Examination

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Do you get yearly examinations? To be honest, I don’t unless you consider my annual GYN appointment, but to go in for a complete physical examination…NO! Yesterday, I saw my internal medicine doctor for the first time in 3-years. I had the routine things done – EKG, chest x-ray, blood pressure, weight, urinalysis, blood work,… Everything looks great!

Today, I should know my lab results. I suspect this will be normal for the most part, but I’m anxious to learn how my hormone levels stack up. In 2006, I began noticing significant change in my body metabolism and issues with libido. Six years earlier, I had a hysterectomy at the age of 40. My doctor managed to leave one of my ovaries but no HRT prescribed.

The first year I was on the lowest dose possible of Premarin (HRT), I didn’t see much change, if any. By my following GYN visit, my doctor suggested the next dosage boost, but I wasn’t ready to graduate to the next level. I’m apprehensive and reluctant when it comes to taking medicine, but sometimes you have to do what you must to help your body system along.

Stress is a huge factor which plays against a woman’s libido and something I wasn’t a stranger to. I was under a lot of pressure with home schooling three kids, then in 2009 our daughters moved into their own apartment. That was only trading one set of worries for another it seemed.

At some point during the first year our daughters were on their own, I had to reconcile myself to fully trusting the Lord. This was something that was completely out of my hands. No good would come from allowing the dark force to shadow my life and not taking care of myself like I knew I should. This was a pivotal moment for me.

Things didn’t instantly get better, but I began to relearn how to take care of my physical needs – diet, exercise, medication, …Signs of improvements with the HRT appeared by 2010. Issues about my libido was slowly changing for the better – nothing earth shattering fantastic, though. Maybe more time is needed.

Let’s face it, my libido was no where it should be. I know it’s part of the aging thing and when you have early onset menopause then this really doesn’t help matter. Last year, I finally agreed to a third step up in my Premarin dose. Would going from 0.9mg to 1.25mg make a difference? After several months, the new levels kicked in and slight changes occurred but not so much with my libido. Am I expecting too much?

I turned my efforts to solving the puzzle researching women’s testosterone levels on the internet. This is predominately a man’s subject and there’s a lot available for the male sex. However, I did find out low Testosterone is major culprit in affecting a woman’s sex drive, just like it does in men. In fact, I discovered that 50% of a female’s Testosterone is made by her ovaries. Bingo! I only have one and for years I’ve suspected it’s not doing its job properly.

While I do not know what my blood work will show, I know something is amiss with my body. Stress plays a hand in driving one’s sexual desires down, but I can’t believe this is what I’m experiencing most of the time. I’m confident my Testosterone levels are off — a little to a lot. If it’s a little then maybe a little is too much for body to tolerate. We are all different.

Self evaluation and experimentation are two important ingredients in maintaining excellent personal health without having to solely rely on an annual physical, but I highly recommend it not replace a doctor’s thorough examination.

My T2Q are:

1. Be honest, how important is sex to you? Sexual intimacy is very important to me. This is one special way for my DH and I to express our love…pleasures for one another. I don’t want to ever feel like sex is a chore. This is something I enjoy just as much, as DH. I want to be able to turn that little ‘sex’ button anytime of the day.

2. If you’re a woman, do you suffer with libido issues?  Obviously, by now you know this is one of my concerns. I’m thankful and blessed for my over-all good health, but for an active, healthy 50-year old I want more.  I consider myself young enough to still enjoy the sensual pleasures of a good sex life. I’m not saying what I share with my husband isn’t fulfilling, but more frustrating because it takes more to push my buttons than it did when I was in my 20s. This just shouldn’t be the case or at least this is the way I feel. Ladies, feel free to offer suggestions. I’m all ears!

Visit Miss Jenny and the rest of the Alphabe-Thursday classroom for more energizing and enlightening ‘E’ posts and while you’re hopping around, be sure to play along with Miss Amanda 92nd edition of Thursday Two Questions.

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