Debbie
Persnickety slattern
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2001
- Posts
- 24,213
I found the article below at this site
http://www.sexual.co.nz/
Womans Lost Libido
"Exhausted. Stressed. Lackluster. Add to this the fluctuating hormonal levels associated with a multitude of causes and you have a recipe for decreased libido.
Sexual desire is an appetite, governed by multiple biological and experiential factors. Consequently, a wide variety of physical and psychological reasons can disturb its functioning.
We all know when our libidos are high; however lost libido and consequent sexual dysfunction affects most women at some stage, as much as sexual dysfunction apparently affects 50% of the male population at some time of their lives.
Says well-known Christchurch gynaecologist and obstetrician, John Doig, "I wish there was some way to empower women to ask for help with their sexual problems. Or even just ask for facts - ignorance is a big factor where sexual satisfaction is concerned, and that applies to both parties."
A specialist since 1979, Mr Doig has just about seen it all. "Often patients will present with something else, the, after some careful questioning, I find out what the real issue is. Then we can do something, whether is hormone replacement therapy - especially if the woman is peri-menopausal or menopausal - or recommended psycho-sexual counseling for both partners."
A somewhat controversial therapy, testosterone is nonetheless also highly successful, Mr Doig points out, adding that many of his patients have benefited greatly from this form of hormone intervention.
Adds Mr Doig: "Essentially, the libido tends to diminish in part due to oestrogen loss as women age. But there are other contributing factors such as the daily demands, the physical after-effects of childbirth, and post-natal depression."
It's a multi-faceted problem that needs to be addressed at both physical and psychological levels, Mr Doig says. "Women should have the opportunity of enjoying sexual relationships well into their 70s. There are several issues involved when this doesn't happen and this needs to be sensitively explored."
"Sex became a chore over the past few years until I responded to HRT," says Natalie*, aged 63 and married for 34 years. "I would have tried anything, because I was terrified my absent libido would result in my husband running off with somebody else." He didn't, and she's just added a genital gel to her bedroom routine. Does it work? "I feel like a kid at the circus - and Bob's delighted!"
Looking at the context in which women have learnt to accept their sexuality, Christchurch-based psychotherapist Richard Wheeler says that women's magazines are doing a great job.
"New Zealand culture is sex negative and needs to become sex positive. I don't believe in quick fixes, but that's what most patients expect. It takes a lot of commitment to develop intimacy, to listen to one's partner, and love and nurture ourselves and our relationships."
"I personally don't recommend manual aids," says Richard Wheeler. "What I have found is that women respond well to words and men like pictures, so I suggest that women clients read books that will empower them and encourage them to be creative about their sexuality. I've had incredible feedback from women who discover that it's okay to give themselves permission to enjoy their bodies, to explore and understand their sexuality."
Dr Sue Badshaw is the Medical Training Co-ordernator for New Zealand Family Planning Association, Southern Region, and a counselor at the Youth Health Center, Christchurch. "Libido issues are different for older and younger women," says Dr Bagshaw. "For younger women there are performance issues, because their world is dominated by outcomes. Performance assessments at work are transerred to sexuality, too.
"Also, we all know that different things turn men and women on." Yes, these are vast generalisations," she agrees, but valid nonetheless. There are also religious, cultural and perhaps historical personal considerations. If there is repressed anger or guilt about the past, then low libido results. Attitudes and beliefs play an important part too: women might not believe that they should not enjoy sex, for instance.
"I grew up referring to my genitals as the part "down there" and "between my legs", remembers Diana*. "Considering that we didn't even use the right terminology, it was not hard to make the association that anything sexual was dirty." Having resorted to marriage guidance counseling with her husband, Diana learnt to enjoy her sexuality. "At the age of 54 I had my first orgasm!" she declares, delighted. What changed? Diana bought a topical gel that was recently released in Australia and New Zealand. "It's turned my life around."
Sue Bagshaw adds, "Women need to learn to pleasure themselves."
Not everybody feels comfortable talking about their sexuality, so it's important to find what works for you - be it a book on the subject, gels, toys, or learning a new way of relating through improved communication with you partner. What we're talking about is quality of life.
