Can Low Libido from Menopause be Treated?
Low menopause libido or low libido caused by menopause refers to a middle-aged woman’s lack of desire for sex and is the most common sexual problem reported by menopausal women. In some cases the menopausal woman may have problems with lack of arousal or with achieving orgasm; in others the woman may experience pain during intercourse and consequently avoid it thereafter. Low menopause libido may have more than one cause and it is important to determine these causes if the condition is to be resolved. The problem could be caused by psychological issues, existing hormonal problems or simply by the taking of medication which unknown to the recipient decreases her libido as a side effect.
Other causes that may contribute to decreased libido in a woman include marital problems and other personal issues (e.g., a death in the family, etc.). Many women with personal problems naturally find that the last thing on their minds is sex. In cases like these the lack of libido is temporary and not an actual problem related to menopause. Low menopause libido needs to be seriously addressed only when it is suspected to be menopause-related and when it causes actual personal concern or distress.
Hysterectomy and oophorectomy, or surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries, respectively, cause approximately a 50% reduction in the level of the hormone testosterone, the hormone directly associated with libido in humans. Women who undergo these surgical procedures immediately experience the onset of menopause regardless of age, and tend to have more severe symptoms than those who experience natural menopause.
Women suffering from low menopause libido should consider relationship counselling. If professional medical help is
Women suffering from low menopause libido should consider relationship counselling.
preferred and you consult your doctor, there are a variety of testosterone therapy options that he or she would prescribe for your low menopause libido, such as pills, implants, intramuscular injections, patches, gels and creams.
Pills taken orally are not very effective because of first-pass metabolism, the phenomenon where ingested drugs are largely broken down by the digestive system to the extent that only a small fraction of the active drug remains to circulate the rest of your body. Implants, on the other hand, though they deliver adequate hormone doses, sometimes cause infections at the implant site. Intramuscular injections likewise deliver high hormone doses but are also painful. Patches don’t hurt, but sometimes may cause skin irritations and may peel off in cases of excessive perspiration.
Perhaps the most patient-friendly treatment available is the use of natural hormone creams; they are easy to apply, their doses are easily controlled and have little or no side effects whatsoever. Transdermal absorption (through the skin) ensures the most effective hormone delivery into the bloodstream. Natural hormone creams are known to safely enhance libido and improve energy in menopausal women.
Testosterone has been used to improve low menopause libido for several decades now. Only recently, however, have clinical trials assessed its usefulness and safety in women. A few of the major difficulties in researching testosterone used to include the former inaccuracy of hormone level test results, and the former limited knowledge of what normal levels were in women of different ages. Recent advances in the field have corrected these problems, to the benefit of women who experience low menopause libido.
If you’re suffering from low menopause libido, then you may be suffering from a number of other symptoms and a diagnosis of low testosterone is greatly increased. You might want to check these symptoms by clicking the link below.
Click here to read about the symptoms of low testosterone in women
