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Episode 14 Addressing low libido and HSDD - When to see your GP and what to expect, with Dr Lisa
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"Navigating Low Libido & HSDD: When to Seek Help and What to Expect"
Game Time: RED/AMBER/GREEN
In this episode, we start by playing the RED/AMBER/GREEN game with dressing up in the bedroom! I want you to think about how you feel when it comes to role play or costumes during intimacy:
- Red: "Nope, not for me."
- Amber: "I might be open to exploring this, but I’d like to learn more."
- Green: "Yes, I love this and regularly incorporate it into my sex life!"
Dressing up and adding a bit of novelty can be a great way to stave off sexual boredom and introduce new excitement into a relationship. Novelty helps keep things fresh and stimulating, but it’s important to note that it’s not a cure for deeper sexual desire issues like Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). So, while spicing things up with some role-play can be fun, stay tuned to learn more about HSDD and how it’s treated.
What We’re Covering in Today’s Episode:
- What is HSDD?
- We’ll break down the difference between low libido and HSDD, focusing on how HSDD is defined by the distress it causes over a persistent period of time.
- How is HSDD Assessed?
- We’ll dive into how GPs use the biopsychosocial model, which considers biological, psychological, and social factors when diagnosing HSDD.
- When to See Your GP
- Learn when it’s time to make an appointment with your GP, especially if your low libido has been troubling you for more than six months.
- What to Expect During Your GP Appointment
- From blood tests to hormone levels, find out how your GP will assess your condition and the role testosterone therapy might play, according to the NICE and British Menopause Society guidelines.
- Self-Help Tips
- We’ll explore ways you can empower yourself before your GP visit, including keeping a desire journal and tracking your symptoms.
- Empower Yourself During Your Appointment
- Learn how to advocate for yourself during your GP appointment, ask the right questions, and make sure your concerns are heard.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
- Understanding HSDD: We cover the importance of differentiating between a temporary low libido and Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, which affects between 6% and 19% of women globally.
- British Menopause Society Guidelines: For postmenopausal women, testosterone therapy can be an effective treatment for HSDD, but it needs to be carefully monitored.
- Practical Steps for Self-Care: While seeing a GP is important, we discuss lifestyle changes like managing stress, improving communication with your partner, and introducing novelty into your relationship to help keep desire alive.
- Feeling Empowered: We offer step-by-step advice on how to feel more in control of your health and sexual well-being before and during your GP appointment.
If you think you may be struggling with HSDD or would like to explore how coaching could help you reclaim your sexual desire, I’m offering free 20-minute consultations. You can book yours today by visiting the following link,
https://calendly.com/pressing-desires/freeconsult
I’d also love for you to follow and engage with me on Instagram at @pressingdesires. Stay connected, ask questions, and join a community of women taking charge of their sexual well-being!
And if you have any further questions, feel free to email me at info@pressing-desires.com
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Transcript
Introduction to Pressing Desires
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome to Pressing Desires, the podcast exclusively for women wanting to improve their health by unlocking their mind, body, spirit and sexual wellness.
00:00:19
Speaker
Join us on this transformative journey as we explore topics that touch your soul, invigorate your body, and reignite your passions. From cultivating a resilient mindset, nourishing your physical health, awakening your spirit, and embracing your deepest desires, nothing is off limits.
00:00:45
Speaker
Pressing Desires is your go-to resource, featuring expert interviews, inspiring stories of triumph, and practical tips to help you unlock your true potential.
00:00:59
Speaker
Subscribe now, and together, let's embrace our pressing desires and create a life that exceeds all expectations.
00:01:07
Speaker
Get ready to ignite your passions and live a life with more pleasure. Yes, please.
Series Focus: Women's Health with Dr. Lisa Thomas-Emrys
00:01:14
Speaker
This is Pressing Desires, the podcast that empowers women to improve their health and go on a journey towards mind, body, spirit and don't forget sexual wellness.
00:01:28
Speaker
Hmm, I'm really looking forward to that last bit.
