Help for loss of Sex Drive for Older Women

I have seen quite a few posts from older gentlemen lamenting their partner's loss of interest in anything sexual. I thought I would share my story.

I developed a form of thyroid disease (Hashimoto's disease) just as I turned 50. Menopause followed right behind the onset of the thyroid problem. Along with low energy level & weight gain, my desire for any sexual pleasure was gone. As a long time single woman, I had enjoyed an active sex life that included BDSM play. I have always been multi-orgasmic with a high sex drive.

I visited numerous physicians including endocrinologists in Phoenix & the Dallas area. My thyroid levels were corrected, but my energy level & sex drive did not return to normal. Fortunately, I live in a large metro area, have good insurance, and can afford to seek good medical care. At age 60, I felt more like an "it" than a woman. For someone who loves sex and enjoys being with a man, this was just not acceptable to me.

I began to research other forms of treatment. First on the list was mico-nutrient testing. This test revealed a very low level of the B vitamins. So, high levels of supplements were prescribed along with occasional injections of B12. My energy level was higher, but still no interest in sex.

My next step was to try bioidentical hormone therapy. I do realize this step is not for everyone as there are risks involved, especially if you have a family history of cancer. However, this was the solution for me.

I feel like a vibrant sexy woman again & my sex drive is back to what it was in my 40s. The brain fog is gone too. My orgasms are as strong as ever, plus I now have the maturity to be comfortable exploring my more kinky side. This is well worth the $1600 00 a year cost of the hormone pellets

Great story!!

I have had a kinky side from 17 years forward.

Bio identical hormone treatments are the way to go. It is an extensive testing phase before you get to the pellets but my life and libido have returned by storm. If you do not qualify fir pellets, there are other bio elements.

Find a compounding pharmacist in your area who will be able to lead you to a Qualified bio identical doctor. Just because a Doctor can purchase and insert pellets does NOT mean they are BHRT qualified.

Some facts, it has been used in Europe fir over 40 -50 YEARS, it is not a pill, so it doesn't go through your liver or other organs. MUCH better, safer than horrible premarin.

Do yourself a favor find the Right doctor for your wife and your life.

LadyM

Fascinating stuff! Good for both of you!

Thank you for sharing your story! I am 47 and my TSH has been slowly rising for a few years. My mother takes synthroid and I will probably be on it in the next year or 2. I have done a little reading on the bioidentical hormone therapy & I like to hear different women's perspectives (as opposed to reading a scientific journal)

I am not a doctor and I am not expert but I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis/disease. I just turned 45 this year. I have had this thyroid condition since I was probably 16. All the women on both sides of my family also have thyroid issues, so I am somewhat familiar.

Datemale, and to the OP, your thyroid glad is responsible for so so so much in the body. A thyroid that isn't working at all or not much will and can have an impact on your sex life for sure. But most of the time when women start heading closer to their 50's and are either premenopausal or already are in menopause while their thyroid can account for some of their lack of desire, dryness and others, most often it's just due to a change in hormones due to menopause.

Yes your can say that your thyroid is partly responsible for hormone output and what not, millions of women who don't have thyroid issues and are the same age still have the same issues. So you can say that the two can go together but that doesn't mean if you are in menopause you are going to start having thyroid issues, and visa versa.

So what I am trying to say here, and again, I really don't know anything about hormone therapy, but it would be a correct educated medical statement that the pellets probably work more on the menopause aspect of you than on the thyroid aspect of you. I am guessing too that if you only have a thyroid issues these pellets probably won't do as much for you as someone who is either premenopausal or smack dab in the middle of it. I could be wrong. Again, given a good knowledge and understanding of how the body works and anatomy functions, this would be a very logical assumption.

Mashie

I'm a male in my late 60's living in the U.K. My wife is in her early 60's and lost a great deal of interest in sex a couple of years ago when she went through the menopause but over the last year to 18 months she seems to have regained her desire and her sex drive now is probably higher than it was before the menopause. I have no idea why this is but am very thankful just the same.

If anyone has any suggestions as to why this has happened I would be interested to hear your thoughts and views

I'm 52 years old and have went a early menopause but I still haven't lost my sexual libido yet I had a little problem with some dryness but I took care of that with some KY. And then all of a sudden my dryness wasn't there anymore and my female moisture returned. I also have a problem with my thyroid gland but its just opposite I have a over active thyroid gland.

Just remember that any chemical you take will have some side effects, some predicable and some not. My wife took hormone treatments post menopause. Now at 70 with no family history and in very good health she has breast cancer. Was it related to the hormones? Perhaps but nobody can be certain. There are other things that can lead to breast and other forms of cancer as well....smoking, alcohol abuse, being overweight, too much sugar or foods that convert to sugar and lack of exercise.....boy have we all heard this before. Nobody blames too much sex! So if you wish to indulge.....go for it.

I have not heard of bioidentical hormone therapy. Sounds very interesting. I for one would say- you go girl! Getting the most out of life now is very important. You really don't know what the future holds. Every drug has side effects and some people will have a terrible reaction but most will not.

I think it is important to get the most quality out of your life in the present tense. Nobody really knows what the future holds but living life just to avoid possible negative consequences means you are really not living life to its fullest.

I think you made the right decision.

I am one of those men who's often talked about my wife's loss of libido during her perimenopausal phase of life. I haven't been online much since last spring. A couple of really good things have happened since then. For some unknown reason, I embraced exercise and working out - and timing couldn't have been better as my wife is (we believe) near the end of her perimenopause, and her sex drive and enjoyment of sex is returning 😃 . Our sex life is starting to surpass any of my expectations. I hope this is a trend that continues!

Loss of sex drive or sexual desire can be a very sad and painful situation. I take my hat off to the women who are willing to do the research and evaluate the risk of hormone treatments. Sometimes nature deals us a lousy hand. We're fortunate to live in an age where we have options along with a wealth of information to choose how we want to live our lives - and be who we need to be.

Bio identicals have been used safely well over 60 years in Europe. There are many safe ways of balancing your journey through peri and menopause. My symptoms of menopause were so debilitating we had to do something. Loss of libido was the LEAST of my problems. After careful research, a year + of testing and observation, customized treatment was given and so was my life given back. Since your thyroid the master of hormones, once my menopause treatment was on an even keel my thyroid showed it needed help as well. It has been five years for me and running like a top with blood tested twice per year.

The old way of popping a pill, they literally give, gave way too much estrogen and progesterone to women which can and many times does cause health issues. In my opinion anyone who takes Premarin...well, I would never take a one size fits all. My mother always told me, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't. Lets just say a one size fits all is not for me.

Sadly, I know both men and women can suffer from the natural, but painful years of menopause. This link talks about 3 specific things, how they got HRT wrong by overdosing, , not every one is a candidate, and prefers BHRT.

http://www.johnleemd.com/cgi-johnleemd/sb/ss_mb.cgi?storeid=*161419c91a8840620749a04f38&ss_parm=Af22a6a9784358b2b9f45636ad0a62d8e

BTW, the women that never have negative menopause symptoms... thrrrrtp!