Perimenopause and Sex | PYHP 132

Welcome to the Progress Your Health Podcast!
This is a podcast that helps you learn about balancing hormones, especially during
perimenopause and menopause. We love hearing from our listeners. If you have a
question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question.
Let’s read Brigitte’s question!
I have been listening and learning more. Your September 26, 2023 episode on
symptoms of Perimenopause felt extremely validating!!!!!
Almost everything you mentioned I am experiencing. I was first prescribed by my GYN
the Estridiol patch and what you described was spot on and I am glad to confirm that it
didn’t seem right as I still am getting my period regularly! I would be interested in your
thoughts on the BiEST and perimenopause.
I also really related to the “no thought of sex” whatsoever and not initiating, rejecting
and feeling guilty. It can be sometimes over 6 months between. I thought I might be just
losing interest because I can only think of maybe a couple of times in the last 10-15
years that I might have had a true orgasm. For a while now it seems it can be
pleasurable leading in, but feels like it’s taking forever and then starts to feels intolerable
(not pain) but more irritating – numb like – as though the nerves have been
overstimulated or irritated (not pain – more like hitting your “funny bone”) where it
doesn’t feel good anymore and its quite disappointing. I found a different episode about
the estrogen patch and it was mentioned that the Estriol cream applied vaginally – could
help with this.
I also wonder about other things I have been experiencing, a lot of hair breakage or
shedding and nail breakage and a huge change in my skin, and the muffin top!!!!
Hoping and looking forward to a follow up episode on symptoms of perimenopause and
hope to get insight on Estrogen bioidentical compounded cream!
Thank you so much! This has helping me fill in the blanks and clear up confusion after
my appointments!
In this episode, we broke down her question into:
– Using an estradiol patch in perimenopause
– Low libido in perimenopause
– Why is sex not as pleasurable in perimenopause?
– What is estriol, and can it be used on vaginal tissues for lubrication and sex
drive?
– What is Biest, and can it be used in perimenopause?
– Perimenopausal weight gain, aka ‘muffin-top’
– Perimenopausal effects on hair and nails
Because Brigitte’s questions are so common in perimenopause, we
also went on to talk about:
– The vaginal microbiome
– Changes in the vaginal vault and how that can increase susceptibility to
infections.
– Hormonal changes in perimenopause and menopause can make you more
vulnerable to bacterial vaginosis, yeast, and urinary tract infections.
I hope Brigitte’s questions and concerns may have helped others who might be
experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. We appreciate all of our listeners and those
who take the time to write us reviews and reach out with questions.
If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question.