00:01:35
Speaker
Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Pressing Desires podcast. I'm your host, ah Dr. Lisa Thomas-Emrys. And it's so lovely to be back after the summer break to bring series two of this podcast and help address some of those issues that, and notoriously as women, we find ah difficult to advocate for ourselves. And we just need to bring back and bring down the taboos, don't we, and address some of these so that we can really enjoy lives and our and our bodies.
Understanding Low Libido vs. HSDD
00:02:05
Speaker
So today we're diving into a very important topic, one that many, many women experience.
00:02:11
Speaker
but often feel really hesitant to talk about, and that is low libido. specifically we're talking about hypoactive sexual desire disorder or HSDD and what makes it different from just a temporary lack of sexual desire. We'll go through how to assess whether you might have HSDD and when it's time to see your GP, what you can expect from that appointment and how to advocate for yourself in this healthcare system. Plus we'll be discussing some management options including testosterone therapy following the latest
00:02:45
Speaker
Nice and the British Menopause Society guidelines. Before we go into it though, let's play our red and the green game, which we do at the start of all of our episodes. In this episode, we are going to be exploring dressing up, dressing up in the bedroom. I want you to think about how you feel when it comes to role play or costumes during intimacy. Is that a red for you? Nope, not for me. Is it an amber? I might be open to exploring this, but I'd like to learn more.
00:03:14
Speaker
Is it a green? Yes, I love this and regularly incorporate this into my sex life. Dressing up and adding a bit of novelty can be a great way to stave off sexual boredom and introduce new excitement into your relationship. Novelty helps to keep things fresh and stimulating.
00:03:31
Speaker
But importantly, um note that it's not an easy cure for deeper sexual desire issues like hyperactive sexual desire disorder. So while spicing things up with some role play can be fun, stay tuned to learn more about HSDD and how that is managed. Right, what are we covering in today's episode?
HSDD Explained and Assessed
00:03:50
Speaker
Well, first off, what is HSDD? We'll break down the difference between low libido and HSDD and focus particularly on how HSDD is defined by the distress that it causes over a persistent period of time. Number two, how is HSDD assessed? We'll dive into how GPs use the biopsychosocial model, which considers the biological factors, the psychological factors, and the social factors when diagnosing HSDD. Number three, when to see your GP. Learn when it's time to make an appointment with your GP. And this is if
00:04:24
Speaker
Your low libido has been troubling you for more than six months. That's when we really want to see you. So don't suffer in silence at home. Number four, what to expect during your GP appointment. You might find that blood tests might be appropriate. It might be appropriate to check your hormone levels. This entirely depends on the story that you and your GP will explore. So we'll look into how your GP will assess your condition.
00:04:48
Speaker
A role that testosterone therapy might play. This is not something that every GP will prescribe. So we'll look a bit about the nice guidelines and the British Menopause Society guidelines.
Self-Help and Advocacy Tips
00:04:59
Speaker
Number five, we'll explore some self-help tips. So we'll explore ways that you can empower yourself before your GP visit, including keeping a desired journal and tracking your symptoms.
00:05:12
Speaker
And number six, how to empower yourself during your appointment. Learn how to advocate for yourself during your GP appointment and knowing what what right questions to ask and how to make sure your concerns are heard. Okay, let's get straight to it. Let's start by understanding what HSDD is. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. I can barely say it. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder is a condition where there is a persistent lack of sexual desire, one that causes you distress or difficulties in your relationship. It's really important to emphasize that and some people will have a low libido or a lack of sexual desire, but it might not bother them at all. That doesn't mean then that there is anything wrong with them. That doesn't mean that they have this disorder. So this is different to just having a few off days or not really being in the mood very much.
00:06:06
Speaker
and You can not be in the mood to have sex for a while, weeks or months, and that can still be within the normal range. That doesn't necessarily mean that you have HSDD. With HSDD, the low desire lasts for at least six months, and it it significantly impacts your quality of life. So it really upsets you.
00:06:27
Speaker
And it really causes you difficulty with the relationship with yourself and also with your with your partner. It's important to note that HSDD is not just about having low libido. It's the distress and the disruption that it causes that makes it a diagnosable condition. So hopefully hopefully that clarifies for a clarifies it for you. Low libido, on the other hand, might just be a phase in response to stress or lifestyle factors.
