Women, Ask Your Doctor ...

Women — if your sex drive has taken a turn for the worse, and your one-time turn-ons aren’t doing the trick, consider asking your health professional the following questions, based on recommendations from the National Women’s Health Resource Center. They could provide some keys for diagnosing the problem and giving you back your sexual zest.

• Could bodily changes related to menopause be causing my sexual problem? If so, what can be done to minimize these sexual effects?

• Could my sexual problem be related to a different medical condition, and is there a way to manage my medical problem that might help resolve my sexual dysfunction?

• Could any medications I am taking be causing sexual side effects? Can my prescription be changed to minimize these effects?

• What are my estrogen and androgen hormone levels, and are they possibly related to my sexual problem?

• What treatments are available for my sexual problem? Should I consider hormonal therapy for my sexual problem, and if so, what hormones might work best for me?

• Could counseling help resolve my sexual problem, and is there someone you would recommend that I contact?