Why your sex life matters and what you can do about it!

Consider this common scenario…

A 61 year old patient expresses concern about “mild vaginal dryness but nothing that bothers me.  What bothers me is that I’m not able to have an orgasm and it is frustrating to me and my husband.” A physical exam reveals significant clitoral retraction.  (Since the clitoris is the female sexual appendage ~ equivalent to the male penis ~ it is a vital part of stimulation).  She was given a care plan consisting of vaginal exercises and hormonal vaginal cream to apply nightly for 2 months in order to increase secretion and thicken tissue.  She was reassessed after 2 months and was pleased with her increased stimulation and ability to orgasm during intercourse.

FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION…

This is an extremely common scenario, but it definitely doesn’t stop there…  other common problems include painful intercourse, low libido, low/absent sexual arousal, and aversion to sex.  These are all forms of Female Sexual Dysfunction (the female version of Erectile Dysfunction) and while 48.2% of women suffer from one of these problems, 23.2% suffer from two or more.  The great news is that we can address almost all of these issues successfully!

While the ability to have pleasure through sex and orgasm is plenty enough reason to fix the problem, female sexual dysfunction is also linked to a number of other problems that warrant attention…quality of life, relationship health, and intimacy.

THE HONEYMOON EFFECT…

“Think back on the most spectacular love affair of your life-the Big One that toppled you head over heels. For most, it was a time of heartfelt bliss, robust health, and abundant energy. Life was so beautiful that you couldn’t wait to bound out of bed in the morning to experience more Heaven on Earth. It was the Honeymoon Effect that was to last forever. Unfortunately for most, the Honeymoon Effect is frequently short-lived. Imagine what your planetary experience would be like if you could maintain the Honeymoon Effect throughout your whole life” says Bruce Lipton, Ph.D.

Well, the great news is that now you probably can!  But having a plan to keep the ‘love juices’ flowing is first and foremost…

LET’S MAKE A PLAN…

In the scenario at the beginning, a simple plan of hormonal cream and exercises fixed the problem. Sometimes trigger point injections are the key.  And, then, some cases are more complex ~ with combination therapies consisting of creams, injections, counseling and/or surgery.  Many times, the treatment can be fully completed in the office, other times, we work in conjunction with a counselor and/or specialty surgeon. 

Above all, the main thing that I want women to remember is that YOU AREN’T ALONE ~ whatever the problem may be, WE ARE HERE TO HELP and all patient care is completed privately and confidentially.

If you are experiencing any of the issues above, or any others that you are concerned about, I encourage you to call our office, come to our upcoming seminar, email us, or contact us through our website TheRenewalPoint.com.  You don’t have to suffer in silence. 

Source: Helena Williams, ARNP, MS. Helena is a Board Certified Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner at The Renewal Point. With an extensive background in integrative medicine, Helena works together with her patients to create a holistic and individualized approach, in order to bring them to an optimal quality of life.

References:

Yale School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Cleveland Clinic