00:06:55
Speaker
maybe from temporary hormonal changes and it doesn't necessarily cause distress so it doesn't necessarily upset you. The key with the HSDD as I said is the emotional toll and how much it affects you day to day and how it affects your relationships. Now research estimates that HSDD can affect between 6 and 19% globally and that in itself might be an underestimation if we think of how many women will suffer with this in silence and not come forward to express what they're going through. If you've been feeling disconnected from your sexual desire and it is causing you distress, it is something for you to pay attention to, and things can be done, so please don't feel like you're alone.
Holistic Diagnosis of HSDD
00:07:40
Speaker
Now then, how do we diagnose it? Well, we assess this by looking at the whole picture. We have to take that holistic approach, which I know, like, holistic approach is something I go on and on about.
00:07:51
Speaker
ah but it's how I find medicine to be the most effective if we take that holistic approach. You are one being, mind, body, soul. We need to assess you in that same manner. We look at the whole picture. We look at your physical, emotional, and social health. This is what we know as the biopsychosocial model of health. so We do that ah in in our NHS approach to things, the biopsychosocial model.
00:08:20
Speaker
your GP or your health care provider, might be your your gynecologist or your women's health care provider, they will take into account the biological factors such as hormonal imbalances, maybe medications that you are now or have been on recently, any underlying health conditions, they look at psychological factors like your mood,
00:08:42
Speaker
stress levels, your mental health in general, these will all be explored along with social factors, including your relationship dynamics and the life stresses. So looking at everything that's on your plate at the moment. And a key part of the assessment is ruling out other causes. For example, you might be going through the menopause, you might have fluctuating hormone levels, especially your oestrogen and your testosterone, and these can impact your libido.
00:09:09
Speaker
Your GP might recommend blood tests. This entirely depends on the story that you're giving. and but Hormone blood tests are not necessarily in all cases of menopause to diagnose the menopause. So just don't necessarily expect that. It's not um routine if we can diagnose things clinically. And that's why it's important to actually discuss it thoroughly with your GP and they'll guide you on the relevance of blood tests. But they'll also review your medications because some common ones like antidepressants can reduce your sexual desire. Some common antidepressants can actually affect your libido long after stopping them. So certainly if you notice that as a side effect, please go back and speak to your GP sooner rather than later because they can switch you to an alternative. And that is not the type but of side effect that you should learn to live with. So please, if you do have that as a side effect, please, please um go and tell your GP.
00:10:06
Speaker
So let's give you some tips on how to recognize HSDD in yourself.
Recognizing HSDD: Key Indicators
00:10:11
Speaker
If you're unsure whether or not you're experiencing HSDD or or is it just like a temporary dip in your libido, um here's some tips to follow. Number one, duration.
00:10:23
Speaker
How long has it been going on for? Has your low libido persisted for the last six months? Has it been more than that? Has it been shorter than that? HSDD is defined by its longevity, so it has to have been there for for longer than six months. Number two, emotional impact. Does your lack of desire cause you distress? Is it creating tension in your relationship? This emotional burden is a key indicator. Number three, other causes. Consider whether or not there are other explanations.
00:10:51
Speaker
Like stress, what are your stress levels like at the minute? Medications, hormonal changes, any other health complaints that you're having. Is there any experiencing and any experience of pain? Is there any past trauma coming up for you? While all of these can lead to low desire, they don't necessarily mean that you have HSDD, but we need to look at that broader picture. And then number four, self-reflection. So take some time to journal,
00:11:18
Speaker
and reflect on your feelings around intimacy and desire. What works for you? What definitely doesn't work for you? What do you feel you're missing at the minute? What do you feel you need to overcome this challenge? And have you noticed a clear pattern in your low libido and how does it make you feel? Next off, when should you see your GP? So have you been thinking about seeking help? um Have you thought about speaking to your GP about it?
