What is it?
A drop in your interest in sex, or a change in how your body responds during intimacy – dryness, not being aroused in the same way and lack of orgasm. This is one of the most common menopause symptoms, and one of the least talked about.
Why does it happen?
A few things are usually going on at once: falling oestrogen and testosterone levels, vaginal dryness or discomfort during sex (see our intimate health guide [LINK TO INTIMATE HEALTH GUIDE]), poor sleep, low mood, and just generally not feeling like yourself. Relationship factors, stress, and how you feel about your changing body matter too. This isn’t usually down to hormones alone.
In a UK survey of women aged 45–55 with current menopause symptoms, low libido was reported by 54% of them, but it’s still not discussed and many people see it as part of getting older and not worth fussing over. However for a lot of people, sex and intimacy is a big part of their lives and relationships and there are things that can help.
Things that can help
- Tackling other symptoms first. Better sleep and improved mood often bring some of your drive back on their own
- Dealing with vaginal dryness or discomfort directly, since pain during sex is a common and treatable cause of low libido
- Talking openly with a partner, where relevant. Timing, logistics, and connection all play a part
- Regular exercise, which can help with body image, energy and mood
Can anything medical help?
If low libido is still a problem once HRT and your other symptoms are well managed, testosterone is sometimes considered. This is currently used outside its official licence for this purpose in the UK (see our guide on what that means [LINK TO OFF LICENSE ARTICLE]) and isn’t right or necessary for everyone. Your clinician can consider this with you individually as part of the consultation.
Vaginal oestrogen can also help specifically if pain or dryness during sex is part of the picture, as well as lubricants during sex and vaginal moisturisers for everyday comfort.
When to get more help
Low libido is common, but it’s worth raising with your clinician if:
- it’s causing you real distress, or affecting a relationship that matters to you
- it comes with pain or bleeding during sex that isn’t improving with treatment
- it feels like part of a wider pattern of low mood, rather than libido on its own
The bottom line
Low libido during menopause is really common, and it’s rarely down to just one thing. It’s worth talking about as there are usually several angles to look at and can help.
If this is affecting you, book a menopause consultation — it’s a completely normal thing to bring up.
References
- BMS Conference Poster: Not just hot flushes — British Menopause Society, UK survey of 4,014 women aged 45–55
