Women Who Don't Want Sex!

Ask Glen!










Q. Glen I am a women and sometimes I don't want sex! ( A lot of times!) Do you have any answers?

A.Yes, But not from me! I read a article from two Doctor's Jennifer Berman, MD, and her sister, Laura Berman, PhD. Here is what they wrote!

"Sexuality is such a central part of who we are, emotionally and spiritually, and when that's shut off, it shuts off part of our spirit as well." — Dr. Laura Berman

Jennifer Berman, MD, and her sister, Laura Berman, PhD, are leading experts in the field of female sexual medicine. They opened one of the first centers devoted to this field at UCLA and have written a book, For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life. They believe that with the right combination of medical and psychological treatment, women's sex lives can change dramatically.

Identifying Sexual Dysfunction
For many years, according to Jennifer, sexual dysfunction has been a silent epidemic, leaving many women feeling alone in their misery. How do you know if you're suffering from sexual dysfunction? Jennifer and Laura offer these signs:

• Your sex life is causing you personal distress.
• Your sex life is affecting your quality of life, your well-being or your relationship.
• You're not responding to sex the way you used to.

Types of Female Sexual Dysfunction
A panel of medical experts, including Jennifer Berman, identified the following types of female sexual dysfunction:

• No desire: Lack of desire that causes personal distress, lack of fantasies or sexual thoughts, or lack of interest in sexual activities. This may be a result of taking certain medications, emotional factors or menopause.
  
• Sexual arousal disorder: Inability to maintain adequate arousal. Possible causes include psychological factors like depression, or medical reasons, such as diminished blood flow.
  
• Lack of orgasm: Difficulty or inability to reach orgasm after stimulation and arousal. This also includes delay in reaching orgasm or diminished quality of orgasm. Emotional trauma or sexual abuse can cause this dysfunction, as well as medical factors, including medication or damage to pelvic nerves during surgery.
  
• Sexual pain: Recurrent or consistent genital pain associated with sexual intercourse. Causes include medical problems like infections or surgical procedures. Psychological issues, relationship problems or emotional conflicts can also be part of the cause. Most often, a combination of physiological and psychological factors leads to this form of dysfunction.

Both doctors note that sexual dysfunction is usually a combination of physical problems as well as psychological problems.

Other Sexual Function Issues

Testosterone: Women need both estrogen and testosterone for a healthy sex life. While estrogen is primarily responsible for lubrication and blood flow, testosterone is the hormone for desire, as well as emotional well-being and energy levels.

Low testosterone levels lead to loss of libido, but also to feeling tired, depressed or unable to sleep. Women's testosterone levels tend to drop after giving birth, most often after the second child.

Anti-depressants: Jennifer explains that often women become depressed about their lack of sexual response, so they're put on anti-depressants, which can make things worse. Fortunately, there are new anti-depressants that help with depression without decreasing sex drive. In some cases, they even improve sex drive.

Medical Procedures: Pelvic surgery or trauma, and particularly hysterectomy, can cause loss of libido and arousal problems. While much is known about the nerves in the male pelvic region, the female's is more of a mystery. This makes it difficult for surgeons to avoid those important nerves.

In the past, when women were recovering from pelvic surgery, the only questions asked were, is it possible to have sex, and does it hurt? Issues of lubrication, orgasms and pelvic contractions were often not a consideration. Jennifer says that as more women enter surgical specialties, closer attention is being paid to these issues.

Treatment:
Testosterone cream has helped women with low libido or sensation problems, but it is not necessarily the answer. It is not FDA approved for use by women and needs to be prescribed and used with a doctor's supervision. There are also side effects to be aware of, including weight gain, oily skin, hair growth, an enlarged clitoris or liver damage.

The Eros CTD (clitoral therapy device) enhances blood flow to the genital area, primarily the clitoris, through suction. The user controls the intensity and frequency of the suction. It is an FDA approved medical device that must be prescribed by a doctor.

If you are considering any kind of treatment, remember to always consult with your doctor to come up with the best plan for you.

Resources
To learn more about female sexual dysfunction and how it relates to you,
read the Bermans' book For Women Only
Call the Female Sexual Medicine Center at UCLA at 310-825-0025 or 800-UCLA-MD1 (800-825-2631).

Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program. Please consult your physician !

Wishing You Great Health!

Any questions? Ask Glen