00:11:46
Speaker
Well, according to the nice guidelines, if you've been experiencing a lack of sexual desire for six months or more, and it is causing you that personal distress, it is time for you to seek professional help. It's especially important to see your GP if you are going through the menopause or the perimenopause, because these hormonal fluctuations can play a significant role in degreasing your libido. So your GP will be able to assess using that holistic approach and consider your considering your overall health and medications um and any other factors that might be at play and be able to guide you into ah guides you to um to exploring what might be the answer for
Open Communication with Healthcare Providers
00:12:26
Speaker
you. Let's talk about what you can expect when you see your GP with HSDD. First off, please don't come with any apprehension or shame.
00:12:35
Speaker
The GP will no doubt have spoken to someone about this before. They won't find it embarrassing or ah shameful topic or taboo topic topic. GPs have heard it all before. So please don't feel worried about expressing this to your to your GP. But during your appointment, your GP will conduct a thorough assessment that follows the nice guidelines. And and these nice guidelines do advocate for that holistic biopsychosocial approach.
00:13:03
Speaker
They'll likely ask you about your overall health, your lifestyle, um any medications or supplements that you might be taking that could be contributing to the low libido. They'll explore with you whether or not bloods will be useful, particularly for ruling out other health conditions, things like diabetes, um thyroid problems, ah for example.
00:13:27
Speaker
They may want to check your hormone levels depending on where you are with your cycle and depending whether or not they're going to consider testosterone use. They'll look at psychological factors like your mental health, your well-being, any stress or anxiety or depression that might be also contributing and they'll ask you about how you feel about your relationships at the minute, how Do you feel emotionally connected to your partner? How is your partner coping with what's going on at the minute? Are you able to communicate it to your partner? Here are some example questions that I will ask patients or my coaching clients when it comes to low libido or HSDD as the primary concern. I'll ask about what your sexual desire has been like in the past. Can you remember a time your interest was satisfying to you at a level that you thought was good and that you enjoyed and if you did have high desire before or if you did or if you were satisfied with your libido what particularly about that made it satisfying for you why did you know that it was at an okay level then and
00:14:43
Speaker
When did you notice a decrease in your desire or interest? Did anything trigger that? Can you think of what might have changed either personally or in your environment or in your relationships? How bothered are you about your decreased level of desire? um How bothered is you as your partner? Have you been discussing it together? and where would you like your level to be? So how will you know that and what would make you feel like nothing is nothing is wrong and what what is your goal when it comes to your um to your sex life and enjoying your enjoying your sex life? I'll also ask if there's any particular traumas in the past that haven't been addressed. and If there are any, then they need to be you will need to be seen by a specific
00:15:36
Speaker
and a specialist in psychosexual trauma so we can signpost you to that that professional um to make sure that you're having specialist management for that and look at things like alcohol, um any drug use, any supplement use. Some women do find that they turn to alcohol to try and help with how they're feeling but unfortunately that is not a great antidote for this. In fact, it can make it worse, it can suppress your libido even further. I'll also ask about previous history of women's health problem, including things like your pregnancy history, your childbirth, any childbirth traumas that you might have been through, and then your cycle history, any any symptoms of the perimenopause or the menopause, um and explore things like
00:16:31
Speaker
um Have you been having any pain, any vaginal dryness, any problems with any lubrication that you've been using that might be causing irritant effects?
Product Recommendations for Sexual Health
00:16:43
Speaker
um Often lubricants, particularly the ones that you buy on the high street, are terrible and that they can cause real problems. So irritant-free lubricants are really important. And I'll always signpost to a great resource called Joe Devine in the UK.
00:17:01
Speaker
that that um only give out irritant free lubricants such as so the brand Sutile or Yes. and So I always make sure that and my patients and my clients use good quality lubricants that aren't actually i causing more problems. and We'll explore your arousal and your orgasm, um history and pattern.
00:17:27
Speaker
um and explore if anything's going on with your partner and any relationship difficulties or lack of um intimate connection with your with your partner. I do practice holistically and I use an acronym called REVIVE um where R stands for relationships so I explore ah how relationships are affecting you and that might be relationships with your intimate partner But it might also be, you might have also contributing factors from other relationships, such as you might have very stressful relationships with family members, with work colleagues, um caring for someone, looking after your children. The stress of those relationships might be impacting how you feel about yourself and your own desire. So I explore relationships. Next is E, which stands for exercise. So we look at what exercising you're doing at the minute, how is exercise
00:18:21
Speaker
may be helping or hindering um your body and your health at the moment. and V stands for visualizations, but I also add meditations in into that. I look at how you might be using meditation or visualizations in your mental wellbeing. um I stands for intake. We look at your diet, your nutrition, your gut health particularly, um and how this might be affecting your sexual wellbeing. V stands for values.
