Does HRT do anything for libido?

[BananaToffo]

I'm in the position of my brain being willing but my body is not especially interested.

I just don't get turned on like I used to and my orgasms are weaker and less satisfying.

TMI, I know...but will HRT give these things a bit of a boost?

TIA.

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It has helped me a little. Before starting the hrt I felt dead below the waist and now although the will isn’t as strong as before my body is now at least capable of responding. Hope it works for you too.

My libido is better than before hrt but I am not sure if it is due to hormones or cause I have a good psychology, a better sleep and higher energy.

Personally, No HRT hasn't helped.

Ah really? Sucks this woman business man. Is that what I have to look forward to.. hot flushes, sweats, face exploding and dead below the waist?

Look into low dose testosterone

Or aswaghanga

Will a GP prescribe testosterone, bionic?

Get all those deep orgasms while you can, gamer 😉

Try Livial, its really good,also has a testosterone type drug in it,
Makes a big difference to Libido
Takes a while to kick in, like 2-3 months, but works
No sure if you can have it unless your periods have stopped ,12 months +

Get all those deep orgasms while you can, gamer

yeah I hear you man

I'd say yes it does, if perhaps indirectly. One of my main menopause symptoms was general dryness and creakiness everywhere which made me tired and sex uncomfortable if I could be bothered.
HRT fixed that in less than a fortnight and a divorce sorted the rest.

I tried low dose testosterone but came off it because I was sprouting hair on my face. Also affected strange things for example was a much more reckless driver than I usually am!

Takes some weeks to build up and get the full effect but it did the trick for my libido- so much so it was actually annoying!

Ok this is from left field but I found b12 injections helpful in this arena (not desire so much but satisfaction and ease of getting there). It has also helped with tinnitus and a couple of toes that used to be kind of numb so my theory is that there is some nerve damage being repaired.

I'm not a health professional and not advocating injections for everyone (my blood results were always low even after supplementing) and I've no idea why it helps (it was an unexpected side benefit) but if b12 is an issue for you maybe look into it. If you're so inclined I'd try supplements or patch first (it's just easier) for a good long go, maybe 4-6mos.

Thanks all of you. I am seeing my GP next week and see what she suggests.

Ask your GP for a referral to a Menopause Clinic - most GPs know very little about how to treat menopause symptoms. I'm not sure they can even prescribe testosterone without a consultant's say so.

Good luck

I attend a Menopause Clinic. The doctor is very dismissive of my lack of libido. Zero sex drive. Have had sex once in the last year.

I'm really feeling down in the dumps tonight. I waited 3 months for today's appointment. She told me to increase my Estrogel which I can't get anywhere. 5 chemists & non of them had any.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Did you try Tibolone (livial)? It considered good for the libido because of testosterone. Maybe your psychology or other factors influence your libido and not only hormones?

Can anyone recommend anything for vaginal dryness? I'm through my menopause, but it's left its mark regarding my sex life! Orgasms aren't the same either! Has anyone else experienced this?

@Jacknjill, I recommend Sylk to everyone, it's been a total game changer for me. Available on free prescription for the over 60s I believe but you can get a free sample from their website and my GP is happy to prescribe it.
Tmi alert, orgasms just take a looonng time... need a patient partner or battery operated assistance

Google vaginal atrophy. Lubricants and moisturisers don't reverse the changes and will only get worse in time.

menopausedoctor.co.uk/what-is-the-menopause/vaginal-dryness/

You need to see your GP for vaginal estrogen cram.

Thanks for your replies, it's not just me then! I find myself avoidong intimacy as it's so painful at times and sometimes I can't orgasm so then get annoyed with myself and then I'm thinking why am I bothering!! 😣

I don't think so, the only thing that helps is testosterone which is prescribed regularly in the states but you try and get a GP to prescribe it here!
I now describe myself as asexual since the menopause. It's been 10 years since I had any interest in men or sex and got divorced as a result.
Before that I had a normal sex life.

@jacknjill It's REALLY common! Don't feel embarrassed. I've used vaginal estrogen for around 11 years now and started on it before systemic HRT. It's helped a lot with bladder issues too (peeing a lot.) I think something like 50% of women suffer from VA and that's just based on the ones who seek treatment so it's possibly far more than that.

(BTW you can get testosterone for libido from a GP- NICE guidelines have said it should be part of meno treatment although it's not officially licensed as such. So a GP has to agree to prescribe. It won't help with actual dryness, it's more for libido and energy overall.)

Not TMI bananaToffo - a very important issue!

Some women find that increasing oestrogen alone can imrpove libido and sexual response if sufficiently high enough.

Oral HRT is known to decrease libido due to increase in SHBG which binds free testosterone make it less available.

Progesterone and synthetic progestogens have a sedative effect and some also have a dampening effect on libido so continuous combined HRT (prescribed to post-menopausal women) is not ideal.

Some synthetic progestogens that are derived from testosterone ( eg norethisterone and levonorgestrel) can improve libido in some women, although others find the side effects too much to contend with.

Medication such as some anti-depressants can also depress libido.

It is important to have adequate oestrogen replacement before considering adding testosterone - you don't want to become T dominant. As has been said the only formulation licensed for libido in UK is Tibolone for post-meno women and some find the oestrogen dose in this not high enough. Some NHS GPs (such as mine) and many private gynaes will prescribe testosterone off licence using gel products designed for men (Testogel, Testim, Tostran). There is a very expensive T cream for women - Androfeme - available in Oz and which some private gynaes in UK import and prescribe, but this is out of reach for many women due to costs (of consultation and prescription).

I have been on HRT for 11 + years and T replacement for 3. My O's were pretty much non-existent at the time - but response is amazing again - and they are now better than they have been for many years, although libido is pretty much unchanged.

As has been said - you need to deal with VA so at least when you do have a go it is comfortable - but for me adding T was key to enjoying it all once more .

I don't want to be a downer but, although I'm glad it has been so successful for others, T did absolutely nothing for my libido or energy. A good idea to pursue it but keep your expectations realistic.