When Female Sexuality Declines: 4 Causes and Treatments
It’s normal to lose interest in sex from time to time. But if the loss of interest feels “not normal” to you, it could hint at one of several underlying health issues that affect millions of women.
In fact, up to one in every three of the 64 million U.S. women between the ages of 30 and 59 will, at some point, notice a drop in their sex drive. Yet just four in 10 seek treatment, the AARP reports.
By contrast, 62% of men seek treatment for problems with sexual function. We should fix this imbalance for overall well-being.
4 Possible Health Issues Behind Your Lower Libido
There are a range of medical conditions, including urinary system illnesses, that can interfere with your ability to enjoy erotic pleasure. Any blips in your urinary wellness can disrupt sexual joy and even make it painful. Indeed, researchers estimate that 40% of all women experience pain during sex at some point.
Here are four common causes and how you can treat them.
- Menopausal changes – The female hormone estrogen energizes your sex drive and lubricates the vagina for pleasurable sex. Your ovaries release the most estrogen during menstrual cycles to trigger egg production. So when you go through menopause, your estrogen levels drop, reducing libido and vaginal flexibility, the latter of which can make sex painful. You can change this. Among our advanced treatments, Biote hormone replacement therapy restores estrogen levels through pellets structured like the hormones in your body. A specialist inserts the pellets under the skin during an in-office visit, and they’re absorbed gradually. Or you might be a candidate for MonaLisa Touch laser therapy, a clinically proven procedure that can provide relief from pain with intercourse due to dryness in three sessions with no need for anesthesia.
- Pelvic prolapse – Your pelvic-floor muscles hold your bladder, uterus, and other organs in place. If these muscles weaken, the organs can drop into and through the vagina. Symptoms of the condition, which occurs in nearly half of all women between 50 and 79, include pelvic discomfort, numbness, and pressure. You can change this. Non-surgical remedies for prolapse include Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles and pessaries – small devices inserted into the vagina that hold the organs in place. Surgically, your pelvic muscles can be rebuilt using your vaginal tissue.
- Urinary incontinence – Weak bladder control, which is twice as common in women than men because of childbirth and menopause, can cause legitimate fear of accidents during sex. It occurs in three forms: stress incontinence, when coughing or other activities put pressure on your abdomen; urge incontinence (overactive bladder), an immediate, hard-to-manage need to pee; and overflow incontinence, when the bladder doesn’t empty all the way. You can change this. Conservative approaches include Kegels, bladder training, and pessaries. Among advanced medications, we offer Botox (for overactive bladder) and a bulking agent designed to strengthen the urethra. More permanent treatments involve nerve stimulation through an implanted small device or a surgically placed “sling” to support the urethra.
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) and pelvic pain – IC, also known as painful bladder syndrome, occurs when toxic urine chemicals leak from your bladder lining, irritating your pelvic area and making intercourse painful. Other forms of pelvic distress include urinary tract infections and kidney infections, which can irritate and inflame the urinary tract. You can change this. For IC, symptom-based treatments include Kegels, pain-relieving drugs, including Botox injections, and stretching the bladder with fluids while under anesthesia. We can treat urinary infections with antibiotics, while stones can be removed through several outpatient procedures.
Interested In Learning More? Sex Ed for All Life Stages
If you suspect any of the above conditions are behind your reduced sex drive and you want to do something about it, call a specialist to learn your options. By joining the number of women seeking treatment, you also improve the chances of others seeking care.
Request a consultation with one of our urologists or urogynecologists to receive thoughtful feedback that suits you. You can also contact our REDEEM Sexual Wellness & Aesthetics Center to learn about treatment options.
