Sometimes referred to as “the life-force hormone,” testosterone is fundamental to our sex drive because it influences the entire “circle of sex”: interest, arousal, sexual response, lubrication, and orgasm. Normally, estrogen levels fall relatively quickly in women after menopause, while testosterone levels taper off more slowly. This leaves us comparatively “testosterone dominant” after our change [...]

At the clinic, we treat both the symptoms and the underlying causes of vaginal dryness, vaginal thinning, and associated conditions. If symptoms are relatively new or mild, we suggest using vitamin E vaginal suppositories twice weekly. Another option is to add dietary soy, which contains phytoestrogens that promote “plumping” of the tissues and vaginal lubrication. [...]

At some point in their lives, approximately 50% of women experience thinning, tightening, dryness, and atrophy (a decrease in muscle mass) in the vulva and vagina. These changes can cause irritation, soreness, itching, and severe pain during sex, as well as embarrassing urinary frequency and urgency. “Genitourinary” changes like these, most common as estrogen levels [...]

A woman’s level of sexual desire is affected by a range of interdependent physical and emotional factors. We delve into the complex emotional aspects of rekindling desire and rebuilding libido in a separate article. Meanwhile, it makes practical sense to consider the physical aspects, because often they are surprisingly straightforward to address and improve. When [...]

Asking a woman about her sex drive and sexual satisfaction is all part of our unique intake questionnaire at Women to Women. Some feel awkward about giving their answers, but most welcome this chance to talk about what’s happening in their bodies, their vitality and their interest in sex. After all, sex is a physical [...]

Choosing the right multivitamin is vital but it can be confusing. There are conflicting claims about nutrients and dosages. Because of weak regulations, the labels on products are incomplete and misleading. Science in this area is rapidly evolving. And the number of choices at the vitamin store can be overwhelming. How do you decide what [...]

In recent shows, Oprah has brought bioidentical HRT onto center stage. As a result, we’re now deluged with calls about bioidentical hormones. The basic question women ask is, “Are they for me?” This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a sudden spark of interest in bioidenticals. In her books, Ageless, The Sexy Years, and Breakthrough, [...]

Up until relatively recently, conventional medicine has had little to offer women suffering from symptoms of hormonal change. Until a woman was deemed to be officially in menopause and could be prescribed synthetic hormone therapy, she was often told that her symptoms were all in her head. Even today, women struggling with hormonal imbalance are [...]