Women's Sexual Health

There are many symptoms associated with changes in women's hormones. One of the least discussed, however, is disruption in sex drive and satisfaction. At North Star Health and Wellness, we're committed to demystifying these changes and finding solutions that lead to greater intimacy and pleasure.

Sex, Hormones, and You

There are many hormones that help regulate your sex drive and response. Among these are three that likely sound familiar: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These hormones also happen to fluctuate and decline during menopause and perimenopause, a time when many women experience lower libido and less pleasurable intercourse. Coincidence? Absolutely not. 

• Estrogen: Probably the most well-known sexual hormone, estrogen helps your body prepare for sex. If your estrogen levels are low, you may experience vaginal dryness. Your vaginal tissues may also shrink or become tighter, leading to painful intercourse. 

• Progesterone: When this hormone is out of balance with estrogen, many women experience lower libido. Strangely enough, this can happen both when you have too much and too little progesterone. Research into the exact mechanisms behind why this happens is ongoing, but it's clear that a balance is necessary for a happy sex life.

• Testosterone: Even though it's traditionally associated with men, testosterone is important for a woman's sex drive too. When your levels of this hormone drop, your libido is also likely to plummet.

How Bioidentical Hormones Can Help

At North Star Health and Wellness, we work with our patients to find the right balance of hormone supplementation and lifestyle changes to optimize your sex life. After listening to your symptoms, learning about your background, and running a lab panel, we'll advise on the best path forward. This may include supplementing with bioidentical hormones (hormones that are identical to the ones your body makes).