You may be well aware of the hot flashes and night sweats that come with menopause, but you may not realize how your declining hormone levels can interfere with your sex life. Lack of estrogen affects the health and function of your vaginal tissue and may turn your pleasurable intimate moments into painful anguish.
The “change of life” affects not only estrogen production, but also testosterone levels. Though women only produce a small amount of the male sex hormone, a decrease in testosterone may explain why you’re rarely in the mood.
But menopause doesn’t have to be the end of your sex life. Our women’s health experts at Cary OB/GYN in Cary and Morrisville, North Carolina, can help you feel more like your usual self with hormone therapy.
Menopause and your sex life
Menopause is a normal part of women’s biological aging process and marks the end of your fertility. Unfortunately, the hormonal changes that drive menopause also cause a number of symptoms that affect quality of life and libidio, including:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Irritability
- Vaginal dryness
Though menopause means you’re no longer able to get pregnant, it doesn’t mean you no longer need sex. In fact, regular vaginal intercourse after menopause improves vaginal tissue and health by restoring blood flow, keeping the vaginal muscles toned, and maintaining elasticity.
Hormone therapy to restore your libido
While maintaining sexual intimacy with your partner improves vaginal health, it may not be enough. To stop menopause from ruining your sex life, we may recommend hormone therapy.
For treatment of menopausal symptoms, including vaginal dryness and hot flashes, we prescribe estrogen or estrogen with progesterone based on your hormonal needs, medical history, and family history.
We offer hormone replacement therapy in a variety of forms, including:
- Pill
- Cream or
- Vaginal rings or suppositories
- Injections
We also offer hormone pellet therapy. These pellets are placed under your skin and provide a steady dose of the exact hormones your body needs, which may include testosterone, to optimize your levels.
If your menopausal symptoms are limited to vaginal dryness, we find low-dose vaginal estrogen creams very effective at alleviating the discomfort, especially when combined with regular vaginal sexual activity.
Is hormone therapy safe?
You’re not alone if you have concerns about the safety of hormone therapy. After the results of the hormone therapy trials from the Women’s Health Initiative, many women decided they’d rather suffer through the symptoms.
However, The North American Menopause Society says a lot has been learned about the risks and benefits of hormone therapy for menopausal women over the past 10 years. For women with moderate to severe symptoms, hormone therapy is a safe and effective treatment.
In addition to restoring your sex life, hormone therapy may also improve bone health, reduce your risk of heart disease, and prevent Type 2 diabetes.
Don’t let menopause ruin your sex life. We can help. Contact us today by calling the Cary OB/GYN location nearest you.
