Are you wondering whether your sex drive is low? And whether
there’s anything you can do about that? Well, sister, you’re not alone…
Literally millions
of women of all ages struggle with concerns and questions about their
libido. As a Functional Medicine physician specializing in Women’s
Health, my job is to help you get to the root of the problem – and find
solutions
If you used to be much more interested in sex, have noticed a decline in your desire, and want to feel that spark and desire again, there are solutions!
1.
Work with an integrative physician, nurse practitioner, or naturopath
who can help you sort out whether you have underlying medical,
nutritional, and lifestyle imbalances that might be dampening your
desire. Your care provider can also help you with treatments for vaginal
dryness, pelvic or vaginal pain, and other physical obstacles to
enjoying your sex life!
2. Tend to stress with relaxation techniques, improved sleep, and necessary lifestyle changes.
3.
Deal with the side effects of medications. Cease and desist alcohol
overconsumption (an occasional glass of red wine, however, can stimulate
desire).
4. Do at least two things every day
to make yourself feel sexy, a surefire way to fan your flame! This can
be wearing slinky underwear (even if only you know about it), wearing
red, treating yourself to a delicious sensual bath or… you name it!
5.
Get into individual and/or relationship counseling, or work with a sex
therapist. The Association of Sex Therapists, Educators, and Counselors
is a respected organization. Their website will help you find a therapist in your community.
6. Use foods, herbs,
and supplements that safely enhance libido. Many of these work by
supporting your nervous system or regulating your hormones. Foods rich
in zinc, including oysters, pumpkin seeds, toasted wheat germ, and dark
chocolate boost libido, as do maca, ginseng, shatavari, ginkgo, and
oatstraw. All of these may be taken alone or in combination, or as
liquid extracts, capsules, or pills.
7. Yoga poses can help stimulate your libido and enhance pelvic health. Exercise in general can invigorate your sexual energy.
Before
I even think about prescribing hormones, I really want to get to the
heart of the matter with a woman. Actually, there is no definition of
what constitutes “normal” libido, or how often you “should be” wanting
to have sex. It’s up to YOU to decide what’s normal for YOU. And there’s
no connection between having a low sex drive – that is, not thinking
and fantasizing about sex on a regular basis — and enjoying sex when you
do have it. So if your level of sex drive isn’t bothering you, and it’s
not getting in the way of your partner’s satisfaction in the
relationship or enjoying sex, you may not have a problem at all!
You
see, a very savvy and profitable medical industry has sprung up around
convincing women that our libido is low, then offering us the very drugs
that will fix our problems! This idea is unwittingly reinforced by the
oversexualization of women in the media at nearly every turn. So a lot
of us think we have a problem that we really don’t have. You can read
more about this in the fabulous book Sex, Lies, and Pharmaceuticals by Ray Moynihan.
Hormonal
therapies such as testosterone and estrogen can be considered, but
these treatments can have side effects and are usually reserved for when
a little extra help is needed.
A healthy sex
life is an important part of overall health. But remember, there is no
external measure of what counts as a healthy sex drive. What counts is
what is healthy and satisfying to YOU.
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