BodyLogicMD Physicians Prescribe Bioidentical Hormones and Imagination

ORLANDO, FL. - October, 2010 - The medical reports are in: Sex is important. In fact, we need it! And couples that share active sex lives are not only happier, but healthier because of it. In addition, studies prove that sex can significantly reduce the effects of aging. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, women who have 200 orgasms per year can knock off six years of their physiological age.

This is great news for Baby Boomers, who have proven that sexuality is not the exclusive province of the young by continuing to enjoy vibrant sex lives well into their 60s, 70s and beyond. However, if you're one of the millions of Americans suffering from a waning sex drive, the golden years can certainly lose their luster.

"Sex drive is fueled by a delicate balance of many hormones, including progesterone, estrogen and testosterone," explains Jennifer Landa, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, the nation's largest network of highly trained physicians specializing in bioidentical hormones. "As women and men age, these hormones begin to decline. This is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including weight gain, mood swings, depression, fatigue, irritability and perhaps most notably, lack of sexual desire."

If you're not in the mood, you're not alone. While it's currently estimated that low sexual desire affects 40 percent of women and 20 percent of men, low libido is still a fairly recent phenomenon. If you were to turn the clocks back a couple hundred years or so, our ancestors weren't concerned with losing their "mojo" because they typically didn't live long enough to experience the effects of hormonal decline. Today we've nearly doubled our lifespan, but unfortunately, our bodies are forced to work harder and the stress can tax our hormones to the point of exhaustion that is not conducive to romance.

In many cases, a combination of age-related factors, including an underlying hormonal imbalance - frequently related to perimenopause, menopause or andropause (the male menopause) - can result in low libido. However, your love life is not built on hormones alone. It also requires some imagination to reignite the passion that you've lost over the years.

"Hormonal imbalance is not the only issue to address when libido is low," says Dr. Landa. "Some finesse in the romance department can make all the difference when you are working to rekindle your sex life. A typical prescription for my patients includes a combination of nutrition, exercise, and bioidentical hormones. I also ask all my patients with libido issues to participate in my "Libido Challenge" - a series of suggestions to help patients explore and redefine their sexuality."

Here are a few recommendations from Dr. Landa's "Libido Challenge" that will help you heat things up:

Take it beyond the bedroom - By now the bedroom has become a comfort zone for both you and your partner. So step outside the box and shake things up a bit. There's no need to take it to the streets or go public. For starters, try a different room of the house - perhaps the kitchen or laundry room. Don't limit your sexuality to a specific place or time of day. Libido waxes and wanes throughout the day so welcome your natural moods and cultivate the heat wherever you are.

Dress for Success - When you're at home alone as a couple, you may see little need to "dress to impress." But nothing says turn-off like tattered, oversized t-shirts, maternity sweatpants and a limp ponytail in a scrunchee. As a relationship matures, a man and woman may become overly comfortable with one another and as a result they aren't as concerned about their physical appearance at home. A great way to refresh your sex life is to dress in a way that makes you feel more desirable. This doesn't have to mean fishnet hose and four-inch heels, but a little effort can go a long way to inspire you both.

Take dinner to the next level - Even if you and your partner are sharing an extra large pepperoni pizza on a Friday evening, spice it up a bit with some candles, a table cloth and some music to set the mood. The romantic lighting and subtle music can make for an intimate dining experience. Incorporate some aphrodisiacs, like strawberries and chocolate, to the meal. Remember, finger food also gives you a great excuse to feed one another.

Take a vacation - Escape the ordinary. Sometimes work schedules and personal commitments make it difficult for a couple to get away for an evening alone. One of the first things a relationship coach will recommend is a romantic getaway. You don't have to go far. In fact, a trip down the street to a local Marriott will do just fine to help you relax, let go and get lost in the moment. Find a quiet hotel suite, grab a bottle of champagne and enjoy the sense of freedom knowing that the only thing you're waking up for the next day is breakfast in bed.

If you think hormone imbalance may be affecting your libido, visit your BodyLogicMD affiliated physician, or find a bioidentical hormone doctor in your area.