Often, women are worried about the changes they see on the outside of their bodies as they get older: aging skin, gray hair and a thickening middle. However, there are a number of changes that occur on the inside of the body that women also need to be aware of.
Hormones are chemical substances made by an organ like the ovary or thyroid gland, and they control different body functions. Examples of hormones are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid hormone.
“As women age and approach the menopause, their hormones start to decline, specifically their estrogen and progesterone,” says Dr. Janet Franiek, a physician and HealthChoicesFirst.com partner. “But what some women may not know is that in addition to progesterone and estrogen, testosterone, which is a hormone we normally associate with men, also starts to decline.”
As testosterone levels decrease, a woman may also experience changes in sexual responsiveness, specifically her ability to obtain an orgasm or the intensity of the orgasm. Many medications, such as antidepressants and tranquilizers, can affect the libido.
“The decline in hormone levels as we age can cause issues with respect to sexual health in two areas,” says Dr. Franiek. “First of all, the decline in estrogen can cause problems with the vaginal tissue itself, causing thinning and lack of sponginess and suppleness of the tissue. In addition, women's ability to lubricate may become markedly reduced making intercourse uncomfortable or sometimes quite painful.”
Hormone levels don't always decline uniformly during menopause; they may fall and rise again. Some women are more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations than others, and symptoms vary.
“If you have issues in this area it's important that you see your family doctor and not only get tested for possible deficiences in estrogen and progesterone but also testosterone deficiencies,” says Dr. Franiek. “It's important in the perio and post-menopausal period to replace all three hormones in order to re-establish hormonal balance.”