Women's Health

Libido

Libido is commonly defined as sexual desire and is affected by many things. Obesity, being underweight, oral contraceptives, SSRIs and beta blockers can all affect a woman’s desire for sexual activity. Usually, if the cause of reduced libido (in women this is called female androgen deficiency) is determined, it can be removed and libido will return to normal. There are instances, however, in which libido slows down to the point where desire for sexual contact is strongly reduced. In these cases, treatments, both psychological and medicinal, can be sought to help return libido to its normal level.

Menopause

Many of the changes women experience during menopause are due to declining levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Menopause happens to all women and usually begins around age 40, as they shift out of the reproductive stage of their lives. It can also happen to women of any age who have undergone removal of their ovaries, which produce estrogen and progesterone, or of their uterus, which helps regulate the body’s hormone levels. Every woman is affected different by menopause and symptoms may include hot flashes, changes in the menstrual cycle, insomnia, mood changes, sexual and urinary problems and bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis. Some women may experience many symptoms, others almost none at all.

Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder, or PMDD, is a chronic condition that can severely impact a woman’s life and requires medical evaluation and treatment. It is estimated that only three to eight percent of women have PMDD during their reproductive years. During her monthly menstrual cycle, a woman’s hormones generally rise and fall and often lead to premenstrual symptoms (PMS). Symptoms of PMDD are like those of PMS but much worse. These include breast tenderness, acne, headaches, gastrointestinal discomfort, hot flashes, mood swings, increased appetite, difficultlty concentrating and oversensitivity. About 75 percent of women of childbearing age have some PMS problems. About 2 to 10 percent of women in this age group have PMDD.

Vaginal Dryness

Vaginal dryness occurs when the vagina does not produce enough naturally occurring lubricant. It is normal for the amount and consistency of the lubricant to vary during a woman’s menstrual cycle, but certain medications, diets and illnesses can decrease the amount produced. This can lead to discomfort during sexual intercourse. Treatments seek to restore natural moisture levels to a woman’s vagina.

Vaginal Infections

Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina and falls into one of three categories: hormonal, irritant, or infectious. Most infections are due to external irritants such as allergies to condoms, spermicides, soaps, perfumes, tampons, or topical medications and infectious irritants such as yeast, chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea. Vaginitis is usually harmless; however, if it is caused by an infectious organism such as chlamydia, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes or ovaries and lead to infertility. Symptoms include irritation and/or itching of the genital area, inflammation of the genitals, vaginal discharge, foul odor and discomfort upon urinating. Treatments usually include topical ointments and antibiotics.