Simple Things You Can Do To Support Sexual Health

Sexual health is a major part of who we are, yet we rarely give it a second thought. As we age, changes in hormones, health, and lifestyle factors all take a toll on our sexual wellness while life’s obligations always seem to take priority. 

At his practices in Manhasset and Forest Hills, New York, E. Jacob Simhaee, MD who is an BO GYN physician, offers customized treatment options to help women maintain optimal sexual health, especially as they get older. Here, learn about simple steps you can take to improve your sexual desire, satisfaction, and comfort.

Address hormonal imbalances

Hormonal fluctuations can cause a big change in your level of sexual desire, including the changes that happen during perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Simhaee offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by using pellets he focuses on restoring your hormone levels.

Not only can HRT improve your libido, but it also helps address other problems caused by hormonal decline, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats, poor sleep, anxiety, joint pain, low energy, and foggy brain. HRT not only improves natural vaginal lubrication to make sex more comfortable, too it has many more benefits for your general health.

Improve your sleep habits

When you feel tired or fatigued, doing anything energetic is probably the last thing on your mind. That’s true whether it comes to mundane activities like house cleaning or something more exciting like sex.

Feeling tired doesn’t just affect the physical requirements of sex — it takes a toll on your libido, too, and it can even exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety that can interfere with sexual arousal and satisfaction. Fortunately, improving sleep isn’t rocket science. In fact, the Academy of Sleep Medicine and the CDC offer lists of tips you can start employing tonight. 

Get regular exercise

Exercise helps you sleep better, and it also relieves stress — but that’s just part of what it offers. Regular activity improves your circulation, including circulation around your vagina and clitoris for better sexual satisfaction and arousal. 

You don’t need to run a marathon to reap the benefits of exercise, either. Choose an activity you like, like swimming, running, walking, or dancing, and practice it regularly. Over time, regular exercise can boost your confidence, which can also contribute to a healthy sex life.

Learn to manage stress

Many of us feel stressed today, and it’s not surprising that when you feel anxious, sex is often the last thing on your mind. When stress becomes chronic or persistent, those effects can have a long-lasting impact on your sex life.

Regular exercise is one way to reduce stress, but there are other activities you can employ, too. Focused breathing, yoga, mindfulness, and tai chi are all focused on helping you reduce your stress levels. Even setting aside some daily time to do a calming activity you enjoy, like reading or doing a craft, is a good way to relieve stress and feel more engaged in intimacy.

Maintain a healthy weight

About three-quarters of Americans are overweight or obese, conditions that can take a toll on your energy level and your hormones, too. Losing extra pounds improves your overall wellness and helps you avoid hormone fluctuations that can interfere with your sex drive. 

Dropping extra pounds can also help you feel more confident and, in some instances, more sexually attractive, too. Plus, when you prioritize healthy sleep, you can reduce your risks of anxiety and depression for better emotional wellness, as well.

Ask about other medical treatments

HRT can be very effective in improving libido, but it’s just one treatment we offer to help women improve their sexual health. Dr. Simhaee also offers the O-Shot® and shockwave therapy options to improve sexual sensitivity and responsiveness.

For women with vaginal dryness and vaginal laxity, Dr. Simhaee recommends treatments like VTone® electrical muscle stimulation (EMS),  Femilift Alma® laser therapy, Votiva® radiofrequency therapy, or Morpheus8V® microneedling to improve circulation, stimulate natural lubrication, and improve vaginal tone. Many treatments improve other symptoms, like urinary incontinence or prolapse.

Sexual health is an important aspect of staying healthy, especially as you age. To learn how Dr. Simhaee and his team can help, request an appointment online or over the phone today.