What Happens to Our Libido When We Age and How Does Hormone Imbalance Affect It

August 1, 2011

A day doesn’t go by that I don’t get questioned on what exactly happens to our libidos when we age and how to get it back on track.
 
Libido is a complex issue and while no 20 year old spends any time worrying about this natural gift, the more we age, the more concerned we become with its disappearance from our lives. Why is the husband still interested in having sex, when the wife, in her mid 40s and on feels she can spend the rest of her life celibate? What happened and what if anything can we do about it?
 
When it comes to the man, it’s simple. Men are fertile forever so their sex drive is innate and stays there for as long as their testosterone holds up (pun intended) and their life gives them the opportunity.
 
I am always concerned when people believe there is a miracle drug out there to fan the flames of desire.
 
Viagra may help the man get a better, harder erection, but if his testosterone levels are low, if his heart is not healthy, the act of sex may even increase his risk of heart attacks or stroke.
 
Women who have tried Viagra often say it works, as long as the desire is there. All the work must be done before you have sex.
 
What exactly is all the work anyway?
 
To better understand what happens, let me turn to puberty.
 
When our sex hormones get switched on by the master gland, the pituitary, we suddenly are flooded with estrogen, progesterone and of course testosterone. As the young girl, turns into a woman with her budding breasts, pubic and armpit hair and adult body odor, along with the start of her period, another unseen chemical, emotional change in her personality occurs. This change turns the asexual young child into a sexual woman.
 
Sexuality is essential to the perpetuation of our species. If people had no sex drive and the desire for sex (libido) did not exist, mankind would no longer exist.
 
So sex drive is a good thing especially when used in loving relationships that enhance peoples’ lives. But that is a cultural statement, let’s stick with the physiology.
 
Back to our hormones.
 
Sexual feelings peak during our most fertile years. Women are pretty much fertile until menopause. However, as they enter their late 30s-40s and the hormone balance changes and the production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone diminishes and so does the sex drive. It is physiologic. When we ovulate we feel very sexy. We are full of desire not only because we love our mate (of course I hope we do), but because our hormone balance tells us now is the time we can get pregnant and thus we want to have sex.
 
Once ovulation is no longer a consistent part of our lives, we have already had our children and they are at least physically, if not economically or emotionally independent, we no longer need to be fertile thus no longer need our sexual desire to be at peak levels.
 
As the hormone balance shifts with age, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone become scarce, we no longer ovulate and the sex drive plummets.
 
Logically one would think that putting the runaway hormones back into the mix would immediately bring sex drive back. Not quite. In study after study, putting in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone or testosterone alone (which is often thought to be the main hormone responsible for our sex drive) is not enough.

This is why. Now, life has taken its toll. We are busy with work, raising kids, looking at his dirty clothes or just building resentment in our relationships over a few decades we have spent together. None of this is good for our sex drive.
 
In addition, by now in our 40s and 50s, we are probably taking some medication. A little antidepressant, some blood pressure medication, maybe something to decrease the cholesterol levels or just a drug to improve our bone density.
 
The result, an emotional and physical barrage of sex blockers.
 
Is it all lost? No, if we can hook each one of us to the internet and to a cell phone, the least we can do is put that sex drive back into our aging men and women.
 
With the kids out of the house, instead of dreading spending the rest of your life with the hunk you married and loved to pieces sexually, you should be happy to get the opportunity to do it all over again, And this time just for the two of you.
 
I help my patients by bringing back the estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in bioidentical formulations, making sure the thyroid is well balanced, adding some pregnenolone and DHEA to the mix.  I also make sure to spend lots of time teaching my patients how to eliminate as much of the other medications they take as possible, safely,  and increase their romantic time while rebuilding the passion with their spouse or significant other.
 
It may take a little more time and a lot more thinking to get there than it did at 20 but I promise you the sexual experience is well worth it. And you get a bonus. Women who are sexually active into their 50s, 60s and on are healthier and have fewer problems with depression or chronic illnesses. That alone should be a great incentive. The baby boomer generation is not going into their twilight years without taking sex with them all the way! 

Written By: Steven F. Hotze, M.D.

