationship, the number of times you have sex is irrelevant.

What are common causes of low sex drive in women?

There is no simple answer to this complex problem. Sex drive in women is intricately related to many factors including good health, intimacy, emotional well-being, experiences, interpersonal relationships and beliefs. Some of the causes of low sex drive include:

Medical disorders like arthritis, diabetes, cancer, having high blood pressure, stroke, muscular disorder and other bone development problems.

Some women may have a developmental abnormality that may make sex painful or make it difficult to achieve an orgasm.

There are several medications that can lower libido. These include anti-depressants and other mood altering drugs.

While a little alcohol may stimulate your libido, too much may cause you to feel sleepy and lower your sex drive. This also applies to many illicit drugs.

One temporary cause of low sex drive is surgery. Surgery especially in the pelvic area or groin usually does not help one get in the mood for sex. This applies to any surgery . the incisions can be painful and there is a chance that the wound can fall apart during sex. So common sense indicates that sex and surgery do not go well together.

Another cause of low sex drive is both physical and emotional stress. Women who are tired after a hard day’s work may not be in the mood to have sex. Looking after children all day can also be tiresome.

Is it normal to have a low sex drive during menopause?

During menopause, the levels of the female sex hormone, estrogen starts to decline. This is associated with a decrease in sex drive. The vagina and vulva also become dry and sex during this time period is uncomfortable. It is also known that during menopause the low levels of testosterone decline and this is also associated with a decrease in libido. Although sex during and after menopause is common, most women do notice a drop in libido. Many women resort to use of lubricants and topical hormones to have satisfying sex.

What type of emotional problems can lead to low sex drive?

There is a common belief that only depression causes a low sex drive. While this is true that are many other mental health issues that can lead to a low sex drive. This includes the following:

- having financial stress
- Work related problems
- Generalized anxiety
- Unrealistic expectation
- Poor body image
- Lack of self confidence
- Low self-esteem
- History of sexual abuse
- Problems in interpersonal relationships
- Unresolved conflicts with the partner
- No or little communication with the partner’
- Partner who is cheating
- In ability to connect with the partner

How is the diagnosis of low sex drive made in women?

Having low sex drive is often due to lack of interests or desire and may often be associated with stress. In many cases, the diagnosis can be made just based on the history you provide. However, in some cases, your doctor may perform a pelvic exam especially if you have pain during sexual intercourse. In other cases the pelvic exam may reveal vaginal dryness and tender spots. In middle aged and menopausal women, other routine tests may include looking at levels of blood sugars and function of the liver and kidney. Since treatment of low sex drive is not within the realm of general physicians, it is most likely you will be referred to to a therapist.

Are there any medications that can be used to treat low sex drive?

In most cases, the treatment of low sex drive is non-medical. This may include seeing a therapist for sex education and improving self-confidence. If you are already on an anti-depressant medication, your doctor may alter the dosage or change the medication. Unfortunately, every single anti-depressant available today is known to affect libido. The one antidepressant that only mildly affects libido is wellbutrin. Unfortunately, after a few months use, this medication is also known to lower libido. Some doctors do prescribe Viagra as an off label use in women with a low sex drive. You have to discuss this with your doctor.

Are there any hormonal treatments for low sex drive?

Yes they are. There are various formulation of low dose estrogen available. The low dose estrogen not only lubricates the vaginal but also improves mood and has a positive overall effect. However, there is a lot of conflicting data about estrogen and most physicians are reluctant to prescribe these hormones for long periods. There is concern that estrogen alone when taken for a long time may increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer. For the short term, the hormone is safe.

The low dose estrogen is available as a gel paste or suppository that can be placed directly inside the vagina. Over a few days, the estrogen increases blood flow and moisturizes the vagina, thus making sex pleasant. In most cases, doctors also prescribe a low dose progesterone to counter the effects of estrogen.

The role of the male sex hormone testosterone is also conflicting. Low doses are known to increase libido in the female. However, a prescription of testosterone is very controversial. At present testosterone in any form is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of low sex drive in women. Moreover testosterone also has very undesirable side effects like excess body hair, acne and changes in mood.

Are there any home remedies to boost libido?

