Menopause Health & Wellness
Restoring Your Libido & Sexual Health in Menopause with Dr. Sonia Dudeja
Navigating Changes in Libido: A Compassionate and Expert Approach
A change in sexual desire, or libido, is one of the most common yet least discussed symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. If you’ve noticed a decline in your interest in sex, difficulty with arousal, or a general disconnect from your sexual self, you are not alone. This is a valid and complex issue that stems from a combination of hormonal, physical, and emotional changes.
Many women feel embarrassed or resigned to this change, but your sexual health is an integral part of your overall wellbeing. At MyMenopauseSupport.org, Dr. Sonia Dudeja provides a safe, confidential, and judgment-free space to explore these concerns. We believe in a holistic approach that addresses all the contributing factors to help you reconnect with your body and restore a fulfilling sex life.
The Science of Desire
Why Your Libido Changes During Menopause
A decrease in libido during menopause is not a single issue but a multifaceted one. Dr. Dudeja helps patients comprehend the interconnected factors that can impact sexual desire:
Hormonal Shifts
The decline in estrogen can reduce blood flow to the genitals, affecting arousal and sensation. Additionally, the significant drop in testosterone—a hormone crucial for sex drive in women—can directly impact your desire and sexual response.
Physical Discomfort
This is a major contributor. If sex is hurting due to vaginal dryness and thinning tissues (GSM), your brain and body will naturally begin to avoid it, leading to a cycle of pain and decreased desire.
Psychological and Emotional Factors
Your libido is deeply connected to your overall wellbeing. Other menopause symptoms like persistent fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, and mood swings can leave you with little physical or emotional energy for intimacy. Changes in body image and self-confidence during this time can also play a significant role.
Stress
The high-stress nature of midlife, often combined with the physiological stress of menopause, can elevate cortisol levels, which in turn suppresses your sex drive.
Your Path Forward
A Holistic Strategy to Reclaim Your Sexual Health
Because the causes of low libido are complex, the solution must be comprehensive. Dr. Sonia Dudeja creates a personalised plan that addresses your unique physical and emotional needs
Comprehensive Medical Consultation
- Your care begins with an open and compassionate conversation with Dr. Dudeja. We will explore all the potential factors affecting your libido to create a targeted and effective treatment strategy.
Evidence-Based Medical Treatments
- Addressing Physical Pain First: The first and most critical step is to make sex comfortable again. We prioritize treating the symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) with practical solutions like localized vaginal estrogen to eliminate pain and restore tissue health.
- Testosterone Therapy: For many women, low testosterone is a key factor in diminished libido. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Dudeja may recommend low-dose testosterone therapy, which can be highly effective in restoring sexual desire, arousal, and overall energy.
- Systemic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): By balancing your overall hormone levels, systemic HRT can improve many of the issues that indirectly affect libido, such as fatigue, mood swings, and poor sleep, helping you feel more like yourself again.
Integrated Wellness & Lifestyle Support
- Stress Management: We provide powerful tools like mindfulness and breathwork to help lower stress levels, which is essential for creating the mental and emotional space for intimacy.
- Communication and Intimacy: We encourage open conversations with your partner about the changes you are experiencing and can provide resources to help explore new ways of connecting and defining intimacy beyond intercourse.
