Rediscover Intimacy: How Hormone Therapy Can Enhance Your Vaginal Health

As a long-time holistic medicine practitioner, Naples, Florida-based internal medicine specialist Dr. Diane Brzezinski, D.O., knows how our bodily systems are interconnected. The health of a distinct system, like the circulatory system, plays a role in the health of the other systems, and all combine to influence one’s overall well-being. As a female, Dr. B also understands that vaginal health plays a supporting role in maintaining a woman’s well-being. Along with causing localized pain and discomfort, vaginal issues can reduce libido, cause depression, lower self-esteem, and lead to relationship problems.

Vaginal health is naturally impacted by aging, particularly by a reduction in the body’s natural production of hormones that results from menopause. The decreases in estrogen levels brought on by menopause typically cause dryness, discomfort, atrophy of vaginal tissues, painful intercourse, and symptoms affecting other body parts. However, women can turn to bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to help restore their vaginal health and alleviate some of the ancillary symptoms caused by low estrogen levels.

WHAT IS BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY?

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for women helps restore the body’s natural estrogen levels to alleviate symptoms caused by menopause or other hormone-influencing disorders. While hormones can be replaced orally, by injection, or transdermally, Dr. B relies on “pellet” hormone therapy that involves the insertion of rice-grain size pellets just under the skin. This allows the body to absorb the hormones steadily and consistently as needed. She believes the pellet therapy is superior to other delivery methods because consistent hormone delivery doesn’t cause fluctuations in energy levels and mood, which can happen with the other methods.

BENEFITS OF BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY IN ENHANCING VAGINAL HEALTH

Dr. B says BHRT has been effective at helping hundreds of her southwest Florida-area patients enhance their vaginal health and reduce menopause-related symptoms. The therapy helps ease vaginal dryness, discomfort, and painful sex, which in turn helps boost patients’ sex drive and self-confidence. The improvements in vaginal elasticity and lubrication help enhance patients’ sexual satisfaction, leading to a boost in their sex drive, a decrease in relationship tensions, reductions in depression, and a restoration of intimacy with their partners.

In addition to the vaginal health benefits, BHRT ancillary benefits include:

• Increases in energy and mental focus
• Boosts in muscle strength
• Decreases in anxiety, irritability, and mood swings
• Enhancements to sleep patterns
• Improved maintenance of bone density
• Lowered risk of chronic diseases

CANDIDACY FOR HORMONE THERAPY?

Women experiencing any menopause symptoms—such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse—or other hormone-related symptoms may be good candidates for BHRT. Dr. B can assess your BHRT candidacy with a physical examination and blood work to determine your estrogen levels if this describes you. Based on your levels and overall physical health, Dr. B will prescribe BHRT accordingly and may recommend lifestyle changes to enhance your vaginal and overall health further.

LIFESTYLE FACTORS TO SUPPORT VAGINAL HEALTH

If Dr. B prescribes BHRT for you, she will likely recommend some lifestyle tips that can further support your vaginal health, increase your libido, and help you return to being intimate. Naturally, these lifestyle tips also support overall health, but as previously noted, vaginal health is inexorably linked to overall health. So, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, limit alcohol consumption, avoid recreational drugs, manage your weight, and eat a nutritious diet.

And speaking of diet, the quote ‘you are what you eat’ may not be entirely accurate, but what you eat certainly influences overall health and can enhance your vaginal health. Healthline published a handy list of the best foods to support vaginal health. If you experience vaginal dryness, consider eating more soy, sweet potatoes, avocados, and dark leafy greens.

Soy contains phytoestrogens, which can mimic the natural estrogen in your body, which in turn can enhance your overall vaginal health. Additionally, minimally processed soy products promote water retention in tissues, which can further help combat dryness. The nutrients in sweet potatoes help support healthy mucous membranes, including the ones in your vagina that support lubrication. The compounds in avocados and dark leafy greens also support natural lubrication and have the added benefit of boosting the libido.

Other vaginal health-supporting food ingredients include:

• Antioxidants
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Probiotics

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BHRT AND VAGINAL HEALTH, CONTACT DR. B TODAY!

If your vaginal health seems compromised and you’re struggling to maintain intimacy with your partner, BHRT may be able to help. Enhancing vaginal function and health with BHRT can boost your libido, further stimulating intimacy. To learn more, seek professional guidance from Dr. B, who can assess your vaginal and overall health to determine whether BHRT is a viable option. To schedule an appointment at her Naples-based internal medicine practice, contact Dr. B’s office at (239) 261-9990.