Signs That You Need To See a Hormone Specialist for Sexual Dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction isn’t a commonly discussed topic in women’s health and wellness, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a common issue. In fact, many women will deal with sexual dysfunction at some point in their life – so how and why does it happen?

Sexual dysfunction refers to any consistent problems you may have with sexual desire/arousal, reaching climax, or vaginal pain and discomfort. There is a broad spectrum of symptoms that can impact different areas of sexual activity. If you think you might be experiencing sexual dysfunction, here are some specific symptoms to look out for:

• Persistently low sex drive: You have little or no interest in sex or being sexual.
• Difficulty with arousal: You want to have sex, but have difficulty getting (and staying) aroused.
• Trouble achieving orgasm: You consistently fail to reach orgasm during sex.
• Vaginal dryness: You have issues getting (and staying) lubricated during sex.
• Pain during sex: You experiencing pain or discomfort while having sex.

So why does this occur? Hormone imbalances are often a common culprit. Changes in your hormone levels brought on by pregnancy, breast-feeding, or menopause can throw off sexual desire. Medical conditions or medications can also greatly impact your sexual health. Lifestyle choices like drinking or smoking can make it harder to reach orgasm, and your mental well-being can also be a contributing factor: stress, anxiety, or depression can play a big role in your lack of sex drive. As a result, this can create a feedback loop that impacts your own self-confidence, quality of life, and relationships.

There are some immediate life changes you should consider making if you’re interested in improving your sex drive. For example, if you are experiencing stress or anxiety, consider finding a therapist to help you cope. And if you’re not already doing so, consider making small lifestyle changes – such as drinking less alcohol, getting more exercise, and eating healthier foods – to boost your general wellness and your sexual health. It’s also very important to work with your partner and make sure that you’re openly communicating and improving intimacy, as this is another key factor when it comes to dealing with sexual dysfunction.

Most importantly, if you are worried about sexual dysfunction you should also be sure to contact a hormone specialist (that’s us!). Not only will we provide you with expert advice, but we also determine which treatment options are the best to meet your specific needs and conditions. For example, if we determine that you do in fact have low testosterone we would recommend SottoPelle testosterone replacement therapy, a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that uses bioidentical hormones that come in pellet form.

In addition to SottoPelle, we also offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical treatments for sexual dysfunction, including vaginal rejuvenation, ThermiVa, and the O-Shot. If you are interested in learning more about the treatments we offer, contact Austin Urogynecology today!