00:18:48
Speaker
So what is important to you? Are you living in alignment with your values? If you're not, if you're misaligned, then that ultimately can affect your your sexual wellbeing. And then E is energy and environment. How is your energy impacting you at the moment? ah How is living in your current environment impacting your health and wellbeing and your sexual wellbeing? So we really take that holistic approach and when it comes to my coaching approach, but also with my patients in my private medical practice as well, we always need to take that holistic approach. So I help to encourage women to explore the different factors that might be influencing desire um and particularly look at those lifestyle factors because they all play a role. So we need to balance everything when it comes to your mind, body and spirit.
00:19:42
Speaker
And one exercise I often recommend is starting a desire journal. And in the desire journal, you you track your moods, your stress, your sleep patterns, any thoughts or feelings about intimacy. And we do that over a few weeks because it helps to highlight patterns and triggers. And you might notice that your libido drops at particular times. It might, you might have a spark of interest at other times,
00:20:08
Speaker
And you might really get in tune with what you're missing or what you need to help and help you with addressing low libido or HSDD. And it might uncover some and some difficulties where where you're not feeling emotionally connected to your ah to your partner. One tool that I often recommend, which can be really helpful for both a self-assessment And to bring along to your doctor's appointment is a desired journal. And this is where you can track your mood, your energy levels, your sexual thoughts over time. And this can help you and your doctor to understand the patterns and possible triggers. For instance, does your libido drop during stressful periods? Does it drop certain times of the month? Does it drop when you're feeling emotionally distant from your from your partner?
00:20:57
Speaker
The more information you have, the more empowered that you're going to feel. Now, just to clarify with blood tests and hormone levels in particular, because um lots of people will expect that hormone blood levels um are just the norm and the routine for every woman, but that's not ah necessarily true. Hormone levels aren't always ah helpful, so they're not always recommended um if they're not going to add any more information. So just be aware that it's not definite that you should have your hormone levels checked. It entirely depends on where you are with your cycle, perimenopause, menopause. it it varies so please go and speak to your healthcare provider as to whether or not bloods will be helpful for you.
Holistic Management of HSDD
00:21:40
Speaker
How do we treat HSDD? Right, well given the fact that we need to take that holistic approach it means that we have to take a holistic approach when it comes to management and unfortunately there is no one easy cure when it comes to women's libido or women's sexual desire. So I often get women ask if there's a female Viagra
00:22:02
Speaker
and But again, Viagra for men is not an easy cure. It doesn't solve all the or the problem there either. and But it's certainly very complex. So female intimacy is a very complex thing and we need to take a comprehensive approach to management. There isn't a one perfect drug for this issue.
00:22:23
Speaker
We do have to address lots of the lifestyle factors, so they they in it's and in themselves can lead to improvement. um Things like boosting your self-esteem, boosting your physical health and your mental health, avoiding harmful substances or reducing any smoking, ah drug use or alcohol, that can have a ah big impact. Introducing some ah novelty or sexual experimentation and rebuilding the intimate connection with your partner. discuss lots of um um exercises that can help build that intimacy with your with your partner. And then we might need to refer for specialist counselling if there is any history of any trauma or specialist treatment that you would need. Other ways we would manage it is obviously treating any underlying health condition. For example, if you've got a thyroid problem, we'd obviously resolve that um and look at things like whether or not you need hormonal therapy, so HRT or oestrogen replacement to resolve some of the root causes and look at medication. So obviously if the root cause is a medication side effect, um and that could be because of treating your high blood pressure, for example, or treating your depression. We will optimize the management of that condition in order to take away that potential side effect. So we really need to look at a few ways of managing this condition. There isn't that straightforward answer, which is why you need to go to a reputable health professional to help you overcome this. and If they think that
00:24:02
Speaker
perimenopause or the menopause is the likely cause. They might discuss HRT or hormone replacement therapy as an option for you. And and then medication-wise, testosterone is something that we can explore, but there's very limited option when it comes to medications other than hormonal treatments in the UK. In America, there's a few um variable options, but they aren't available to us in the UK yet.
