“Sex is not static. It changes at every stage of your life.” - Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus
Low libido and sexual desire are among the biggest concerns we hear from women in perimenopause and menopause, and these challenges can become even more complicated for women who are also dealing with chronic pelvic pain, vaginal dryness, vaginismus, or another chronic health condition. Maybe she's tried hormone therapy, or she's been working with a therapist, but she's still struggling to enjoy sex or feel connected to her partner. So where do we go from there? How do we help women who have been avoiding intimacy for months or even years begin to feel comfortable with their bodies and their relationships again?
We know that hormones can influence sexual desire, but we also have to consider what's happening in the brain and how a woman's sexual responses may change over time. Sometimes we need to address both the physiological and behavioral aspects of sexual health to see meaningful improvement. And for our patients who have experienced pain or have had to avoid intercourse for medical reasons, rebuilding intimacy may need to be very gradual, much like any other rehabilitation process.
In today's episode, I'm joined by sex therapist, author, and sexual health educator Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus to explore a more comprehensive approach to sexual health during perimenopause and menopause. We talk about how hormones and the brain influence desire, the roles of estrogen, testosterone, and medications in addressing sexual difficulties, practical strategies for working through sexual avoidance, communicating with partners, rebuilding intimacy, Bat Sheva’s approach to scheduling sex, and more.
Enjoy the episode, and let's innovate and integrate together!
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Learn more or watch the video version of this conversation at https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/how-to-have-great-sex-in-perimenopause-and-menopause-with-dr-bat-sheva-marcus/.
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