Where Did My Sex Drive Go? Wellness Tips for Women

One of the surprises of living a long life is that with each year, our bodies are prone to do something a little unexpected. Among women, those “somethings” involve an activity their great ancestors seldom experienced: late-in-life sex.

Back in 1850 (when Philadelphia was the fourth-largest city in the country), a new-born girl had a life expectancy of only about 39 years. Today, that girl’s descendants can live 80 years or longer. And so their sex life is longer, as well.

Today, as a woman’s body matures, it goes through stages that can alter her sex drive. Menopause, for example, results in lower levels of the hormone estrogen that fuels your libido.

It’s a common condition: Up to one in three women between ages 30 and 59 experience low libido at some point. Yet just 42% of women seek treatment, the AARP reports. The good news, you can remedy unexpected changes in your sexual desire and enjoy intimacy.

How To Tell If Your Sex Drive Is Off

The obvious sign of a low sex drive is you simply don’t want to have sex as much as you used to. But is this because of something occurring with you, your partner, or your everyday life?

Other symptoms that can help you narrow down the cause include:

• A lack of interest in sex of any kind, including masturbation.
• Fewer thoughts of sex and sexual fantasies.
• Little or no physical sensations during sex.
• Distress over your reduced desire for sex.

These symptoms can help you nail down potential social and psychological factors that might interfere with your sex drive, such as performance anxiety, depression, and exhaustion.

Physical events that can interfere with erotic pleasure include:

• Chronic health conditions like diabetes, kidney disorders, arthritis, and heart disease.
• Certain medications, including those in cancer treatments.
• Overactive bladder, or incontinence, due to a fear of leaking urine during sex.
• Painful bladder syndrome, or interstitial cystitis, a condition that can make intercourse painful.
• Vaginal dryness, often stemming from menopause, which can make intercourse painful.
• Pelvic floor weakness, when your bladder, uterus, or upper vagina slip from position and into the vagina. It can make sex uncomfortable. Nearly half of all women develop pelvic floor weakness.

Choosing the Most Accessible Treatment for You

If the above symptoms ring true for you, and you want to enjoy more sex in your life, it might be time to explore your treatment options. Among your leading options:

• Pelvic-strengthening exercises – Kegels can promote blood circulation in the genital area and improve lubrication and arousal. These exercises also can reduce symptoms of incontinence.
• Medications – Hormone-replacement therapy for menopause can boost your hormone levels and restore interest in sex. Topical vaginal estrogen, meanwhile, can relieve itching, dryness, and soreness at lower doses than oral medications. If your disinterest in sex stems from painful bladder syndrome, Botox injection can alleviate the symptoms by blocking the pain.
• Pessaries – A popular remedy for pelvic floor weakness, pessaries are small disks that are inserted into the vagina to support the organs.

MidLantic Urology specializes in many other treatments for conditions that can affect your libido. But first you have to take that most important step and talk to a doctor. Our urologists and urogynecologists provide care to women with sexual health symptoms every day. Be one of them.

Interested in learning more?Read our recent blog on how urinary issues can affect sexual pleasure here. Or schedule an appointment with one of these doctors who specialize in female sexual health.