women's sexual health doctor in Michigan
Libido Enhancement
Lack of sex drive is common in women just like it is in men
Regain your youthful sex drive
A loss of libido is an unfortunate condition that affects millions of women regularly.
Women can experience a low sex drive at various stages of their life — younger women may experience it after the birth of a child in their 20’s and 30’s, perimenopausal women during their late 30s and 40s, and both menopausal and postmenopausal women throughout the rest of their lives.
Libido Enhancement
Taking care of daily responsibilities, managing both a career and family, and sticking to a healthy diet can sometimes make it difficult to stay positive and happy — further causing a lack of sex drive.
A loss of libido is a complex phenomenon with psychological, relational, physical, and hormonal dimensions as unique as the women who experience them. The term libido has long been used to describe a person’s sexual drive and desire for sex. Loss of libido, medically termed Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a reduction or lack of interest and desire in sexual activity. Many women with loss of libido find that they are less in touch with their sexuality. Sexual feelings come less frequently and an energy for sex drastically dwindles or disappears.
Causes
A decrease in sex drive can develop due to medical conditions or as the result of psychological or emotional issues.
Many factors can play a role in a woman’s drop in sex drive, which may be primarily caused by changes that are hormonal, physical, psychological, or relational. More specifically, some of the contributors to low female libido include decreased estrogen levels, vaginal dryness, lack of emotional intimacy, stress, and mood swings.
Inhibited sexual desire is a type of sexual dysfunction that affects both men and women. A reduction in sexual desire is most often associated with diminishing levels of testosterone in aging men, and menopausal transitions (reduced estrogen levels) in women who may also be sensitive to reduced testosterone levels. Chronic illnesses and chronic pain can also lead to a decrease in sex drive, likely through a combination of physical and psychological stressors. Additionally, certain medications such as antidepressants can also reduce libido.
Symptoms
The symptoms of low libido often mimic those experienced during menopause and afterwards, and can range from non-existent, to mild, to severe. Common menopausal symptoms include:
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
- Emotional changes, such as mood swings or irritability
- A change in sexual interest or response
- Problems with concentration and memory that may be linked to sleep loss and/or fluctuating hormones
- Headaches
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia)
After you stop having menstrual periods, you may get other post-menopausal symptoms, the most common including:
- Drying and thinning of the skin, caused by lower collagen production
- Vaginal and urinary tract changes
- Vaginal dryness, irritation, and itching
- An increased risk of vaginal and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Pain during sexual activity
Scream Cream Treatment
Some medications work to increase vaginal lubrication and relax vaginal muscles, whereas others contain testosterone to increase sex drive or estrogen to improve sensation, lubrication, and sexual interest.
Topical libido enhancers are an appealing alternative to oral medications. Inconsistent dosing and possible side effects can be eliminated with topical creams that are applied locally to increase sensitivity and blood flow.
One of the products we prescribe is “Scream Cream”. This topical solution contains a combination of prescription and non-prescription components described as blood flow enhancers, vasodilators, and sexual stimulation enhancing hormones. Although the formulation can be tailored to each individual’s needs, one 0.25 mL dose generally contains the following ingredients:
- How can Cratus Medical address my loss of libido?
- While we can't address the mental causes of loss of libido (depression, stress, poor body image, etc.) with a physical treatment, we can help make sex and intimacy a more pleasurable experience for you.
Treatments at our Michigan offices like the O-Shot®, Viveve®, and FemiWave work to rejuvenate and tighten the vagina, increasing vaginal lubrication and sensitivity to provide more comfortable sex that feels more intense.
- Can you check for a hormone imbalance?
- As a sexual health doctor in Michigan, we offer a comprehensive approach to your symptoms. We can certainly run blood panels to test your hormone levels. If we find a deficit or imbalance, we can discuss your hormone replacement options. Hormone treatments can work well for women experiencing vaginal dryness, hormone-related depression, and diminished sex drive due to low-T.
- I'm concerned about vaginal laxity after childbirth. What can help tighten my vagina?
- Two of the best treatments for vaginal tightening available near you include FemiWave and Viveve®.
These energy-based treatments stimulate collagen production deep in vaginal tissues to result in a tighter, rejuvenated vagina. - What constitutes “painful” intercourse?
- When our sexual health doctors talk about sexual pain, they often refer to two conditions: vaginismus and dyspareunia. These conditions often cause symptoms that can make sex painful or difficult. Most women experience:
-Tightening of the vaginal muscle that makes penetration difficult
-Tension, pain, or burning in the vagina when penetration is attempted
-Less desire or no desire for penetration
-Avoidance of sexual activity
-Intense fear of pain
Some women also experience painful intercourse after pregnancy and childbirth. Severe vaginal dryness can also cause pain. - Do certain medications contribute to loss of libido?
- Yes, several medications can cause loss of libido and other sexual dysfunctions like difficulty achieving orgasm, either after starting or ceasing them, like:
-Anticholinergics - AKA drugs that treat asthma; COPD; and chronic dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or overactive bladder
-Hormone medications (e.g. birth control pills) or hormone therapy
-Hypertension (high blood pressure) drugs
-Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, or Prozac to treat depression and anxiety
Treatments like the O-Shot® can help increase sexual sensitivity, which can address difficulty achieving orgasm caused by the above medications. If you experience a severe loss of libido from a medication you take, you may also bring this up with your prescribing physician to address. - Besides consulting with a sexual health doctor at Cratus Medical, what else can I do to address my sexual health concerns?
- While you visit our office for female sexual health treatments to rejuvenate your vagina, you can (and should!) take some time to yourself and/or with a partner at home to overcome some other causes of libido loss.
We encourage you to try:
-Open communication about what you and your partner like
-Reading books about sex, intimacy, and relationships
-Exploring and getting to know your body and how it works
-Nonsexual yet sensual activities (massage, Kama Sutra poses, etc.)
-Reducing stress in your life through exercise, meditation, diet, daily affirmations, etc.
Get Started
Use the Virtual Consultation Tool to learn about the different strategies that might work best for your unique needs. Then, make an appointment with our women’s sexual health doctor in Michigan.