How Changes in Your Hormones Affect Your Sexual Health

You probably don’t often think about your sex hormones, but they support your body functions and overall health. Estrogen and progesterone play critical roles in regulating the sleep cycle, maintaining bone mass, and supporting fertility, among other functions.

If your hormones fall out of balance, changes in your sexual health may be among the first you notice. At Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN, experienced women’s care provider Asia Mohsin, MD, can help you better understand your hormones and how they drive sexual health. 

Perimenopause or menopause may bring your first experience with hormone imbalances. In this article, we discuss how hormonal changes can impact your sexual health and well-being. 

Physical changes from hormones

Changes in your hormones can lead to physical changes in your vaginal lining that affect the way sex feels. 

When your body slows production of estrogen during perimenopause, that decrease causes the vaginal lining to become thinner and more fragile. At the same time, your vaginal tissues become drier and less able to lubricate themselves. 

As a result, sex can be uncomfortable at best and painful at worst. You might struggle to become physically aroused or have orgasms because of these physical changes.

Mental and emotional changes from hormones

Estrogen and progesterone are directly involved in sexual desire and arousal. When they’re out of balance because of menopause or other reasons, you can experience low libido (lack of sexual desire). 

Hormone imbalances can also indirectly prevent an enjoyable sex life by, for example, contributing to anxiety, depression, and major mood swings. All of these can affect your relationship and how you feel about your body. 

Physical menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats can further make sex seem unpleasant and cause you to avoid it. 

Your options for better sexual health

Dr. Mohsin encourages you to visit Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN to discuss your options for managing hormone imbalances. You might improve sexual symptoms without taking hormones by going to therapy, using vaginal lubricants, or simply having less sex. 

For some women, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can restore a healthy sex life in menopause. HRT replaces hormones such as estrogen when your body no longer produces them in large quantities. 

If you’re a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy, Dr. Mohsin works closely with you to ensure you take them safely and at the lowest possible dose. 

Not all hormone treatments are alike, and Dr. Mohsin can help you decide which best suits your needs. For example, if vaginal dryness is your main concern, topical estrogen may help improve lubrication. There are also prescription medicines for painful sex during menopause. 

Get in touch

Reaching out for help with sexual problems may feel intimidating, but doing so can help you resolve or improve your most pressing sexual health concerns. 

Call Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN in Friendswood, Texas, today or request an appointment online for in-person or telehealth care.