Painful Sex? 100% Natural BHRT May Help!
BHRT & Other Natural Treatments that Can Help Painful Sex
If you are suffering from pain during intercourse, you are not alone. According to a survey conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), approximately 75% of women in the United States report experiencing pain during intercourse at some point in their lives, and around 30% report experiencing it in the past 12 months.
Pain during sex – medically called dyspareunia – has multiple causes. However, it is especially prevalent in women during and after menopause. Sadly, many women are too embarrassed to seek medical treatment for painful sex, and just ‘learn to live with it’ or forgo sexual activity altogether.
The good news is that women’s health integrative medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD in Royal Oak can identify the underlying cause of pain during intimacy – and can offer natural treatments that eliminate painful sex and restore sexual pleasure and satisfaction.
Causes of Painful Sex in Women
Painful sex is not a disease itself – but rather a very common symptom of something that is out of balance in a woman’s body. It can be caused by a variety of underlying medical conditions, including the hormone decline of menopause. During menopause, the decline in estrogen levels can cause changes in the vaginal tissues, including thinning and dryness. This can result in decreased lubrication and elasticity, making intercourse uncomfortable or painful.
Other medical conditions that can cause painful sex include vaginal infections, such as yeast or bacterial vaginosis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, and vulvodynia. These conditions can cause inflammation, irritation, and even scarring in the genital area, leading to pain during intercourse.
Certain medications, such as antidepressants and hormonal contraceptives, can also cause vaginal dryness and decrease libido, contributing to painful sex. Additionally, psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and a history of sexual abuse can also play a role in painful sex.
Natural Treatments for Painful Sex
Integrative medicine doctors like Dr. Nishath Hakim in Royal Oak take a holistic approach to treating painful sex, which involves addressing the underlying imbalances that contribute to these symptoms.
For example, integrative medicine recognizes that menopause is a natural transition and so the symptoms are viewed as a manifestation of the body’s attempts to adapt to changing hormone levels. Rather than simply treating symptoms, they focus on addressing the root causes of menopause symptoms, which can include hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, stress, and other factors.
Treatment for painful sex depends on the underlying cause. For menopausal women, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to increase estrogen levels can improve vaginal lubrication, as well as stimulate renewed production of collagen and elastin for thicker, healthier, more elastic vaginal walls. Natural lubricants and moisturizers can also be prescribed to help reduce discomfort during intercourse.
Lifestyle adjustments such as dietary changes, regular exercise, stress reduction, meditation, yoga, and sleep hygiene can also help to address the hormone imbalances that contribute to menopause symptoms, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and cortisol dysregulation.
For other medical conditions causing painful sex, treatment may involve antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, or physical therapy. Psychotherapy or counseling may be recommended for psychological causes of painful sex.
In addition, integrative medicine doctors may recommend supplements to address nutrient deficiencies that can contribute to hormone imbalance, painful sex, and other menopause symptoms. For example, they may recommend collagen supplements to address thinning skin and tissue, or omega-3 supplements to address inflammation.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for Painful Sex
100% natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can also be an effective tool in helping reduce or eliminate pain during intercourse.
Integrative medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD in Royal Oak may recommend bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to address hormonal imbalances that contribute to menopause symptoms. BHRT involves the use of hormones that are identical in structure to those produced naturally in the body, in contrast to synthetic hormones that are not structurally identical. BHRT provides a more natural, physiological approach to hormone replacement therapy that is both more effective and has fewer side effects than lab-created hormones.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may help reduce or eliminate pain during intercourse by increasing estrogen levels. Estrogen plays a key role in maintaining the health of the vaginal tissues, including the production of vaginal secretions and the maintenance of vaginal tissue. Estrogen is necessary for the production of collagen and elastin – the protein building blocks that give vaginal walls thickness and elasticity. Estrogen therapy can also improve vaginal lubrication in menopausal women, as well as improve sex drive, and increase sexual sensitivity.
Clinical Studies on BHRT Treatment for Painful Sex
As an integrative medicine doctor, Nishath Hakim, MD relies on evidence-based, scientifically proven treatments. And numerous clinical studies have shown that BHRT can be effective in reducing pain during intercourse in menopausal women.
A randomized controlled trial published in the journal Menopause found that women who received BHRT experienced significant improvements in vaginal lubrication, pain with intercourse, and overall sexual satisfaction compared to women who received a placebo.
Another study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who received BHRT had significant improvements in vaginal dryness, sexual desire, and sexual function compared to women who did not receive hormone therapy.
Holistic, Natural Treatment for Painful Sex | Royal Oak
If you are a women who is experiencing the discomfort and frustration of painful sex, an integrative medicine doctor like Nishath Hakim, MD in Royal Oak can identify the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan. In addition to BHRT, other treatments for painful intercourse may include the use of natural vaginal lubricants or moisturizers, pelvic floor physical therapy, counselling or psychotherapy, natural supplements, and lifestyle adjustments.
Using evidenced-based, natural medical treatments – and a holistic approach that takes into consideration the patient’s body, mind, spirit, and lifestyle – Dr. Hakim can help restore your sexual health and eliminate painful sex, so you can enjoy a satisfying sex life now and for years to come.
Natural Treatments for Painful Sex | Royal Oak: 248-997-4242
