Low libido is a relatively common problem for many women (and men, too), and unfortunately, it’s a problem that tends to become more common with age. The good news is a decline in libido can be corrected — and often, the solution is simpler than you might imagine.
At her practice in Santa Monica, California, Shamsah Amersi, MD, helps women manage libido issues with a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle changes to improve desire and satisfaction. In this post, learn some simple steps you can take to enhance your libido and support your sexual wellness.
As a woman, your hormones change dramatically throughout your life, from puberty through the child-bearing years and into menopause. Not surprisingly, those changes can affect not only your reproductive health but your sexual wellness, too.
As you get older, estrogen levels decline. For many women, that change takes a toll on their libido, making them less interested in having sex and deriving less pleasure and satisfaction from sexual activity.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces estrogen (and sometimes other hormones) no longer produced by your body, improving your sex drive by addressing multiple factors at once. Today’s HRT uses bioidentical hormones that work like natural hormones, with every HRT plan dosed and adjusted for each woman’s unique needs for optimal benefits.
Age also changes your vaginal tone and lubrication, leaving you with less pleasure and sometimes outright discomfort during sex. The vagina tends to become drier, and the vaginal walls may become thin and irritated, leading to pain during intercourse and sometimes bleeding afterward.
Fortunately, vaginal dryness and discomfort can be treated with special lubricants designed to help restore and replenish natural fluids that decrease friction and make sex more pleasurable, too. Hormone-based vaginal creams and ointments help boost estrogen levels in the vaginal tissues for long-term benefits, particularly in women with vaginal atrophy.
Along with HRT, another excellent solution for vaginal dryness and painful intercourse is MonaLisa Touch.
Developed by medical experts, this cutting-edge treatment uses laser technology to rejuvenate and revitalize vaginal tissue. The procedure is quick, virtually painless, and requires no downtime.
Menopause, pregnancy, childbirth, and certain medical conditions can all contribute to vaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunction. Common symptoms include vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and urinary incontinence — but rejuvenation with MonaLisa Touch can alleviate these issues.
MonaLisa Touch works by stimulating collagen and elastin production in your vaginal walls, which helps restore moisture and elasticity to enhance overall vaginal health. A few of the biggest reasons women turn to MonaLisa Touch are:
It addresses vaginal dryness and pain with sex
Vaginal dryness is a common issue, particularly among women who are going through menopause. As your estrogen levels decline during menopause, your vaginal tissues can become thin, dry, and less elastic.
These symptoms often make intercourse painful, and they can also increase your risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Because MonaLisa Touch promotes tissue regeneration and natural lubrication, treatment can alleviate these symptoms and help you reclaim your sexual vitality."
Being overweight can take a toll on your self-esteem, interfering with your self-confidence during intimacy. But excess weight also interferes with hormonal activity, decreasing your desire for sex and causing other issues, like fatigue and depression.
Losing extra pounds helps rebalance hormones and restore energy while promoting greater self-confidence. Weight loss isn’t easy, but Dr. Ameris can help with medical weight-loss treatments focused on your unique needs and goals.
Regular exercise improves your mood, increases energy levels, and boosts circulation, all factors that can benefit your sex life and your libido. Being active also helps reduce stress, making managing your weight easier.
To stay on track with an exercise routine, choose activities you love, like dancing, walking, or yoga. When possible, incorporate more activity into regular routines, like taking the stairs instead of an elevator or parking farther away from a store entrance to work in some extra steps.
When you’re stressed, sex is usually the last thing on your mind. If you’re stressed regularly, it’s easy to see how your overall level of desire can be affected.
Fortunately, there are ways to manage stress and improve your libido (and overall wellness, too). Yoga, meditation, and tai chi are definitely helpful, but so are simple activities like focused breathing and mindfulness practices that can be practiced anywhere—even in your office or during your commute.
Along with stress management, it’s important to practice self-care daily. Set aside time daily to do an activity you enjoy, like reading, listening to music, or spending time in nature.
Self-care improves physical health and emotional well-being, too. Putting yourself first—even for a brief period every day—helps you feel more centered and empowered while also improving levels of intimacy and desire.
Many women find their low libido is due in part to relationship problems or issues stemming from their past. Counseling helps address those problems by providing a safe place to discuss your concerns and learn new strategies for dealing with them in a healthy, productive manner.
Counselors can also provide strategies directly related to improving libido and feelings of intimacy, either through individual counseling or counseling with your partner.
Sexual wellness is an integral part of overall physical and emotional health. If you’re dealing with symptoms of low libido, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Amersi at her Santa Monica, California, office today.
