Even though we have come a long way in our openness about sexual health, it can still be difficult to talk about, even with medical providers. You may feel especially vulnerable if you’re experiencing problems with sexual desire or performance. It’s important to know, however, that treatment for sexual dysfunction is available—including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
A healthy libido for both women and men involve an array of hormones that are often labeled “sex hormones.” The most familiar sex hormones are estradiol for women and testosterone in men. Other hormones involved in promoting sexual drive and desire include Pregnenolone and DHEA, which relay messages between organs and cells. As hormone levels dip with age and other factors, such as stress, it can affect the sex drives of women and men during menopause and andropause, respectively.
For women, changes to genital tissue caused by a sharp decline in estradiol levels reduce sensation because blood flow to the pelvic region decreases. That increases the time needed to become aroused and reach orgasm.
Declining testosterone levels—often called low T—interfere with libido (sex drive) for both men and women, or men’s ability to achieve an erection or to maintain an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse or other intimacy.
Although testosterone levels begin to decline at around age 30, we tend to associate symptoms of low T with middle age. When testosterone levels decline significantly, men may experience numerous symptoms associated with andropause. One of those is erectile dysfunction, or ED. ED may occur every time you want to have sex or happen inconsistently.
Not all men with ED have low testosterone levels. In fact, low T isn’t the most common cause of ED, it can sometimes be from low estradiol. But if low T is diagnosed as the cause of ED, testosterone replacement therapy at Nuestra Vida Well Living, can help restore libido and the ability to reach and maintain erections.
Difficulty reaching orgasm and reduced libido, especially during or following menopause, are the most common signs of sexual dysfunction related to a woman’s hormone levels. Other symptoms may include experiencing pain during intercourse and vaginal dryness. Many of these symptoms are interrelated—vaginal dryness can result in discomfort during intercourse and ultimately reduce a woman’s desire to have sex. This can also lead to anxiety or depression, which are also conditions that can cause sexual dysfunction.
If these changes bother you, hormone replacement therapy is a potential solution. Both estradiol and testosterone are important hormones for a woman’s sexual health. Hormone replacement therapy helps increase the vagina’s tone and elasticity, along with increasing vaginal blood flow and enhancing lubrication.