Well one has to be realistic. There is no magic bullet but there are something you can do at home. Exercise regularly and lose excess weight, Not only will you feel more confident you will also look sexier. Moreover, a trim weight will help boost your self-esteem. Try to communicate with your partner about your desires, needs, and wants. Sex is also a lot to do with what is in between the ears and less what is in the groin. Spice up your sex life and use different positions and different locations for sex. Experiment, use sex toys, and do something spontaneous and exciting.

Are there any benefits of sex hormones in post-menopausal women?

Yes, definitely there are some benefits. There are a variety of synthetic and non-synthetic hormones available. These hormones are only available with a doctor’s prescription. There are natural products available in health food stores without a prescription but the quality of these hormones is unknown and unregulated.

These hormones do have some benefits when taken for short periods and when closely followed by a healthcare provider. The sex hormones may provide protection against the following medical disorders:

- Osteoporosis. There are many studies, which show that the bone thinning that occurs after menopause can be prevented by sex hormones. By increasing bone density, there is also a decreased incidence of hip fractures.

- There is new evidence that these sex hormones may lower the risk of colorectal cancer. However, taking sex hormones for long periods is also associated with a risk of other cancers.

- Prior to menopause, women have a much lower risk of heart disease. This is due to the protection provided by the sex hormones. After menopause, women have declining levels of the sex hormones and their risk of heart disease quickly rises to the same levels as men. It is now known that estrogen at low doses when taken early in menopause may help maintain the low risk of heart disease.

Post-menopausal women are usually prescribed a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The reason for this is that estrogen alone increase the risk of uterine cancer, whereas the addition of progestin counters the risk. Any female who wishes to use sex hormones after menopause should speak to a knowledgeable physician and assess the pros and cons about this therapy.

What causes symptoms of menopause ?

Is it just the hormones?

The basic cause of menopausal symptoms is the decline in sex hormones. However, there are other physiological changes that are responsible for the elevated temperature, sweating and flushing. It is believed that certain parts of the brain which are responsible for maintaining body temperature and sweating go awry when the sex hormones decline. It is the sex hormone, estrogen, which is primarily responsible for most symptoms of menopause.

However, there is not strict correlation between low levels of estrogen and hot flashes. The reason is that many young girls and adolescent women have low levels of estrogen from a variety of causes but they do not develop symptoms of menopause. It appears that estrogen may be the trigger factor during menopause and may interact with other hormonal systems.





Are there any risk factors which can worsen symptoms of menopause?

Yes, there are definite risk factors which can worsen menopause. Not all women have the same intensity of symptoms and thus it is believed that certain risk factors tend to make symptoms worse. These risk factors include?

Research indicates that women who smoke are more prone to developing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Moreover the symptoms tend to be more intense and prolonged in smokers.

Obese women are also more prone to hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. In addition, the symptoms are also prolonged and generally do not always respond to hormonal therapy.

Women who tend to live sedentary life styles are also more likely to experience menopausal symptoms. Most athletic women and those who exercise regularly tend to develop symptoms that are of mild duration and easily tolerated.

It is also well known African American women have more severe symptoms of menopause those other ethnic groups. Hot flashes tend to be less common in Orientals like Japanese and Chinese in comparison to Caucasians.

Estrogen Excess Dangers

There are three hormones that are named estrogens – estriol, estradiol and estrone. In this article, we write about the dangers of excess estrogen. Women can (and men also) suffer from excess estrogen from their late 30s and onwards. This will put you in situation whereby hormones become out of balance, leading first to pre-menopause and then later menopause.

When any of the delicately balanced hormonal system becomes unbalanced, a person will suffer from the symptoms of menopause. This can range from mild to severe occurrence of hot flashes, thyroid imbalance, night sweats, depression, brain fog, memory loss, depression, irritability and so on.

With estrogen dominance, all of the symptoms just mentioned will happen to you but there are more harmful effects that you should be aware of. Estrogen causes cell proliferation and when this happens, it is a promoter of cancer cells. To be in a situation of excess estrogen can cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Estrogen excess can also lead to a deficiency in nutrients that your body needs, such as the B vitamins, zinc and magnesium.

Estrogen excess can be treated with natural bioidentical progesterone. In fact, if you are using estrogen, it cannot be used without using bioidentical progesterone. Do not use progestins (Provera or Promethium) because these are synthetic hormones which can cause heart attacks, stroke and breast cancer.