And that's exactly what Dr Anna Fenton is concerned with. Ditto sex therapist and psychologist Rosemary Smart.
Dr Fenton is an endocrinologist, specializing in women's health, and is a past vice-president of the Australasian Menopause Society.
"In America, the popular treatment for low libido in menopausal women is what is called triple therapy: treatment with oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. But it's multi-faceted, and more than just well-balanced hormones are required."
Women need to address the stresses of their daily lives and take a holistic approach that includes physical, emotional and spiritual health, says Dr Fenton. "What I've found is that Christchurch women are more proactive than their national counterparts in terms of getting help that will enhance their quality of life."
Dr Fenton notes a dramatic increase in the number of women seeking help for meopause issues. "The treatment depends on the individual, but I always start with a baseline hormonal level assessment." As she points out, there is a lot of misinformation out there, especially as regards androgen replacement. "Properly monitored, testosterone therapy is highly beneficial," she says, reinforcing what Dr Doig also prescribes for patients.
"What we do is bring androgen levels back to normal, well within the range of what should exist in a woman's body," says Dr Fenton. "You will not grow a beard or get acne if your therapy is properly managed and tailored to your needs! Doing whatever it takes makes sense for women who are dealing with many issues in mid-life, including decreasing libidos and hormonal inbalances."
Rosemary Smart is a Christchurch-based psychologist, psychotherapist and social worker, with years of experience as a specialist an the field of sex therapy. She's also involved with assessments of transexuals for surgery, and has appeared on TV documentaries in NZ as a sex therapist.
"Unfortunately, women's sexuality has been developed within a male context," Mrs Smart points out. "And ultimately it was decided that anything that didn't fit the male pattern was dysfunctional. However, a lot of women are quite happy to not have an orgasm - and it's only if the woman sees this as a problem that it becomes a problem."
This was what interested me most, quote,""New Zealand culture is sex negative and needs to become sex positive."
IMHO kiwis are usually quite openminded. Interested in others opinions.
http://www.sexual.co.nz/
Womans Lost Libido
"Exhausted. Stressed. Lackluster. Add to this the fluctuating hormonal levels associated with a multitude of causes and you have a recipe for decreased libido.
Sexual desire is an appetite, governed by multiple biological and experiential factors. Consequently, a wide variety of physical and psychological reasons can disturb its functioning.
We all know when our libidos are high; however lost libido and consequent sexual dysfunction affects most women at some stage, as much as sexual dysfunction apparently affects 50% of the male population at some time of their lives.
Says well-known Christchurch gynaecologist and obstetrician, John Doig, "I wish there was some way to empower women to ask for help with their sexual problems. Or even just ask for facts - ignorance is a big factor where sexual satisfaction is concerned, and that applies to both parties."
A specialist since 1979, Mr Doig has just about seen it all. "Often patients will present with something else, the, after some careful questioning, I find out what the real issue is. Then we can do something, whether is hormone replacement therapy - especially if the woman is peri-menopausal or menopausal - or recommended psycho-sexual counseling for both partners."
A somewhat controversial therapy, testosterone is nonetheless also highly successful, Mr Doig points out, adding that many of his patients have benefited greatly from this form of hormone intervention.
Adds Mr Doig: "Essentially, the libido tends to diminish in part due to oestrogen loss as women age. But there are other contributing factors such as the daily demands, the physical after-effects of childbirth, and post-natal depression."
It's a multi-faceted problem that needs to be addressed at both physical and psychological levels, Mr Doig says. "Women should have the opportunity of enjoying sexual relationships well into their 70s. There are several issues involved when this doesn't happen and this needs to be sensitively explored."
"Sex became a chore over the past few years until I responded to HRT," says Natalie*, aged 63 and married for 34 years. "I would have tried anything, because I was terrified my absent libido would result in my husband running off with somebody else." He didn't, and she's just added a genital gel to her bedroom routine. Does it work? "I feel like a kid at the circus - and Bob's delighted!"
