Subcutaneous
Hormone Implants:
Relief
for Persistant Menopausal Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction
HRT
Therapy
Part 1: Hormone Replacement Therapy,
Panacia or Poison?
Part 2: Hormone Replacemnet Therapy
Is a Personal Choice
Part 3: What Is Optimum Hormone Replacement?
How
To Find A HRT Program That Works For You...
Part 1: Finding An Ideal Regimen
Part 2: Unpleasant Side Effects
Part 3: Progesterone, Progestins
& Progesterone Cream
Sex:
Sex and Menopause
Menopause:
Menopause Overview
Hysterectomy:
Hysterectomy Overview
Ovarian Failure Following Hysterectomy
I Want To Know If I Should I Keep My Ovaries
HRT
& Hormones:
About HRT
Ask
Dr N:
Questions & Answers
Libido & HRT
This section addresses the role of sex hormones in maintaining libido and sexual function. It discusses the manner in which a natural, or surgical menopause, or medications may affect the sexual experience and provides treatment options to restore sexual desire and function.
There just doesn’t seem to be any way of getting around it. If you’re menopausal and want to be at your optimum sexually, you need to replace your hormones. Menopausal women, without the benefit of hormone replacement, may be capable of enjoyable and satisfying sex. They may be capable of great sex. But ultimately they loose the potential, as least as far as sex is concerned, to be the best they can be.
A healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude, exercise, a loving, giving, patient and understanding partner …all are important. But, they can not substitute for adequate hormone levels. It is clear and unequivocal; the integrity of the sexual experience is dependent on sex hormones.
WHAT IS DESIRE PHASE DISORDER?
Diminished hormone levels interfere with optimum sexual function by their affect on sexual desire and hormonally sensitive tissues.
Sexual desire, or libido, consists of thinking about sex, fantasizing about sex, the development of "sexual tension" and the awareness of a need for sexual release. Some people may call feeling this way as being "horny". It motivates us to initiate and participate in sex and if circumstances require, search for a sexual partner.
Lack of, or diminished sexual desire and loss of sexual motivation is sometimes referred to as a "desire phase" disorder.
ARE THERE DIFFERENCES IN HOW WOMEN ARE AFFECTED?
A postmenopausal woman’s decrease in libido can range widely, from a barely noticeable fall in sexual interest to a "sexual aversion" where the very thought of being touched in a sexual context is repulsive. A number of patients have told me, " I feel dead from the waist down", to describe their lack of sexual interest. Several who were affected to a lesser extent have shared, that although they really had no interest in sex or in initiating sexual contact, once they were aroused by sexual direct stimulation, the sexual activity was enjoyable and orgasm was possible. I have found that some women evidence little concern over their loss of libido and have no interest in restoring it. And this is the very essence of not having a libido. Other women are devastated by the loss and are interested in pursuing any reasonable treatment that will allow them to regain their previous sexuality.
Unfortunately, many women who express a concern about a lowered sex drive are referred to a psychiatrist, counselor or psychologist, before even a cursory analysis of their hormonal status and/or Hormone replacement therapy program is considered. Certainly, stressful life events, health, psychological or relationship problems influence libido, but these factors should only be considered along with the menopausal woman’s hormonal status.
WHAT CAUSES A DECLINE IN SEXUAL DESIRE?
The decline in sexual desire is likely a direct result of diminished sex hormone levels on the brain itself. Although estrogen plays a part, the hormone that has been shown to be most closely associated with sex-drive is testosterone.
The ovary, although incapable of producing estrogen after a "natural" menopause, may continue to produce significant amounts of testosterone for several years. This is the reason why many women maintain a good sex-drive for a considerable length of time. These testosterone levels provide additional benefits to the naturally menopausal woman. Tissues of the body are able to convert some of this circulating testosterone to estrogen. This is the mechanism by which naturally menopausal women have fewer and less severe symptoms and health problems usually attributed to sex hormone deficiency. If a postmenopausal woman were to undergo removal of her ovaries, this benefit would be lost.
