Menopause 
Quick Fact
Even though most menopausal symptoms improve naturally within two to five years of their onset, there are a number of things that may help you deal with them.Menopause symptoms will affect almost 70% of all women and can begin a long time prior to menopause. While the individual experiences of women vary, there are common physical and psychological menopause symptoms, including loss of libido. Learn more about loss of libido and what can be done to increase sex drive during menopause.
What Is Menopause and What Are Its Symptoms?
Menopause occurs when one year has passed since a woman's final period. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years in a similar way that the first menstrual period in puberty marks the start. As a woman approaches menopause, hormonal production slows down, eventually ceasing altogether.
Quick Fact
As a result of fluctuating hormonal levels, women can suffer a variety of menopause symptoms, including: hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, mood swings, irregular periods, and loss of libido.
Why Do Menopause Symptoms Affect My Sexuality?
Decreased sex drive during menopause results from a combination of hormonal changes and certain menopausal physiological symptoms. Some women suffer from an androgen hormone deficiency, which can decrease libido. Physiological symptoms that can have an adverse effect on libido include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats can lead to increased irritation and insomnia.
- Vaginal dryness can cause severe discomfort during intercourse.
How Do I Overcome Menopause Symptoms and the Effect on My Sexuality?
There are several methods that can help maintain a healthy and active sex life during menopause. Making positive lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet, regularly exercising, and regularly engaging in de-stressing activities can help increase sex drive.
Because the symptoms of menopause are related to hormonal imbalance, targeting this imbalance can reduce the frequency and duration of many menopause symptoms, including decreased sex drive. Natural supplements, for example, are a safe and effective way of leveling out hormones.
Click on the following link to learn about alternative treatments for menopause symptoms, for low libido and other problems with sexuality.
Sources
- BMJ Group. "Menopause: What is it?" Patient Leaflet. 2007.
- Hopkins, Virginia. Lee, John R. M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. New York: Warner Books Inc., 1996.
- Love, Susan M.D. Menopause and Hormone Book. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
- Martin, Raquel. The Estrogen Alternative. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2000.
