Dear Readers,

Ms Crooks is a 53-year-old woman who has recently experienced menopause. Her last menstrual period was last year. She said menopause wasn't too bad because she didn't experience a lot of hot flashes.

However, her partner has commented on her new aversion to sexual intercourse. Ms Crooks insists that she has no aversion sex, but recently she has just not felt like having sex too often. She feels tired at times and does not have any urges and wonders what she can do about it.

The list of conditions and situations which can lead to diminished sex drive is significant and includes:

Anxiety stress

Depression

Menopause

Drug abuse

Chronic pain

Alcoholism

Debilitating diseases such as cancer

Menopause can be associated with fatigue, nervousness, irritability, stress, depression and vaginal dryness. Any of these conditions may result in decreased urge for sexual intercourse. Women often experience changes in their sexual needs and desires at menopause. Some women experience a decreased libido (urge for sex) because of altered hormonal levels and discomfort during sexual intercourse because of vaginal dryness. Some women actually become more sexually active as they lose the fear of pregnancy.

oestrogen

Almost all of the upsetting symptoms associated with menopause are due to a decrease in oestrogen (female hormone) production. With decreasing levels of oestrogen comes a measurable dryness of the vagina associated with some wasting away of vaginal tissues. Oestrogen normally keeps the vagina 'plump' and without it the tissues tend to become thinner and fragile.

hormone replacement

The treatment for decreased libido and vaginal dryness is hormone replacement therapy where oestrogen and progesterone hormones are taken cyclically to replace the failing hormone production in the menopausal woman, resulting usually in a reappearance of libido (sex drive) and heightened vaginal moistness. When vaginal dryness is a real problem, oestrogen is available in the form of vaginal creams for localised use. The use of plant (phyto) oestrogens which are present in soy products, and supplements such as evening primrose and black cohash, function like natural oestrogen. They have been found to increase cell growth in the vaginal walls, among other things, and so are often useful for the menopausal woman to take.

Tiredness in the menopausal woman is often alleviated by hormonal replacement. A good supplement rich in vitamin A, B6, B12 works well. Also, vitamin E and selenium, when combined with fresh fruits and a diet rich in grains and vegetables with restrictions on sugars and red meat, work well too. Daily exercise goes a long way to lifting both spirit and energy levels in the menopausal woman.

Write Lifeline

P.O. Box 1731

Kingston 8