Women's Hormone Health · Kingwood, The Woodlands & New Caney
Low Libido in Women
Losing interest in sex is common in midlife and rarely talked about. It is a real medical concern, and there are real options.
Why it happens
Why desire fades
Estrogen and testosterone both play a role in desire, arousal and comfort. As they decline, many women notice less interest in sex, slower arousal and, often, vaginal dryness that makes sex uncomfortable. Fatigue, poor sleep, stress, relationship strain and some medications, including certain antidepressants, add to it.
Common signs
- Less interest in sex
- Harder to become aroused
- Fewer or weaker orgasms
- Discomfort or pain with sex
- Feeling disconnected from your body
What can help
Ways to feel better
Everyday steps
- Talk openly with your partner
- Address sleep and stress
- Use a lubricant or vaginal moisturizer
- Review medications that may lower desire
See a doctor sooner if
- Sex has become painful
- Low desire is causing distress
- Bleeding after sex
- Low mood or anxiety alongside low desire
Treatment options
Hormone therapy for low libido
For some postmenopausal women, a low, carefully monitored dose of testosterone may improve desire. Treating vaginal dryness with estrogen can also make sex comfortable again. We review all the possible causes, not just hormones. Learn more about testosterone for women.
When symptoms are driven by falling or fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, hormone replacement therapy for women may help. Options include bioidentical estradiol, progesterone and, for some women, low-dose testosterone, delivered as creams, patches, pills or EvexiPEL hormone pellets. Women who still have a uterus need progesterone along with estrogen.
We treat low libido for patients from Kingwood, The Woodlands, Porter, Humble and across the Lake Houston area at our New Caney office. Your first visit starts with lab work and a real conversation about your symptoms.
Questions
Common questions
Can women take testosterone for low libido?
Yes, at doses designed for women and with regular monitoring. It is not right for everyone, and Dr. Bernell will review the benefits and risks.
Is low libido just part of aging?
It is common, but it is not something you have to accept. Many causes are treatable.