No libido but don’t want to go on hrt

[Nomdemare]

Advice please! I’m 50 and have absolutely zero libido.
Having read through other mumsnet posts, I know this is not unusual, except I don’t know what to do if not intending to try hrt.

I did try hrt patches about 3 years ago, for a short time - but then stopped as it made me feel suicidal and out of it.

I also had an online consultation with Newson Health and the outcome of that was to suggest I try bioidentical hrt.

I haven’t done anything since then and am just white knuckling this without hrt or anything. No other symptoms other than anxiety but the lack of libido is deadening.

thank you!

Get the HRT pessary and vaginal cream. It’s not so much an improvement in libido as a reduction in friction and discomfort that might be partly putting you off.

Sympathies though.

HRT hasn’t done much for my libido - I think you really need testosterone for that - but I would say that there are lots of different types so you could try something else? I have a Mirena coil for progesterone so it’s localised rather than floating about my system, then gel for oestrogen which is easy to up or down the dose. I initially tried patches but didn’t get on with those at all. The coil fitting was really unpleasant (but YMMV of course) but it pretty much stopped my periods once it settled down which is great.

You'll need topical oestrogen/pessary and a source of progesterone in any case, as whilst you may not have the desire and be OK with that (or accepting at least), the consequences of atrophy are worse than a lack of sexual function.