WHAT ABOUT PREMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD A HYSTERECTOMY?
If the surgery is performed prior to menopause and the ovaries are preserved and their hormone secretion is unaffected, there may be no change in libido following the post-operative healing period. In fact, some women experience a post-surgical increase in sexual desire if prior to the surgery they had been distracted by heavy bleeding or significant pelvic pain. There is evidence, however that in this group of patients, ovarian failure occurs up to 50% of the time within 3 years following the surgery. If this happens, a diminished libido and other menopausal symptoms would reflect the decline in hormone levels. Unfortunately, some physicians are not aware of the frequency of ovarian failure following hysterectomy. I have seen many patients who were in this category, who found it necessary to come to my office because their physicians did not believe their symptoms were possible or related to the surgery.
If the surgery is performed prior to menopause and the ovaries are removed, the fall in estrogen and testosterone levels is abrupt and severe. As would be expected this type of surgically induced menopause almost always, results in a dramatic fall in sexual desire.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH MY SEX DRIVE AFTER MENOPAUSE?
Significant health problems, depressive illnesses, relationship problems and certain medications can affect libido.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MEDICATIONS THAT CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM?
A class of anti-depressants, SSRI’s frequently depress both libido and potential for orgasm. SSRI’s can do this so effectively in some patients that it is used as a treatment for obsessive sexual preoccupation and premature ejaculation.
I have had several patients express a concern over a fall in their libido who had recently begun treatment with an SSRI, not realizing that this was the cause. Occasionally, delayed ejaculation or inability to ejaculate develops in men who are not aware of this side effect and can lead to conflict in a relationship if the couple doesn’t realize the medication is responsible.
Orally administered estrogen replacement medications and oral contraceptives are absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and reach the liver in a "bolus". This so called "bolus effect", induces the liver to increase its production of a substance, "sex hormone binding globulin" (SHGB) which binds to circulating testosterone, leaving less "unbound" or "free" testosterone available to maintain libido. This is not well known and is often not recognized as a cause for a diminished libido.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN MAINTAINING LIBIDO?
It is very effective. Most of the frequently used regimens of hormone replacement therapy will maintain or restore libido. This will often take 4-6 weeks of treatment and it helps if you are aware of this ahead of time.
Many women, especially those, who have had a surgical menopause, will need a regimen that includes testosterone replacement. This may include some women who choose an oral regimen due its effect on SHBG levels as described above. Testosterone can be given by most of the routes of administration, including injections, gels and subcutaneous implants. When nothing else seems to work, subcutaneous implants rarely fail to reestablish libido.
In the late 1980’s, a television journalist who had interviewed me for some news segments, which dealt with menopausal issues, called me with a request. He shall remain unnamed for his own protection and journalistic credibility. He wanted to know if I could find a woman for an on-air news segment interview, "over 50", and "still having sex". After a brief period, during which I was recovering from having been rendered speechless, I told him that I was sure I could find someone. We made arrangements for the interview to be shot at my office the following week.
The television journalist and his camera crew appeared at the appointed time. I introduced them to June, an attractive, very sexual, woman of 80, who had been on hormone replacement therapy for over 30 years. The interview was broadcast on the evening news the following day to a potential audience of several million. June was an educated and sophisticated woman who was anything but shy. She informed the journalist and the viewing public, that she enjoyed sex, had intercourse on average twice a week …and was orgasmic.
I was chuckling for days. On the way out she told me that she probably would have had sex more often had she been getting along better with her husband. I was pretty impressed with her. I was pretty impressed with both of them.
Yes …appropriate hormone replacement therapy is very effective in maintaining libido.
Loss of sexual desire and ability to participate in and enjoy sex is not a normal part of aging. Dr Nosanchuk explains why a menopausal woman's desire to have sex and her capacity to physically participate in sex are both affected by her menopause...
Appointments
with Dr. Nosanchuk can be made by contacting Caroline
(248) 644-7200 from 10:00am to 6:00pm Monday - Friday (EST).
This web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to suggest a specific therapy for any individual and must not be construed to establish a physician/patient relationship.