Women’s Sexual Health
Sexual Health Is an Important Part of Your Overall Health
Sexual health can change throughout a woman’s life.
Changes in sexual desire, comfort, vaginal or vulvar health and sexual function can occur during different life stages, including perimenopause and menopause.
Hormones may be part of the picture—but they aren’t the only consideration.
At Ontario Regenerative Medicine, we provide a private, physician-led environment where women can discuss sexual-health concerns and better understand the factors that may be contributing to them.
Your sexual health is personal. Your care should be too.
When Should I Consider a Sexual Health Assessment?
You don’t need to know what’s causing the problem before speaking with us.
Women may seek medical assessment after experiencing changes involving:
- sexual desire or libido
- vaginal or vulvar dryness
- discomfort associated with sexual activity
- changes in sexual function or satisfaction
- changes occurring during perimenopause or menopause
- other sexual-health concerns that are important to them
These concerns can have multiple possible contributing factors.
Rather than assuming a hormonal cause or starting with a predetermined treatment, ORM begins with an individualized medical assessment.
Sexual Health Changes Throughout Life
Women’s sexual health can be influenced by many different factors.
These may include:
- age and life stage
- hormonal changes
- menopause
- medical conditions
- medications
- physical health
- psychological well-being
- relationships
- lifestyle
- other individual circumstances
More than one factor may be involved.
That’s why understanding the individual is an important first step.
Menopause & Sexual Health
Hormones Change During the Menopausal Transition
The hormonal environment changes considerably during perimenopause and menopause.
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones form part of this changing physiology.
Women may also notice changes in sexual or genitourinary health during this stage of life.
However, experiencing a particular symptom does not establish that one specific hormone is responsible.
ORM considers your symptoms alongside your menopausal status, medical history, medications and other relevant health information before determining whether additional investigation or management may be appropriate.
Estrogen & Women’s Sexual Health
Estrogen Is Part of Normal Female Physiology
Estrogen refers to a group of naturally occurring hormones with important roles within female reproductive and genitourinary physiology.
Estradiol, or E2, is the predominant form of estrogen during the reproductive years.
The hormonal environment changes as women transition through perimenopause and menopause, including changes in estrogen.
Understanding this normal physiology is different from assuming that a particular symptom requires estrogen treatment.
Your healthcare provider can determine whether hormonal factors warrant further consideration based on your individual circumstances.
Testosterone & Women’s Sexual Health
Testosterone Isn’t Just a Male Hormone
Women naturally produce testosterone.
Testosterone has normal physiological roles within the female body, including roles within reproductive and sexual physiology.
However, a change in sexual desire or function does not by itself establish that testosterone is low or that testosterone is responsible.
When clinically appropriate, testosterone may be considered as one part of a broader hormone-health assessment.
Progesterone & Women’s Hormone Health
Progesterone is another naturally occurring hormone involved in female reproductive physiology.
Progesterone levels change during the menstrual cycle and the broader hormonal environment changes during perimenopause and menopause.
Like estrogen and testosterone, progesterone is best understood as part of a complex hormonal system rather than in isolation.
Vaginal & Genitourinary Health
Changes Deserve a Conversation
Some women experience changes involving vaginal or vulvar comfort, lubrication or urinary and genital health as they move through different stages of life.
These concerns can be personal and sometimes difficult to discuss.
They are also legitimate health concerns.
Your ORM consultation provides an opportunity to discuss what you’re experiencing in a confidential medical setting.
Your healthcare provider can assess whether hormonal, medical, medication-related or other factors may warrant consideration.
Pain or Discomfort During Sexual Activity
Painful sexual activity should not simply be accepted as something a woman has to live with.
There are multiple possible reasons sexual activity may become uncomfortable or painful.
An appropriate medical assessment can help determine whether further evaluation is needed and which management options may be appropriate.
Treatment depends on the underlying concern and the individual patient.
Changes in Libido
Sexual Desire Is Complex
Sexual desire varies considerably between women and can change throughout life.
Hormones may be relevant, particularly during periods of hormonal transition, but libido can also be influenced by:
- physical health
- medications
- sleep
- stress
- psychological well-being
- relationships
- lifestyle
- sexual comfort
- other individual factors
A change in libido therefore does not automatically establish a hormonal disorder.
Your healthcare provider can help you look at the broader picture.
Your Women’s Sexual Health Assessment at ORM
1. Tell Us What’s Changed
Your consultation begins with a confidential conversation about your concerns, when they started and how they’re affecting you.
2. Review Your Health
Your healthcare provider considers relevant medical history, medications, reproductive history, previous treatments and other factors.
