Health Center - Sexual Health
Do you have questions about sex? "Why don't I want it anymore?" "Why doesn't my partner want me?" "How can I spice things up?" "How will my sex life change as I age?" Relax. We've got the information you need and the answers you crave so you can have a satisfying and enjoyable sex life at any age.
De-Stress Your Sex Life
by Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH
As women age, their sex drive can change. Decreased interest and enjoyment are two major complaints associated with this change. Before you write these changes off to fluctuations in your hormone levels, you should appreciate a very special mind-body connection that directly influences your sexuality. It's how you worry, fret, and become anxious about your daily life. That's right, how you perceive your life can influence your interest in sex. How does this happen?
When a women feels that she is out of control in any aspect of her life, she can feel hopeless, helpless, and ultimately defeated. Animal studies have shown that when mammals experience this defeat reaction, it alters their sex hormone levels. Specifically, in females, estrogen plunges and decreases the female's fertility.
Women also secrete testosterone from their ovaries. Testosterone is a hormone secreted by both men and women and is linked to sexual desire. Yes, women do have testosterone, just not as much as men do. Adequate levels of testosterone are absolutely essential to maintain sexual responsiveness and function. The defeat reaction also decreases testosterone levels, and together with lower estrogen levels, seriously affect sexuality and fertility.
