Which Sexual Wellness Treatment is Right For Me?

Sexual wellness is an important part of overall health and quality of life — so important, the World Health Organization (WHO) says, that sexual health is a “fundamental” element of wellness for individuals and couples across the globe. The problem: Many women struggle with sexual wellness concerns, especially during perimenopause and menopause or following childbirth. 

Changes in hormones, blood flow, lubrication, and pelvic floor strength can affect your comfort, arousal, and satisfaction, often in ways that feel frustrating and insurmountable. The good news: E. Jacob Simhaee, MD, FACOG, offers multiple options for sexual health issues, helping women improve comfort and libido while restoring underlying wellness. Here’s how to tell which treatment is right for you.

Restoring hormonal balance

Declining levels of estrogen are a common cause of many sexual health issues — particularly painful intercourse, vaginal irritation, and low libido. Mostly, this decline happens during menopause and perimenopause, the months and years leading up to menopause, but other issues can result in low estrogen levels, too.

Estrogen isn’t only involved in vaginal health and sexual wellness — declining levels can interfere with sleep, resulting in persistent fatigue that also leads to less interest in sexual activity. Hot flashes, night sweats, and irritability can be associated with low estrogen, too.

For all these symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help. HRT uses synthetic hormones designed to be chemically identical to the hormones your body produces. Regular check-ins and blood tests ensure your treatment plan stays on target with your changing needs and symptoms.

Improving vaginal tone (and bladder control, too)

In addition to a decline in hormones, many women find that as they age, they lose vaginal tone and elasticity, too, making sex more uncomfortable and less pleasurable (for you and, sometimes, your partner, too). 

At the same time, changes in your pelvic floor muscles increase the likelihood you’ll develop some level of bladder leakage (urinary incontinence). Physical stress associated with sexual activity can trigger leakage, leading to embarrassment and a general unwillingness to have sex in the future. The good news: Dr. Simhaee offers several nonsurgical treatments that can help.

VTone® is a state-of-the-art system that uses gentle electrical muscle stimulation to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles from within. By improving muscle tone, VTone enhances vaginal elasticity and tightness, reduces urinary leakage, and supports long-term sexual function, as well.

FemiLift®, Votiva®, and Morpheus8V® all use focused energy to enhance vaginal tissue health, stimulating collagen production and improving natural lubrication. Performed in our office, these therapies help restore tone, elasticity, and blood flow while addressing concerns such as dryness, irritation, laxity, and mild incontinence.

Enhancing sensitivity and response

Maybe tone and comfort aren’t your primary concerns, but you find it harder to achieve arousal or orgasm — or both. Dr. Simhaee has solutions to those concerns as well. 

The O-Shot® is an injection that uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood to stimulate tissue regeneration and enhance sensitivity in areas involved in sexual response. Because PRP helps restore healthy tissue, the O-Shot may also help with mild urinary incontinence, and it can be used in combination with other therapies for enhanced results.

Shock wave therapy uses acoustic energy to improve circulation and cellular activity in the clitoral region. Many women notice improvements in sensitivity, arousal, and overall sexual satisfaction without downtime or discomfort.

The right approach for you

When it comes to sexual health and wellness, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Finding the therapy that works best for you begins with a consultation and open communication to discuss your symptoms, concerns, and goals. 

To learn how we can help maintain optimal sexual wellness at every age and stage of life, request an appointment with Dr. Simhaee and his team at their Manhasset and Forest Hills, New York, practices today.