Lower Estrogen: Lower Sex Drive

One of the most common symptoms of menopause is a reduced sex drive. Lower levels of estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, bladder control problems, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and depression. But there are treatment options. Bioidentical hormone therapy is one treatment that can be beneficial in treating menopause symptoms, including a lowered libido.

What is bioidentical hormone therapy?

Most women are familiar with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT involves medications containing the female hormones that women stop producing during menopause. HRT has been shown to be effective in treating hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and other uncomfortable menopause symptoms.

Bioidentical hormone therapy is similar to traditional HRT. But bioidentical hormones are made from plant estrogen that has an identical makeup to human hormones. Some women prefer bioidentical hormone therapy because bioidentical hormones come from natural sources.

Women are 2-3 times more likely than men to experience this

Women more often than men typically experience a decrease in sex drive with aging. In addition to simple aging changes, the menopause transition can bring physical discomfort that contributes to a lowered sex drive. Hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness can all make sex less appealing than previously. About 1 in 3 women in the United States experience a decrease in libido as a symptom of menopause. Of these women, about 1 in 3 find this decreased sex drive troubling. For women who are upset by a lowered sex drive, hormone replacement therapy can be an effective treatment option.

Treatment for menopause

About 1.4 million women in the United States are using bioidentical hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. One of the many benefits of bioidentical hormones is that the hormone treatment is tailored for each individual person. Bioidentical hormones can be taken as capsules, creams, or patches. Each woman should consult with a healthcare provider about individual risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy and bioidentical hormones.