Steven F. Hotze, M.D., is the founder and CEO of the Hotze Health & Wellness Center, Hotze Vitamins and Physicians Preference Pharmacy International, LLC.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact Us

"*" indicates required fields

Agreement*
By filling out the above, you agree to receive educational, informative emails on alternative medicine and hormone balancing. You will have the option to unsubscribe at any time.
Hidden
Hidden

Categories

AboutHotze Health & Wellness Center

Since 1989, Hotze Health & Wellness Center has helped over 33,000 patients get their lives back using bioidentical hormones that restore hormones to optimal levels, strengthen immune systems, and increase energy levels. Our treatment regimen addresses the root cause of hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, and candida.

Led by best-selling author, radio host and leading natural health expert, Steven F. Hotze, M.D., our medical team has over 100 years’ combined medical experience backed by a staff of nearly 100 caring professionals who provide an environment of hope and extraordinary hospitality for each of our patients, who we call our guests. It is our deepest desire to help you obtain and maintain health and wellness naturally so that you may enjoy a better quality of life, pure and simple.

 

What I BelieveBY DR. STEVEN HOTZE

Do you want to live a healthy, happy, purpose-driven life? Do you want to restore your health so that your loss of energy, weight gain, joint pain, depression and lack of drive or motivation won’t hold you back from achieving your personal and professional goals?

Dr. Steven Hotze wants that for you, too. In fact, in his powerful and passionate video entitled, “What I Believe”, Dr. Hotze shares how his Christian worldview and pivotal experiences have ignited a deep desire to offer the message of hope and optimal health to all who need to hear it.


Follow Us
#hotzehealth

As seen on:

  • ABC
  • Fow News Channel
  • NBC
  • CNN
  • The Biography Channel
  • Bloomberg Businessweek
  • The Early Show
  • Good Morning Texas
  • Great Day Houston

Our Doctors

At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, our doctors are changing the way women and men are treated through the use of bioidentical hormones. Our natural treatments have helped over 33,000 individuals with hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, menopause, perimenopause, low testosterone, allergies, candida, detoxification and nutritional deficiencies.

Meet our doctors

Guest Testimonials

Melanie B.

"I went from feeling tired and foggy to to getting my energy and vitality back!”

Read More guest testimonials
Pam White
Pam White
2023-03-10
At Hotze Health and Wellness YOU can truly find restoration of your health and vibrant life! You will find the most caring and effective healthcare available! Don't hesitate call them today!!!
Ron Guidry
Ron Guidry
2023-03-08
Doctors are not the final authority in our journey of achieving/maintaining health and wellness but having a good team of doctors in your support and guidance community is not only helpful it is wise and also essential. The team and staff at Hotze Health and Wellness are health professionals that you can trust to help you navigate all the misinformation that may be keeping you separated from your optimal level of health.
Caral Reeves
Caral Reeves
2023-01-17
Hotze Beauty is a first class facility! Extreme level of professionalism , knowledge & genuine care❤️‍🩹
Julie Hryszko
Julie Hryszko
2023-01-12
I’ve been a guest at this facility for 15 years. They are the most efficient, thorough and caring group of individuals I’ve ever experienced. Dr Hotze looks to change the way a typical doctor treats patients and looks for root causes to eliminate medical issues instead of treating “symptoms”. My life has improved 100% since my initial visit. The cost of the treatments are worth it.
Shavon Sisson
Shavon Sisson
2023-01-11
Always a great experience dealing with everyone at Hotze Heath and Wellness! Everyone is kind and helpful.
Kori Misson
Kori Misson
2022-12-21
I cannot accurately describe in words how I feel about this practice and the entire staff. I have had quite a few health issues throughout the years, rheumatoid arthritis, sjogrens, weight gain, hair loss, irritability, and that is just the beginning. I had pretty much given up on feeling good, just decided to "live with it" and hope for the best. Two very close friends love the Hotze Wellness Clinic and they have experienced life changing health. Made my appointment and from the beginning I felt heard. Not a in and out fast food style practice. They are looked and are looking at my entire body for overall health and wellness. Connections from mind and body to clinical blood work, even dental questions....they care and I feel as if I can trust them. I am on a path to complete wellness and my goal is to have my RA back in remission as it once was....make yourself a priority. Having hope is an incredible feeling!