For many women who are approaching the age of menopause, say between late thirties to mid-forties, you most likely have already discovered that your sex drive isn't what it used to be. This is something that varies greatly from one woman to the next, but the odds are that menopause has at least slowed down your libido somewhat. What to do? Let's explore some possibilities here.
The main reason for this loss of interest in sex is of course the decrease in hormones, particularly estrogen. Estrogen is a mood-elevator to some degree, and as such when there is less of it in the body a subtle change takes over. Not only is a woman's mood less than happy, her sex life can suffer due to the lack of desire and sometimes real physical pain of having sex. As you advance into menopause, the vagina will actually begin to dry and shrink somewhat which can lead to a pain that is quite debilitating during sex.
So what can be done about this? There are ways to help ease the symptoms of this dryness, such as using lubricants during sex. Also, an attempt can be made to decrease this trend by trying to boost the hormone testosterone in the body which can be another hormone lacking at this time. Believe it or not, the same hormone that boosts sex drive in men does the same for women.
There are over the counter medications that can help to boost testosterone '" one is called DHEA, or Dehdydroepiandrosterone, which is a steroid hormone produced chiefly by the adrenal glands. It can also be made by the ovaries and the brain. It is the most prevalent adrenal steroid in the body and serves a precursor to the human sex steroids, testosterone and estrogen. Unfortunately it decreases in supply as we age, so a supplemental dosage can help to increase the libido in some women.
Since not all doctors are in agreement that DHEA is safe and effective, some prescribe other testosterone boosting medications such as Estratest, which is a combination estrogen and testosterone prescription approved for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. If you have any worries, you should ask your doctor before trying anything to be safe. The bottom line is what works for some doesn't work for others, but you won't find out if you don't at least try, right?