3. Consider Your Life Stage
Premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause may provide important context.
4. Consider Possible Contributors
Hormonal, physical, medication-related, psychological and other factors may warrant consideration depending on your circumstances.
5. Investigate When Appropriate
Laboratory testing or other investigations may be recommended when clinically appropriate.
This may include hormonal assessment depending on the reason for your consultation.
6. Discuss Your Options
Once your assessment is complete, your physician can discuss whether further investigation, monitoring or management should be considered.
What If a Hormonal Concern Is Identified?
Assessment Comes Before Treatment
If your assessment identifies a hormonal concern, your physician will interpret the finding alongside your symptoms, medical history and other relevant clinical information.
A symptom or laboratory result does not automatically determine treatment.
If prescription treatment is being considered, your physician can discuss the specific options with you privately as part of your individual medical care.
That conversation can include:
- why treatment is being considered
- available options
- potential benefits
- potential risks and side effects
- limitations
- alternatives
- monitoring requirements
- reasonable expectations
The objective is to make an informed decision based on your individual medical circumstances.
Women’s Sexual Health Is More Than Hormones
Assessment Comes Before Treatment
Hormones can be important.
But women’s sexual health involves much more than estrogen, progesterone or testosterone.
Physical health, medications, emotional well-being, relationships, lifestyle, life stage and other factors can all be relevant.
ORM’s role is to help you better understand the complete picture before determining what should happen next.
Start with the concern—not a predetermined treatment.
A Private Conversation About a Personal Concern
Talking about sexual health isn’t always easy.
At ORM, these conversations are treated as part of healthcare—not something to be embarrassed about.
Whether you’re experiencing changes in sexual desire, vaginal comfort, sexual function or another concern, you can begin by simply telling us what’s changed.
You don’t have to diagnose yourself.
And you don’t have to decide which treatment you need before you arrive.
Why Choose ORM for Women’s Sexual Health?
Physician-Led Care
Sexual-health concerns are evaluated within a medical setting.
Individualized Assessment
Your concerns, medical history, life stage and individual circumstances are considered together.
Hormones in Context
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone may be considered when clinically relevant without assuming that one hormone is responsible.
Menopause-Focused Care
Hormonal and physiological changes associated with the menopausal transition can be considered as part of your assessment.
Appropriate Investigation
Laboratory testing or other investigations may be recommended when clinically appropriate.
Informed Decisions
If treatment is appropriate, your physician can discuss your options, potential benefits, risks, limitations and alternatives.
Confidential Care
Sexual health is personal. Your concerns are addressed privately and professionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sexual health change during menopause?
Yes.
Some women notice changes in sexual or genitourinary health during the menopausal transition.
The experience varies considerably between individuals.
Is low libido always caused by hormones?
No.
Hormonal factors can be relevant, but sexual desire can also be influenced by physical health, medications, sleep, psychological well-being, relationships, lifestyle and other factors.
Can estrogen affect women’s sexual physiology?
Estrogen has normal physiological roles within female reproductive and genitourinary tissues.
That does not mean a particular sexual-health concern is necessarily caused by estrogen or that estrogen treatment is appropriate.
Do women naturally produce testosterone?
Yes.
Testosterone is naturally present in women and has normal physiological roles within the female body.
Will I need hormone testing?
Not necessarily.
Your healthcare provider will determine whether hormone testing or other investigations are appropriate based on your individual circumstances.
What treatments are available?
Treatment depends on the concern, its contributing factors and the individual patient.
Following assessment, your physician can discuss the management options that may be appropriate for you.
If prescription treatment is being considered, detailed information about the specific treatment can be discussed directly with you as part of your medical care.The hormone pellets available at Ontario Regenerative Medicine are sterilized by a third party company using eBeam sterilization technology. Once they are sterilized, they are routed to another company for potency testing, and lastly they are sent to another third party company for sterility testing.
Do I need to know which treatment I want before booking?
No.
The purpose of your consultation is to understand the concern first.
Something Has Changed. Let’s Talk About It.
Changes in sexual health can affect comfort, confidence, relationships and quality of life.
You don’t have to determine the cause yourself.
Start with a confidential medical assessment and a conversation about what you’re experiencing.
Your sexual health is part of your health.
Important Information
This page provides general educational information about women’s sexual health, menopause and medical assessment.
References to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone describe these substances as naturally occurring hormones and their roles within normal physiology. They are not intended to advertise or recommend a prescription hormone product.
Sexual-health concerns can have multiple possible causes. Symptoms discussed on this page should not be interpreted as establishing a hormonal disorder.
Diagnosis and treatment decisions require individualized assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
