Yes, estrogen is one of the main female sex hormones. Yes, it balances with progesterone – the other main female sex hormone. And yes, we do have more than just the two.
But what does it actually do for your Sexual Wellness?
SO many things!
Estrogen is responsible for the development and maintenance of the reproductive system plus the typical female characteristics (hint: why you develop breasts during puberty). But beyond ensuring you ovulate each month, it does so much more.
Have too much? This can leave you with acne, bad PMS symptoms like swollen and tender breasts, weight gain, depression or anxiety, moodiness and a lost sex drive.
Have too little? You then may be experiencing hot flashes, sleeping problems, thinning of the vaginal wall causing vaginal dryness, moodiness and a lost sex drive. (And this may sound like your typical menopause picture.)
The takeaway: High AND low estrogen can impact your sexual desire and your mood but each in a different way.
If you want to learn more about how estrogen could be affecting your body, make an appointment to see how we can work together to regulate your levels.
Category: Hormones
Your Thyroid & Your Libido
I thought having a thyroid problem made me gain/lose weight?
We’re going to look at HYPOthyroid (or less than optimal levels) of thyroxine, the thyroid hormone being produced by our body. When we have an underactive thyroid and it’s not doing all the things for our body that it’s supposed to, it can cause us to gain weight. (The opposite of this, hyperthyroid, can cause us to lose weight). Hypothyroid can also make you tired, be more sensitive to cold, experience constipation, have drier skin than usual, thin your hair, cause depression AND LOWER YOUR LIBIDO.
That’s right.
So, while you may have all of those other things and the last thing you are thinking about is sex, a thyroid problem could be the cause.
This works in a number of ways:
- It can lower your vaginal lubrication making sex uncomfortable, unenjoyable and less likely for you to want it.
- It may lower your testosterone (women produce this too) and that helps to boost your drive.
- It may make you tired and depressed and let’s face it, when you feel that way you are not going to be interested.
GOOD NEWS. You can fix this, the first step is to get your thyroid levels checked by your doctor to rule in (or out) your thyroid as a cause of your low sex drive. This is done through a simple blood test and I would be happy to do it for you.
A Peak into Female Sexual Function
This is not as routine as getting a blood test. And it’s definitely not something that happens at your regular check-up. It’s not something that is the same for everyone. It IS dependent on what each person WANTS and FEELS. This can be vastly different.
So how do we measure it?
Sexual function is a tricky thing. There are so many different factors that contribute to it. It is not black and white or about engaging (or not engaging) in sexual activity solely. There is a Physical, Mental, Emotional, Sensual and Relationship aspect to it. Then we consider your overall health too; like your hormonal balance, your stress response, how you’re sleeping and what your energy looks like throughout the day.
Let’s look at the breakdown:
- Sexual Desire
- Sexual Satisfaction
- Emotional Relationship with Sex
- Emotional Relationship with your Body
- Relationship Satisfaction (with a partner or yourself)
- Overall Health
Have you been thinking about your Sexual Wellness? Are you looking for something more or someone to discuss it with? Book an appointment to see how I can help get you to living your most satisfied life!
Have you Heard About This?
This does happen. You’re not alone.
So what actually is it?
Simply put, you don’t or can’t have an orgasm when you want to. You’ve done all the right things, you’re sufficiently turned on and yet you can’t quite get there. Then you get upset (rightfully so) and you become sexually dissatisfied and frustrated. I don’t blame you. This happens to all women at some point or another. It becomes a problem when this becomes a pattern. The less we enjoy something, the less we want to participate in it. The less we get the results we want, the less likely we are to try again.
What causes it?
A few different things. The medications you’re on, a decrease in sensation to the clitoral tissue, any number of hormonal imbalances, relationship breakdown, and psychological reasons like anxiety or past traumas.
Can I get my orgasm back?
YES! Just because this is the way you are feeling right now does not mean this is the way you always have to feel. The ability (and right) to have an orgasm is a reflection of our overall health. This is what are bodies are capable to do when all our other needs are met, we seek out PLEASURE.
Working with me I will tease out what is blocking your ability to fully achieve your O because that’s what every woman wants right?
PMID: 26439762
A Need to Know:
Your libido fluctuates. This is NORMAL.
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What’s not normal is when it stays that way for a long time. You are missing out on such a big part of being human; we all DESERVE PLEASURE in our life. Right now, the majority of us are under an increased level of stress and this could be killing your sex drive, but there are other underlying issues that could be having an effect. Let’s learn the causes:
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The Obvious Ones (the ones we normally think of)
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Hormonal Imbalance
Vulvodynia (Painful Sex)
Stress
Relationship Breakdown
Lack of Sleep
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The Less Obvious Ones (these are just as important)
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Endometriosis
Poor Body Image
Past Sexual Trauma
Low Self-Esteem
Vaginismus (Involuntary Vaginal Contractions)
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There are SO many reasons you may not be feeling yourself right now. That is okay. I am here to make sure that you get back on track solo, or with your partner, because we all need that. When patients come back to see me and tell me how much better they are feeling, it lights me up. Let me do that for you, book an appointment today!
Oxytocin – The Cuddle Hormone
Are you held by your partner on a regular basis?
Oxytocin, a powerful neuropeptide (it acts as a hormone and a brain neurotransmitter) is often referred to as the “cuddle hormone” and is released when couples spend intimate time together. Oxytocin plays an important role in romantic relationships as it rewards contact between partners and increases pleasure during sex by stimulating your smooth muscles and sensitizing your nerve endings which lead to your sexual arousal.
Oxytocin is released through physical touch which can include hugging, kissing, stroking, cuddling or having sex and gives you that feeling of closeness. It is thought to work together with our feel-good hormones, dopamine and norepinephrine, by influencing the way these hormones interact with the reward center of our brain and associating these feelings with love. You could even say, the more oxytocin you create, the more closeness you crave from your partner.
If you are feeling disconnected from your partner or not in the mood, why not start by holding their hand? Small steps toward creating intimacy can have BIG results.
DOI: 10.9790/3008-1206060109
Stress and your Libido
Is stress lowering your libido?
Cortisol is one of our bodies main stress hormones, it gets produced when our body is reacting to a threat – real or not. This is great in times of actual danger giving you the best chance to think clearly and move fast.
But when you’re stressed due to your day to day you don’t need it. Cortisol turns down all ‘non-essential’ responses in the body – the reproductive system being one of them. Not feeling turned on when you’re stressed? This could be why.
Although stress can be unavoidable, the way we deal with it is not. Make an appointment to find out ways you can manage your stress to get you back to living the life you want.