Looking at the context in which women have learnt to accept their sexuality, Christchurch-based psychotherapist Richard Wheeler says that women's magazines are doing a great job.
"New Zealand culture is sex negative and needs to become sex positive. I don't believe in quick fixes, but that's what most patients expect. It takes a lot of commitment to develop intimacy, to listen to one's partner, and love and nurture ourselves and our relationships."
"I personally don't recommend manual aids," says Richard Wheeler. "What I have found is that women respond well to words and men like pictures, so I suggest that women clients read books that will empower them and encourage them to be creative about their sexuality. I've had incredible feedback from women who discover that it's okay to give themselves permission to enjoy their bodies, to explore and understand their sexuality."
Dr Sue Badshaw is the Medical Training Co-ordernator for New Zealand Family Planning Association, Southern Region, and a counselor at the Youth Health Center, Christchurch. "Libido issues are different for older and younger women," says Dr Bagshaw. "For younger women there are performance issues, because their world is dominated by outcomes. Performance assessments at work are transerred to sexuality, too.
"Also, we all know that different things turn men and women on." Yes, these are vast generalisations," she agrees, but valid nonetheless. There are also religious, cultural and perhaps historical personal considerations. If there is repressed anger or guilt about the past, then low libido results. Attitudes and beliefs play an important part too: women might not believe that they should not enjoy sex, for instance.
"I grew up referring to my genitals as the part "down there" and "between my legs", remembers Diana*. "Considering that we didn't even use the right terminology, it was not hard to make the association that anything sexual was dirty." Having resorted to marriage guidance counseling with her husband, Diana learnt to enjoy her sexuality. "At the age of 54 I had my first orgasm!" she declares, delighted. What changed? Diana bought a topical gel that was recently released in Australia and New Zealand. "It's turned my life around."
Sue Bagshaw adds, "Women need to learn to pleasure themselves."
Not everybody feels comfortable talking about their sexuality, so it's important to find what works for you - be it a book on the subject, gels, toys, or learning a new way of relating through improved communication with you partner. What we're talking about is quality of life.
And that's exactly what Dr Anna Fenton is concerned with. Ditto sex therapist and psychologist Rosemary Smart.
Dr Fenton is an endocrinologist, specializing in women's health, and is a past vice-president of the Australasian Menopause Society.
"In America, the popular treatment for low libido in menopausal women is what is called triple therapy: treatment with oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. But it's multi-faceted, and more than just well-balanced hormones are required."
Women need to address the stresses of their daily lives and take a holistic approach that includes physical, emotional and spiritual health, says Dr Fenton. "What I've found is that Christchurch women are more proactive than their national counterparts in terms of getting help that will enhance their quality of life."
Dr Fenton notes a dramatic increase in the number of women seeking help for meopause issues. "The treatment depends on the individual, but I always start with a baseline hormonal level assessment." As she points out, there is a lot of misinformation out there, especially as regards androgen replacement. "Properly monitored, testosterone therapy is highly beneficial," she says, reinforcing what Dr Doig also prescribes for patients.
"What we do is bring androgen levels back to normal, well within the range of what should exist in a woman's body," says Dr Fenton. "You will not grow a beard or get acne if your therapy is properly managed and tailored to your needs! Doing whatever it takes makes sense for women who are dealing with many issues in mid-life, including decreasing libidos and hormonal inbalances."
Rosemary Smart is a Christchurch-based psychologist, psychotherapist and social worker, with years of experience as a specialist an the field of sex therapy. She's also involved with assessments of transexuals for surgery, and has appeared on TV documentaries in NZ as a sex therapist.
"Unfortunately, women's sexuality has been developed within a male context," Mrs Smart points out. "And ultimately it was decided that anything that didn't fit the male pattern was dysfunctional. However, a lot of women are quite happy to not have an orgasm - and it's only if the woman sees this as a problem that it becomes a problem."
This was what interested me most, quote,""New Zealand culture is sex negative and needs to become sex positive."
IMHO kiwis are usually quite openminded. Interested in others opinions.
What's the next lesson 