If you don’t have enough estrogen, by contrast, you will also be suffering from the same menopause symptoms as well as feeling lethargic, suffering from sleep disturbance and extreme sensitivity. What we’re saying here is that you need to have balanced hormones and the only way to achieve this is through natural bioidentical hormones. See your bioidentical doctor and get your hormones checked to find out what you are missing in your system. You will experience an improvement in the way you feel in as a little as a couple of weeks.

In addition to taking bioidentical hormones, don’t forget to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and reduce your stress levels. Bioidentical hormones don’t work unless you are doing all of these things together. Don’t forget, this time in your life, when menopause sets in, you’re now free of children and the responsibilities of building a career. This second part of your life is all about you. If you find you are suffering from excess estrogen symptoms, get some natural progesterone and start taking good care of yourself and your health.

Hormones and Stress

Stress, as we already know, has a multitude of negative effects on the body. It can have long term negative health consequences for your body and it can also affect your hormone levels and how you experience menopause. High stress can cause the early onset of menopause and it can determine whether menopause symptoms during this time are severe or not.

Stress and other issues can affect how we experience menopause. Lifestyle issues can affect your menopause symptoms. Unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol and unresolved problems can effect your symptoms. Life events, divorces, problems with your teenage children and even traveling can upset your hormone balance. You may experience weight gain for no reason or an increase in hot flashes. You may experience increased tiredness. All of these symptoms are because your hormone levels are decreasing and stress is blunting the positive effects of bioidentical hormones.

If you are using bioidentical hormones, you may find that your estrogen levels decrease because of stress. You may suddenly be gaining weight, even though you are eating carefully. Your bioidentical doctor can re-test your hormone levels and decide that you need an increase in your estrogen (estradiol) or progesterone cream until your symptoms have disappeared and a second hormone test shows that your levels have become more adequate.

Because of the negative effects of stress on your hormones, try to find ways to reduce your stress. Eating a careful, healthy diet will help. Quit smoking and stop drinking in excess. If you have unresolved life issues, try and work these problems through with the help of friends or relatives or a therapist. Add some yoga sessions to your daily life. Learn to meditate and breathe deeply. Center yourself. Think positive thoughts and visualize your life without these problems. These are all ways that you can reduce the stress in your life, balance your hormones and be healthier. All of these things will affect how you experience menopause.

Menopause is no easy ride. It takes strength and health to manage this passage of life. However, it is a time of new beginnings and change and can be a positive force in your life.

Roles of Estrogen and Progesterone in the Body

Estrogen and progesterone are two very important sexual hormones in females and play a major role in the body. For the female body to function well both mentally and physically, the levels of estrogen and progesterone must be in proper balance. Both estrogen and progesterone have unique functions in the body. In the body, the levels of both estrogen and progesterone are well regulated by the hypothalamus. The ovary is very sensitive to information from the brain and only manufacturers these hormones when needed. For all functions in the body, it is the levels of free hormones that are most important.

The levels of estrogen and progesterone vary in the body during each menstrual cycle. However, there are certain times during the menstrual cycle when the levels of estrogen are high and progesterone levels are low. In such a case, the female will experience the following symptoms:

- increased anxiety
- feeling of sadness
- mood swings from depression to anger
- apprehension , forgetfulness
- lack of concentration
- altered sleep patterns

Progesterone helps to balance out these mood altering symptoms.

Estrogen can also cause sodium retention; this result in water retention and swelling of the body. Most females notice the water retention which is obvious in the hands and feet and around the stomach. Progesterone can help counter these effects by blocking the retention of sodium.

High levels of estrogen can also affect metabolism. This many manifest as:

- episodes of low sugar levels
- increased appetite
- headaches
- food cravings
- fatigue
- sleepiness

Again progesterone maintains the balance and prevents the increased food cravings and lowers appetite.

When estrogens are administrated to women without the balancing of progesterone, the following can occur:

- higher incidence of fibroids
- increased incidence of fibrocystic disease
- possible breast cancer
- endometrial cancer

Thus, any female who desires to take supplements of estrogen, must make sure that progesterone is added to the formulation to counter the effects of estrogen.