Things change as we age.
Some changes are good. Like getting wiser with the passing years.
Some are not so good. Like age-related hormone imbalances.
Hormones regulate just about everything in your body, ranging from mood and metabolism to sleep and energy level. They also impact sex and intimacy.
Let’s take a look at seven different hormones that can affect your sex life…for better or for worse.
Estrogen
Estrogen plays a critical role in a woman’s ability to enjoy sex. In particular, it’s is essential for vaginal health. Without sufficient estrogen, women can suffer from vaginal dryness and atrophy. Both can make sex painful. Estrogen also helps women to maintain a healthy sex drive. Without it, libido can suffer.
Men need small amounts of estrogen for good health. But too much or too little can negatively impact sex drive, as well as erectile function.
Testosterone
While testosterone is often thought of as being a male hormone, women need small amounts of it, as well.
Men and women both need appropriate amounts of testosterone to maintain a healthy sex drive. And men also need adequate testosterone levels for erectile function.
Men’s testosterone levels begin to gradually decline as early as their late 20s or early 30s. Over time, this can lead to reduced libido and erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone production tends to drop in women during perimenopause, but for some women this decline can happen earlier. Lower testosterone levels can reduce sex drive and overall sexual satisfaction.
Progesterone
For women, progesterone levels decline during perimenopause. While low progesterone doesn’t necessarily have a direct impact on sex drive, it causes other symptoms that can. In particular, a drop in progesterone can cause mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, and weight gain.
All of the above can negatively impact a woman’s interest in sex.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone”. Men and women both release oxytocin during physical touch to enhance intimacy and bonding.
Like other hormones, oxytocin production tends to decline with age.
Melatonin
Melatonin regulates your sleep-wake cycles. In particular, melatonin helps your body to wind down as it prepares for sleep.
Melatonin production decreases with age, which can cause issues with sleep quality and quantity.
A lack of quality sleep can result in fatigue and irritability, with neither being great for your sex life.
Thyroid
Thyroid hormones (and there are several) have everything to do with controlling your metabolism and your energy levels.
Low thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) can cause fatigue, weight gain, and depression, all of which can lower sex drive.
Cortisol
Your adrenal glands produce extra cortisol during times of stress. But your body also needs small amounts of cortisol on a daily basis just to feel good.
When excessive cortisol production is chronic, it can be toxic. And if this excess production goes on for too long, the adrenal glands can eventually become fatigued to where they can no longer produce even the small amounts of cortisol that are needed for day-to-day good health.
Either scenario can cause symptoms that dampen sex drive.
Don’t Let Hormone Imbalance Disrupt Your Sex Life
Hormone imbalances are common for both men and women as they age.
And left untreated, these imbalances can significantly impact your sex life. This is not, however, an inevitability. These changes can be managed.
For example:
- Bioidentical hormone replacement can restore hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid to optimal levels.
- Physical contact helps to stimulate oxytocin production. Oxytocin can also be supplemented prior to sex to enhance arousal and climax.
- Melatonin supplements, when properly used, can make it easier to get a night of sleep.
- Cortisol levels that are too high or too low can be addressed via lifestyle adjustments and targeted dietary supplements. Replacing adrenal hormones like DHEA and pregnenolone can also be supportive when the adrenal glands are fatigued.
Hormonal changes are an inevitable part of aging, but they do not have to signal the end of a fulfilling sex life. Hormone levels can be restored, and your sex life can be preserved.
It is important, however, that hormone therapy be physician-supervised by a provider with expertise in hormone replacement.
That’s where Renew Youth comes in. We have been providing physician-supervised hormone therapy for more than 25 years. Call us at 800-859-7511 or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary consultation.