“Too much of a good thing can be wonderful”
– Mae West

Ahh, date nights. It’s hard with your career, your schedules, children, physical exhaustion and timing. No excuses – decide now to bring deep intimacy and sensual playfulness back to your relationship.

At The Women’s Center, you will find advice to help you understand your libido, techniques to improve your sex life and extensive information on contraception and STD’s. Women’s sexual health is just as important as male sexual health and a satisfying sex life doesn’t happen with the wave of a wand. Talking about your sexual needs can bring you and your partner closer together and promote sexual fulfillment on a holistic level.

Approximately 45-60% of women face some degree of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in their lifetime. As one of life’s critical functions, sex is often brushed-over or frankly ignored by many doctors who feel powerless to assist the suffering patient or, worse still, uncomfortable discussing this topic themselves. FSD can be caused by a medical condition, relationship issues, emotional problems, or a combination thereof. At The Women’s Center for Integrative Health, your sex life is considered an integral part of your health and wellness – Mind, Body & Soul.

Sexual problems can be influenced by a wide variety of factors. There are two main parts-physical and psychological/emotional-and usually they interact. Physical problems can involve such things as hormonal imbalances (menopause), infections (like yeast infections), or diseases (like diabetes or multiple sclerosis) that have potential side effects like pain during sex, excessive dryness or decreased sensation. There are certain times in a woman’s life when she is more prone to sexual problems because of hormonal changes. For example, some women experience a range of sexual responses right after childbirth and during menopause. Also, some commonly prescribed medications, like certain antidepressants, can lead to sexual side effects.

There is also the psychological aspect. This can include such things as the many conflicting cultural messages one learns about sexuality. A woman is also impacted by how she views her sexual self, including body image, roles, power, and her view of her partner. If problems exist, an assessment of the factors involved is performed, and a wide range of therapeutic options are discussed in candor and privacy. It goes without saying, a woman’s partner can equally contribute to sexual challenges in the relationship. Issues such a her partner’s decreased libido, medical conditions, stress or reluctance to seek help, can all heavily impact a woman’s sex life.

Although talking about sexuality can be difficult, it’s a topic worth addressing. The Women’s Center respects your privacy and our professional staff is on call to discuss women’s sexual health concerns to motivate you to have safe, enjoyable sex and to feel a deeper level of intimacy with your partner. Nearly half of all women will face sexual issues in their lifetime. We want patients to know that this challenge CAN be solved.

A bit about women’s sexual health at any age

Many older women desire and enjoy an active sex life. For some women, the freedom from the hassle of monthly periods and worries about pregnancy help them enjoy sex more than ever after menopause. But for other women, physical changes, illness, disabilities, and some medicines make sex painful, difficult, or hard to enjoy.
Older women also need to know about threats to sexual health and protective steps to take. For instance, older women (and men) sometimes don’t think that they could be at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as Chlamydia, genital herpes, and HIV. This is not true. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States is 50 or older. Yet, there are many ways to lower the risk of getting an STI, including HIV.

When to talk with your doctor?
If your difficulty persists, consider turning to a specialist or sex therapist for help. If you take medications and are concerned about your level of desire, review your medications with Dr. Price. If a particular medication is affecting your comfort with sex or desire for sex, your doctor may be able to suggest an alternative. Likewise, if a physical symptom — such as vaginal dryness — is interfering with your sexual enjoyment, ask about treatment options. For example, a lubricant or other medication can help with vaginal dryness associated with hormonal changes or other factors.

We can help
Although talking about sexuality can be difficult, it’s a topic worth addressing. The Women’s Center respects your privacy and our professional staff is on call to discuss women’s sexual health concerns to motivate you to have safe, enjoyable sex and to feel a deeper level of intimacy with your partner. Nearly half of all women will face sexual issues in their lifetime. We want patients to know that this challenge CAN be solved.

“The true man cravess two things: danger and play.
For that reason he craves woman, as the most dangerous plaything”
– Nietzsche