Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and that means love is in the air! Red and pink hearts are popping up in the stores, vases full of red roses are donning the florists’ windows, and restaurants are booked solid. Romance is hot, hot, hot!
And sometimes for some it is not, not, not.
Sometimes, we are just not in the mood. Women everywhere travel the ups and downs of desire – sometimes the mood is strong and unfettered, and other times we are just simply too exhausted to care about sex. There is a normal rhythm of desire that I think many women experience given our state in life: newlyweds, new mothers, vacation time, empty nesters – a natural ebb and flow.
Unfortunately, for some women they get stuck in a state where there is simply no sparks sparkling. Nothing. Not even a sizzle. One thing that too often falls to the wayside in a busy life is a healthy sex life, but it’s not just sex. Your sex life is important to your overall health. According to a new survey of 2,501 U.S. women age 21-50, the majority say they aren’t happy with theirs, its impacting their relationships, and they don’t know how to fix it.
Double unfortunate is that no one ever wants to talk about it. I remember being a little girl and hearing Dr. Ruth speak on the radio. I was shocked, but at the same time I thought it was pretty cool to hear a female doctor talk about women and sex so matter of factly. She always shared so much information. At that time the messages made little sense to my life – but I was impressed nonetheless.
If you’re not always feeling in the mood to hit the sheets, you are not alone. Despite how important a healthy sex life is, many women deal with sexual difficulties at some point in their lives (more than 40%), and survey results show that 93% of women questioned admitted that low libido impacts their lives and puts a strain on their relationships.
Today I learned there is something called Female Sexual Dysfunction. Women experiencing a lower sex drive than they desire. Not surprisingly, women everywhere are just “dealing with it”. I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Leah Millheiser, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford University Medical Center.
As a sexual medicine expert, Dr. Millheiser devotes her career to treating all aspects of female sexual health. She has a particular interest in the sexual wellness of cancer survivors. In her gynecology practice, she takes care of women across the lifespan, from adolescence through post-menopause.
I also learned that sexual dysfunction effects women beyond the bedroom. It does have far reaching effects on a woman’s overall health and well-being. A chronic issue that can dealt with – Dr. Millheiser shares a couple of action items for women. Check out the interview to learn more.
Not in the Mood? It May be More Than You Think!
Thank you, Dr. Millheiser, for your candid conversation. For more information check out FindMySpark.com and be sure to chat with your doctor.
Thank you to Valeant Pharmaceuticals for providing me with this interview opportunity.
