How to Boost Your Sex Drive During Menopause

While the saying that the brain is a woman’s most important sex organ is probably true for many females, you can’t just cut the roles your body plays out of the equation. Satisfactory sex depends on a lot of bodily functions: arousal, absence of pain, and the ability to achieve orgasm. 

When you go through menopause, libido tanks, and all the physical changes can make it nearly impossible to get aroused, let alone climax. Sex can also become painful, making physical intimacy something to avoid altogether. 

If you’re going through menopause and would like to reclaim your sex drive, our team, led by Karen Mass, MD, FACOG, at Women’s Specialty Care in Lake Forest and Grayslake, Illinois, wants to help. 

Here, she explains what you need to know about how menopause affects sex drive and how we can help. 

Menopause and your sex drive

Menopause causes your levels of estrogen and testosterone to plummet, which is what leads to physical changes and diminished sex drive. 

Your decreasing hormone levels can lead to lots of changes in your body, including vaginal atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is the thinning and drying of your vaginal walls, which can lead to decreased sensitivity in your vagina and labia, decreased vaginal lubrication, and genital pain. A reduction in blood flow can also make arousal and achieving orgasm much more difficult. 

Other physical symptoms in menopause can make sex much less desirable. A few of these symptoms include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Bladder control issues

Many women also struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and high stress during and after menopause, which is more than likely to affect your sex drive. 

Addressing low sex drive

Since there are so many things that can contribute to a decreased sex drive during and after menopause, our team takes the time to narrow down what might be causing your lack of libido and tailor a treatment plan from there. 

Here are some approaches we may include in your plan to treat issues with sex drive:

Sex education and counseling

Working with a professional psychiatrist or counselor experienced in addressing low sex drive can help. You get detailed education about sexual response and specific techniques to use. Couples counseling may also help with any relationship issues causing a lack of desire or intimacy. 

Examining medications

Several medications can cause a decrease in sex drive, especially antidepressants. If you suspect that your antidepressant is leading to a lower libido, our team can talk through some options. We can lower your dosage, you can take a break from the medication, or we can try some other treatments for your mental health condition. 

Hormone replacement therapy

Estrogen creams, patches, or pills can help address vaginal dryness or atrophy, along with other unpleasant menopause symptoms. Relieving these symptoms may help improve your sex drive as a result. 

If menopause has caused your sex drive to take a hit, don’t wait to seek treatment. Schedule an appointment with our team by calling your nearest office location or booking online today.