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First
of all, many complex issues surround our sexual desires
and thoughts that help to define the libido. Getting to
the root of the problem would be your first step. Is it
truly a lack of interest or is it anger, resentment or
negative messages your partner may be giving to you...
or even negative images you may have of yourself? Is the
lack of desire only at certain times, perhaps at the end
of a long and stressful day? Or is it 24/7? Is there a
medical condition which requires certain prescription
drugs that may be causing the problem? If
you have ruled out all these possibilities, are elsewise
perfectly healthy, and if you think the problem might
be related to menopause, or peri-menopause, then you're
probably right. In which case, the problem's not in your
mind, it's in your hormones. The good news is that libido
doesn't automatically crash and burn during menopause
so there is hope for getting back your sex-drive again.
Fantasy
Island.... For
those who would like to restore their libido, it helps
to have a healthy lifestyle, proper diet and exercise,
and a loving (and very patient) partner. But even with
all that, like it or not, you're going to need sort of
hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Our sex hormones determine
our sexual experience. The key is finding the right HRT
for your body, mind and soul. The
Testosterone Factor... Estrogen has been making plenty of health headlines lately, and controversial ones at that. We know that estrogen plays a part in our sex-drive, and an estrogen deficiency also impairs sexual response, but estrogen replacement alone will not improve sexual response and may exacerbate the problem from androgen loss. (1) Testosterone, which has been shown to be most closely associated with sex-drive, may also be needed. "Testosterone?...
for Women?" you're asking right about now. Yes
indeed. The ovaries produce this important metabolic and
sex hormone throughout a woman's lifetime. Since testosterone
levels can and do change at different times in life a
reduction in this particular hormone during menopause
(and perimenopause) can cause changes in sexual desire
and response.(2) Testosterone replacement /supplementation
may be appropriate in a small percentage of women, mostly
those who have felt sexual desire, no longer have that
desire and would like to get it back again.(3) To
Tell The Truth...
They're still at it - the press that is. It seems everyone is moaning about hormones in one way or another. Repeatedly, the word "estrogen" is flung about as the "generic" way to discuss HRT, even by the best reporters. Sadly, the words "natural" vs "synthetic" have lost all meaning. So, at the risk of sounding boring, let me clarify a few things. First: Natural means "the same as the body produces" which means 17 beta estradiol, estriol and estrone but NOT conjugated estrogens. Second: Synthetic means "altered" and not manufactured. You can manufacture 17 beta estradiol which is a "natural" estrogen. Synthetic means chemically altered forms of a natural hormone are produced. Estradiol valerate is an example. This is NOT a natural hormone, though a ton of docs don't seem to know the difference. This is a form of altered estradiol used in birth control pills which is completely synthetic and falls into the same category as premarin. The only difference is this product does not have 17 equine forms of estrogen in it, which can stimulate antibody reactions. Unfortunately, doctors are acting like "the sky is falling," taking all their female patients OFF hormone therapy based upon the termination of the HERS study of Premarin and Provera vs Premarin alone. Somehow, the notion to "swap" forms of hormone therapy seems to be beyond their grasp. As I stated in my special report , low dose estradiol therapy, in the same blood level range as the early follicular stage of ovulation, gives women the benefits with the lowest risk. Menopause is a state of hormone deficiency, NOT depletion. It only makes sense to replace what each individual may be lacking, not to fire a whole pack of drugs at women mainly because one's ovaries have gone two claws up! "Why Individualizing Hormone Therapy Is Crucial: Putting the Results of the WHI Trial Into Perspective," posted on Medscape.com, should be printed out and kept for your docs if they seem to be pushing the panic button. RECOMMENDED
READING Order
your copy of "You're
Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones," by Larrian
Gillespie. This is a step by step guide for a complete
hormonal work-up, including Thyroid.
"Screaming
to be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect, and
Doctors Still Ignore," by Elizabeth Lee
Vliet MD, Elizabeth Lee Vliet "The
Hormone of Desire : The Truth About Testosterone, Sexuality,
and Menopause," by Susan Rako "The Hormone Solution: Naturally Alleviate Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance from Adolescence Through Menopause," by Erika Schwartz, M.D. Related articles: > HRT and Alternative Therapies REFERENCES 2)
Davis SR. Androgen replacement in women: a commentary.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999 Jun;84(6):1886-91. 3)
Sarrel PM. Effects of hormone replacement therapy on
sexual psychophysiology and behavior in postmenopause.
J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2000;9 Suppl 1:S25-32. 4) Kingsberg SA. Postmenopausal sexual functioning: a case study. Int J Fertil Womens Med. 1998 Mar-Apr;43(2):122-8
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