Sexual wellness is one of the biggest and oft neglected women’s health concerns. Many women struggle with sexual health, especially as they age, with low libido, reduced sexual pleasure and discomfort during sex being top concerns. What many women don’t realize is that they don’t have to accept sexual issues as their fate and bid adieu to a healthy, enjoyable sex life. That simply isn’t the case!
What causes sexual dysfunction in women?
The science is clear. Hormone imbalance is the main culprit when it comes to sexual dysfunction, and this includes both estrogen and testosterone. Hormone imbalance can occur for a variety of reasons. Nutritional deficiencies, poor diet, eating disorders, stress and various disease states can contribute to hormone imbalance.
In addition, women tend to produce lower levels of sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone and progesterone) as they age. Did we say testosterone? Yes! Women naturally produce testosterone (at lower levels than men), and it plays a key role in sexual wellness for women.
Research shows there is a “significant decline in the production of testosterone four years before menopause, during menopause and two years into menopause.” What most women also don’t realize is that the hormone testosterone plays a key role in sexual desire, sensitivity, intensity of pleasure and the health and physiology of female sex organs. Consequently, when testosterone levels decline, so does a woman’s sexual wellness.
As for estrogen, it plays an integral role in the female reproductive system but as noted above, production of estrogen declines with age. This is especially true in the years before, during and after menopause. Estrogen provides numerous health benefits (which we discuss in other blogs) but it’s also important for sexual wellness in women.
Research also shows that women with low estrogen can experience vulvovaginal dryness and atrophy, as well as changes in genital function through reduced sensitivity and decreased clitoral blood flow. These issues can be problematic, as some women find sex to be less desirable due to potential discomfort and lack of satisfaction.
Achieving sexual wellness for women requires a multi-faceted approach
As healthcare practitioners who take an integrated, functional medicine approach, Certified EvexiPEL® Medical Providers seek to uncover the root cause of women’s health issues. If a patient has concerns about sexual dysfunction, the practitioner will perform lab tests and conduct a thorough health exam to figure out why.
What’s causing the hormone imbalance? Since hormone imbalance is one of the key culprits behind sexual dysfunction, running tests to gauge hormone levels is just the beginning. The practitioner also needs to determine why hormone imbalance has occurred (younger women suffer from hormone imbalance, too) in the first place.
Is poor nutrition a contributing factor? While the natural decline in hormone production may be the root cause of hormone imbalance and corresponding sexual dysfunction for some women, that isn’t always the case. Nutrition is incredibly important when it comes to both hormone production and metabolism. It’s the fuel hormones need to operate at peak performance levels.
Has the patient been struggling with poor gut health, depression or anxiety? Important consideration should be given to mental health. As discussed in our recent blogs on gut health, women need to be proactive about gut health in order to achieve and maintain hormone balance but gut health also plays a role in mental health.
As Dr. Terri DeNeui, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC explains in her book Hormone Havoc, a gut-brain axis exists where signals constantly flow between the gut and the brain. Research shows that when a patient has an unhealthy gut, she may experience depression and anxiety. On the flip side, research also shows that psychological factors can also affect gut motility and function. Taking this full circle, the unhealthy gut can then have a direct impact on hormone function.
How sexual dysfunction in women may be addressed
As discussed above, it is critical to get a full picture of a woman’s health in order to uncover the root cause of sexual dysfunction. Once the root cause or causes are revealed, the practitioner can then prescribe a comprehensive treatment plan.
Hormone replacement therapy. If low levels of testosterone or estrogen are at issue, the practitioner may prescribe hormone replacement therapy. EVEXIAS generally recommends bio- identical hormone pellets, which mimic natural hormones, instead of synthetic hormones. Learn more about synthetic vs. bio-identical hormones here.
Nutraceuticals to promote hormone optimization and sexual wellness. As discussed above, proper nutrition is critical for hormone production and metabolism. For example, vitamin D is a vital component in the endocrine system, which includes supporting the production and regulation of testosterone.
EVEXIAS included other key nutrients to support hormone optimization in the formula it developed for the nutraceutical HRT-Complete E. These include:
- DIM (diindolylmethane), which supports estrogen metabolism, antioxidant activation, detoxification processes and inflammation control, among other benefits.
- Sulforaphane, which plays a key role in the metabolism of estrogen, activating antioxidants, warding off inflammation and more.
- CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which helps support energy production, mitochondrial health and lipid metabolism (important for hormone balance), among other benefits.
- Methylated—or “body ready”—B vitamins (B6, B12 and folate), which help drive the production of enzymes that are necessary for estrogen conversion.
- FenuSMART® a unique formula comprised primarily of seeds from the herb fenugreek, which plays a dual role in hormone balance by helping support healthy estrogen levels and warding off insulin resistance. Research also shows that fenugreek may provide relief from hormone related disorders in women, including sexual dysfunction.
Learn more about HRT-Complete E and how it can support sexual wellness in women here.
PT-141 peptides to help promote sexual desire in women.
Also known as bremelanotide, PT-141 is a melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) that was originally developed for sunless tanning. Research shows that PT-141 may help improve sexual function in both women and men, including heightened sexual arousal, satisfaction and climax. PT-141 may also help boost energy and mood in some patients, two factors important for sexual wellness in women. Ask your healthcare practitioner if peptides for sexual health may be a good fit for you.
Nutritional support and other treatments to promote gut health and mental health.
Both gut health and mental health should be evaluated when a patient is concerned about sexual dysfunction. You will find more information about the gut-brain axis and strategies to achieve gut health and maintain gut health on EVEXIAS.COM.
Don’t give up hope on a healthy, happy sex life
If concerns about sexual wellness are getting you down, and you haven’t been able to get the answers you need (and deserve) from other practitioners, an EvexiPEL® Certified Provider can help. EvexiPEL Certified practitioners can take a deep dive into your health issues to determine the root cause for sexual dysfunction and other challenges.