00:24:28
Speaker
because of its safety profile. So we just have to be very careful and put most of the effort into the lifestyle and the holistic approach first
Testosterone Therapy for Post-Menopausal Women
00:24:40
Speaker
off. But let's explore testosterone. We often associate testosterone with men, don't we? But actually it's a key hormone for women, especially when it comes to sexual desire. So I really want to address the testosterone issue when it comes to low libido or HSDD and what the guidelines say.
00:24:58
Speaker
When should testosterone be considered? The British Menopause Society recommends testosterone therapy for post-menopausal women who are experiencing low libido, but especially when other factors like HRT, Asian therapy or lifestyle changes haven't provided relief. Testosterone treatment isn't a first-line therapy for every woman with HSDD.
00:25:20
Speaker
is specifically recommended to those who've gone through the menopause and then have persistent symptoms of low libido that ah that are affecting their their quality of life. But before starting testosterone, it is important to have that full evaluation, including checking ah the medical causes and other factors, obviously. And your GP or your specialist will likely want to check your testosterone level before starting um and ah go through that that whole evaluation.
00:25:49
Speaker
In the yeah UK testosterone for women is to typically prescribed in the form of a ah gel or a cream and it's applied to the skin. And the goal is to restore the testosterone to the level that is normal for a pre-menopausal woman. And then this can help with libido and sometimes energy and mood as well. And it's important to note that testosterone therapy for women has to be carefully monitored. So the guidelines emphasize that only low doses should be used to avoid the side effects and that we should really monitor um and have regular follow-ups with a doctor to check that. And side effects can include things like ah acne, so your skin um can break out, hair growth in unwanted areas or changes in mood, or if you're on too much dose, obviously it can affect things like um your muscle growth, your appearance and your voice.
00:26:45
Speaker
and sometimes lead to increase size in things like your clitoris. So that's why it's so important to use the lowest dose that is gonna be ah effective um and monitor the levels. But when used correctly, testosterone can be a really safe and effective treatment for improving libido. So often in the right women, it is worth a try. Before you consider testosterone therapy, it is still vital though to have that in-depth discussion with your GP or your menopause specialist.
00:27:15
Speaker
because the um treatment should be tailored to each individual um and explore other the other factors, particularly those lifestyle issues, those relationship dynamics, and those emotional health concerns that I do go on about all the time. and Testosterone is not currently licensed for use in women in the yeah UK, so it is prescribed off-label. This means that while it can be safely prescribed,
00:27:41
Speaker
it needs to be prescribed by an experienced healthcare professional. So it's important to fully understand the risks and benefits and your doctor will need to be comfortable in prescribing it. So it's not all GPs that should or will be able to prescribe and this for you as part of your um hormone release ah replacement therapy. So just be really aware of that. So if your GP says that testosterone might be something that you should consider. They might want to want to refer you to a menopause specialist or your local gynecologist, or they may recommend men you seek um help privately. So that entirely depends on what your your what your GP feels. But importantly, the treatment the testosterone treatment treatment needs to be part of a broader strategy to manage HSDD. You really need to take that holistic view
00:28:33
Speaker
of your physical, your psychological, and your social wellbeing, and have lots of tools to manage this disorder. Once you've started on testosterone therapy, or if you start on testosterone therapy, your um specialist or your GP will need to monitor your progress over the following months. So that involves checking on how your libido is responding, um how your overall wellbeing, how you feel physically, and then adjusting the dose if necessary. And they'll need to do some blood tests um to ensure that your testosterone levels stay within the normal range for a premenopausal woman, and finding that right balance without tipping you into higher male level testosterone ranges. And if you don't notice improvements in your libido after several months, your doctor might just suggest stopping the therapy and exploring other options. Now, there's no point in us giving you any type of medication if it's not working for you. We don't want to risk side effects if you're not getting any benefit.
