The main female sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone. They both play a major role in libido or sex drive, as well as arousal, lubrication, sensitivity, and a woman’s ability to obtain an orgasm.
While not “female sex hormones,” testosterone and human growth hormone, or HGH, also play a role in female sexuality.
All of these hormones play a role in allowing women at all stages of adult life to have an active and satisfying sex life.
What Hormones Affect Female Libido
Libido, or sex drive in women, is a complex process encompassing both physical and emotional reactions that are all driven by hormones.
Libido is defined as the level of a person’s desire to engage in sexual activity. There is no quantitive measurement for libido in women, but it is usually referred to as “high” or “low.” There can be several factors that influence a low libido or a drop in sex drive in women. Stress, relationship issues, social and other psycho-emotional issues can all lead to a decreased libido. However, the main cause of low libido in women – particularly women over 45 – is age-related hormone loss.
Sexual desire and sexual performance in women is driven by the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. As female hormones drop with age, it can also lead to other sexual health issues such as vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and decreased ability to obtain orgasm.
These other sexual health issues – collectively known as “female sexual dysfunction” or FSD, can only further decrease a woman’s desire to have sex.
Female hormones are not the only ones responsible for sexual desire and sexual arousal in women; testosterone and HGH play a role as well. While not female sex hormones, HGH and testosterone also drop as a woman ages and also contribute to problems with FSD.
The Role of Estrogen in Libido and Sex
Many things impact a woman’s sex drive, but it is highly influenced by her hormones. There really is no way to pinpoint what is a normal sex drive. Libido in women is very subjective – what is normal for one woman could be considered low, or even “over-sexed” for another. Also, there are times during the menstrual cycle when it is natural for sex drive in all women to increase. It is a biological imperative for sex drive to increase during ovulation and the times of peak fertility to promote mating and ensure survival of the species. The rise in estrogen that occurs at ovulation is primarily responsible for the increase in libido that occurs at this time.
However, estrogen levels also play an important role in libido, lubrication, and sexual arousal, even when a woman is not ovulating. In fact, towards the end of the typical monthly period, when estrogen drops and progesterone increases, a corresponding drop in libido usually occurs.
Low libido is often a reported side effect of oral birth control pills because of the impact that such pills have on preventing ovulation and estrogen production and release.
The Role of Progesterone in Libido and Sex
Progesterone is primarily the “pregnancy hormone” in women; it helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and prepares the female body for pregnancy. However, progesterone also has some direct and indirect impacts on libido and female sexuality.
Unlike estrogen, which causes increased sexual desire in an attempt to encourage pregnancy, increases in progesterone, which typically rise when a woman is pregnant – decrease libido to discourage further sexual activity once fertilization has taken place.
As progesterone levels increase at the beginning and towards the end of the menstrual cycle, it is this rise in progesterone that is largely responsible for the mood swings, pain, and bloating that are typical of PMS. The emotional and physical issues brought on by PMS can also lower a woman’s desire to engage in sexual activity.
Human Growth Hormone and Female Sexuality
Besides the female hormones, human growth hormone and testosterone both play an important role in sexual performance in both men and women. Both of these hormones are integral to strength, energy, and mood – all of which obviously impact your sex life.
Specifically, having low levels of HGH caused by age-related growth hormone deficiency can negatively impact a woman’s desire and ability to have sex by:
- Lowering her libido or sex drive;
- Causing fatigue and a lack of energy;
- Causing loss of muscle tone and increased weight, which can lead to self-esteem issues and other physical conditions that can impact sexual desire and sexual performance in women;
- Mood swings, such as increased anxiety and depression, which can also lead to a decreased desire for sexual activity.
Testosterone and Female Sexuality
While testosterone is a “male hormone,” women’s bodies make and need testosterone as well. And as in men, testosterone in women plays a role in sexual desire and sexual performance. In fact, recent studies seem to suggest most of the sexual health issues experienced by menopausal women, such as lack of libido and vaginal dryness, are as much caused by low testosterone as they are by decreased levels of estrogen.
Testosterone also impacts mood and energy levels which can also impact sexual desire and sexual performance in both men and women.
What Factors Can Lead to Sex Hormone Imbalance in Women?
One of the things that all the issues related to female sexual dysfunction have in common is that they are usually the result of some kind of hormone imbalance.
Although it is perfectly normal for hormonal levels to regularly rise and fall, particularly in women, long-term imbalances can lead to loss of libido and other sexual health issues.
Signs of Sex Hormone Imbalance
Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women include:
Lack of libido or decreased sex drive- Spotting or irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness, painful intercourse
- Increased unwanted facial and body hair
- Acne
- Breast tenderness
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Irritability mood swings
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Sleep issues
Lack of libido or decreased sex driveHormonal imbalances can be a sign of some form of underlying health condition, but, particularly in women over 45, they are most likely caused by age-related hormone decline.
How to Breathe Life Back Into Your Sex Life?
If a woman is experiencing a lack of libido or loss of interest in sex, there are several things that can be down to try to reignite the spark. Things such as talk therapy with a counselor can help; trying new positions or new places to engage in sexual activity, getting more rest, reducing stress, and even changing your diet – all can help.
However, if you are a woman over 45 and experiencing loss of libido or other sexual health issues, then chances are your problems are hormonal, and the best way to renew intimacy and get your sex life back on track is with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women.
Estrogen Therapy
Estrogen therapy is the most common form of HRT for women. It has been the standard of care for all of the debilitating conditions of menopause for decades, including those related to female sexual dysfunction.
Estrogen replacement therapy has been shown to improve libido, increase vaginal lubrication, and improve a woman’s ability to achieve more pleasurable and sustainable orgasms.
Testosterone Therapy
Women facing age-related symptoms of FSD almost always have low testosterone levels. Including testosterone replacement in the HRT prescribed for such women further improves sexual desire and sexual function in women.
HGH Therapy
Like testosterone, HGH levels drop as a woman ages. Adding HGH into an HRT regimen for women also further enhances their sex life by:
- Improving the strength and elasticity of vaginal tissues and muscles;
- Improving lubrication;
- Stimulating the release of serotonin and other “feel good” brain chemicals related to sexual desire, sexual arousal, and feelings of love and intimacy.
