Menopausal women who wish to be at their optimum sexually may need hormone replacement. On the other hand, those menopausal women without the benefit of hormone replacement, may still be capable of enjoying and being content with their sex life. Even though they may be capable of great sex, they may lose their potential.

A positive attitude, healthy lifestyle, exercise, a loving and understanding partner are all essential for a fulfilling libido. The woman’s sexual experience all depends on her sex hormones. Hormones levels that decline during the menopause interfere with our optimum sexual function by affecting our sexual desire and hormone sensitive tissues.

A woman’s libido consists of thinking and fantasising about sex and the development of sexual tension along with our awareness for the need of sexual release. Many people nickname this as feeling ‘horny’ or ‘randy’ and it motivates us to initiate or participate in sex or search for a sexual partner. If we have a diminished sexual desire or loose our sexual motivation, it is known as having a ‘desire phase’ disorder.

The libido in women who have experienced or are experiencing the menopause can differ from being a barely noticeable fall in sexual interest to a sexually aversion, where they find the thought of being touched in a sexual way totally repulsive. Some women are not concerned over their loss of sex drive and do not have any interest in restoring it whilst others feel totally crushed at the loss of libido and will engage in various treatments and methods to help them restore it.

Often, women who have little desire for sex find that once they are aroused by sexual stimulation they enjoy the sexual activity and the orgasm.
Many women who complain of a lowered libido find that they are referred to a psychiatrist or some kind of counsellor before their hormone status is even checked. Although it is appreciated that difficult and stressful life activities cam decrease our sex drive, it is argued that these factors should be taken into account when also assessing a woman’s hormone levels.

A decrease in sexual desire is often a result of a decline in the sex hormone levels in the brain. Oestrogen plays a significant part in this process, however, testosterone is the hormone that is more closely associated with our sex drive.

The ovaries are still capable of producing oestrogen following a natural menopause although it may carry on producing significant amounts of testosterone for the following several years. Due to this many women maintain their sex drive for a considerable amount of time.


The testosterone levels can provide additional benefits to those women who have naturally experienced the menopause. The body’s tissues can convert some of the testosterone that is circulating the body into oestrogen. Due to this mechanism, naturally menopausal women experience fewer and more mild symptoms and health problems which are usually caused by sex hormone deficiency. This benefit would be lost if a woman was to have her ovaries removed.