00:29:31
Speaker
And remember testosterone is not a quick fix, so it can take some time to see results, but it can be a really valuable tool for many women. Here are just some practical tips that I can give you if you're a woman considering testosterone. um So keep the thing keep these in mind if you're thinking about discussing testosterone with your GP. First off, ah track your symptoms, take that journal of your libido, your energy levels, and your mood changes,
00:29:58
Speaker
um because this can help your GP understand the severity of your symptoms. um Number two, explore other treatments first. The British Menopause Society does recommend addressing all aspects of your health, including other hormonal therapies, Eastern therapy, for example, progester Eastern and progesterone, lifestyle, and mental wellbeing before turning to testosterone, as well as um taking away any medications that might be causing low libido as its side effect. Number three, have an informed discussion.
00:30:28
Speaker
Ask your GP, ask your specialist about the risks and the benefits of testosterone, ah particularly regarding its off-label use. And four, prepare for follow-up. Testosterone therapy isn't a one-time solution. It's not just going to live on your repeat prescription for you to take as and when you want it. It requires monitoring and adjustment. So make sure you're prepared for regular check-ins with your doctor. So we do have very clear ah framework or clear guidelines when it comes to testosterone and how it can be used and monitored. But just remember it is one part of the puzzle when it comes to managing HSDD. So take that holistic approach towards your sexual wellbeing.
00:31:09
Speaker
Now let's look at some self-help tips to boost your libido and how to empower yourself.
Lifestyle Enhancements for Libido and Self-Esteem
00:31:15
Speaker
Because while it's crucial to see your GP if HSDD is affecting your quality of life and you need that diagnosis, we also want some steps for you to take on your own so that you can feel more empowered. And that in itself often makes it feel better, and doesn't it? Even if you know that there's there's no yeah easy easy cure or easy management.
00:31:37
Speaker
just having something that you can be proactive about will help boost your confidence. So first off, look at some lifestyle adjustments. Make sure that you're getting enough sleep or and enough good quality sleep. What can you do to make sure that you're resting and winding down in the evening? Eating a balanced diet that isn't high in processed food. Gut health is so key when it comes to are physical and mental health and sexual health. So please nourish your gut with food that isn't too processed, particularly ultra processed food. ah Manage your stress level levels and take some basic self-care steps. What is actually going to make you feel good about yourself? Because that'll have a big impact on your confidence, on your self-esteem and then ultimately on your sexual desire.
00:32:26
Speaker
Number two, physical activity. Regular exercise is so good for boosting endorphins and improving our circulation. It can improve our energy levels and our mood. Also helps reduce any chronic pain that you might be suffering from. And all of that then in turn can help with your libido. Number three, communication. So communication is so key when it comes to your intimate relationships. Open up with your partner about how you're feeling. Express your worries.
00:32:57
Speaker
and give them time to empathise with you so you know that you're on the same page together. Sometimes emotional disconnects in a relationship and a relationship can really manifest as a decrease in your in your desire.
00:33:10
Speaker
Number four, explore your desires. Take time to rediscover what turns you on. It might be that you've lost interest in what you've been doing for for many, many years, and that sexual boredom has become a bit of a a bit of ah a problem in itself. It might be i mean reading erotica, watching romantic or intimate films, or just simply allowing yourself to daydream and explore sexual fantasies. Again, talk to your partner and um express that you want to explore novelty together. And number five, prepare for your GP visit. Write down your symptoms, track your mood, track your libido and bring that journal with you to your GP appointment. And this will really help you to advocate for yourself.
00:33:56
Speaker
and provide valuable information to your doctor. And it might make it easier when you've just got a list of things that you can read off. It might make you feel that ah you know less embarrassed and and less vulnerable when you can just read out or or hand them the yeah and the journal. I've had women hand that to me so I can ah read it and if they're really uncomfortable about saying things out loud. But please and look at things like physical symptoms. So are you suffering from any pain?
00:34:25
Speaker
Are you having any pain in the vagina when you have had have tried to have sexual intercourse? ah Is there any itching conditions that are really bothering you? Any water work symptoms? um Have you been worried about things like vaginal discharge? Have you been worried about how you feel about your body in general, self-esteem problems? Anything that you think might be contributing, write it down so it can be explored.
