The Low Libido Trio – Sleep, Sweats, and Sadness

During and after menopause women (and their partners) complain that libido seems to be the collateral damage of slumpng hormone levels. Sorting out the “why” and “what to do” is a confusing ride through the research. Most recently we’ve learned that low libido is significantly associated with depression, night sweats, and sleep disturbance. But “associated” does not equal a cause/effect relationship. So while sleep disturbance or night sweats may not cause depression or low libido, women do seem to suffer from them simultaneously.

Teasing out the details of love and libido during menopause and beyond will contribute significantly to the quality of women’s lives and relationships. Whether low hormones turn out to be the common culprit, or whether one symptom provokes or intensifies others, it can only help us if we understand the connections -- treatment could be individualized once we have discovered how one symptom relates to the others. Even knowing that flashes, depression and insomnia travel in the same pack as low libido may lead us to some relief. If you are experiencing this little triad – with or without a drop in libido -- check with your doc. Successfully treating one worrisome symptom may lighten the others.

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