00:34:52
Speaker
I know it can feel really daunting to bring up sexual health concerns with your GP. and But trust me, it's a really, really common issue. We hear these these all the time. I particularly hear it all the time. Maybe it's because I ah specifically ask about these questions because I don't want these to be and but taboo topics. I don't want people to feel like they can't express it to me. So I will often ask it proactively and remind people that I am here to discuss these things.
00:35:20
Speaker
but And let me just give you a few tips so that you do feel less daunted when you go and speak to your own GP about this issue. Number one, be prepared. So bring your list of symptoms with you, bring your journal with you. That'll make it much easier. Number two, ask questions. So don't be afraid to ask your GP about different treatment options, ah including ones that aren't related to medications and not prescription based.
00:35:49
Speaker
Ask them about lifestyle things that might might help you first. and Ask whether not blood tests will be helpful or not. and They can explain that to you then. And if you're interested in exploring testosterone therapy, you can bring it up with your GP and ask about the pros and cons and ask if it's something that they're familiar in prescribing with ah prescribing or would they need to refer you onto a specialist and for that or would they recommend you be seen in a private clinic.
00:36:18
Speaker
and then number three advocate for yourself. If your symptoms aren't taken seriously or if you feel ah rushed or that you don't feel like things have been explored, don't hesitate to ask for another opinion or go and see another GP or go and see a private specialist. Your sexual health is really important and you do deserve to be heard and there are things that can be done to Make sure that you get better from from your sexual desire ah difficulties. So please don't suffer by yourself. If you've been struggling with low libido or you think that you might have HSDD, don't wait to take action. Go and have that conversation with your GP and explore the treatment options. and There is no shame in seeking help and you do deserve to really enjoy your body.
Episode Recap and Empowerment
00:37:12
Speaker
Now let's just recap the key takeaways from this episode. We've looked at understanding HSDD. We've covered the importance of differentiating between a temporary low libido and hypoactive sexual desire disorder, which affects between six and 19% of women. It lasts for six months, so it's a lack of sexual desire or reduced sexual desire for at least six months, and that lack or reduced sexual desire causes you distress or causes you difficulties in your relationships. The British Menopause Society guidelines for post-menopausal women and suggest testosterone therapy can be effective but it needs to be ah carefully monitored and this can only be prescribed by people who are comfortable prescribing it, familiar with prescribing it, so not all and GPs will be able to to do that, so just be mindful of that.
00:38:09
Speaker
um Practical steps for self-care while seeing your GP is really, really important. We've discussed some lifestyle changes like managing stress, improving communication with your partner, and looking at your gut health, your sleep, your exercise, and introducing novelty in your relationship, just to see if this helps to spark your desire. And then number four, feeling empowered. So I've offered you some step-by-step advice on how you can feel more in control of your health and your sexual wellbeing.
00:38:38
Speaker
before and during your GP appointment, try that desire journal and to log all of what's going on and taking that with you and see how that makes you feel. Now, if you think that you might be struggling with HSDD, or you'd like to explore how maybe one of my coaching programs could help you, or maybe you feel you might need to see me in my private clinic, and you are ready to reclaim your sexual desire because you deserve it, as I keep saying,
00:39:07
Speaker
and Then I do have a free 20 minute consultation that you can book by visiting the link in the show notes. And then I can maybe guide you on what might be the best next step. Either going to see your own GP, coming to see me in clinic, or maybe going straight for the coaching option. um i'd love to I'd love for you to follow along and engage with me on Instagram. So please come and chat to me there. It's at pressing desires.
00:39:33
Speaker
And there we can stay connected. You can ask me questions and you can join a community of women who are taking charge of their health and their sexual wellbeing. And if you've got any further questions about this episode, then please feel free to email me at info at pressing dash-desires so.com. But thank you for tuning in today and make sure that you follow along um on Instagram.
00:39:57
Speaker
at pressing desires where we can have more empowering conversations about sexual health. And you can let me know your results of your red, amber, green game ah today because I always love hearing your or seeing your messages about that.