I can’t tell you how many women come to me with stories of being discounted by their OB-GYNs or primary care practitioners. Many women’s primary providers (OB-GYNs and family medicine) are failing women suffering through menopause - telling them “This is normal and it will pass” or offering them inadequate treatments like antidepressants. And so many women feel like they are losing control over their bodies and wellbeing.

If you have struggled to find the help you need to address menopausal symptoms, you are not alone. Despite the discomfort women experience during menopause, and treatment options that can improve one’s quality of life and perhaps prevent several chronic diseases, very few women are successfully treated. Today, American women can spend a third or more of their lives struggling with menopausal symptoms and related conditions, many without a clear understanding of what to expect, how to respond, and what treatment is possible.

According to an article in AARP, nearly 6,000 women reach menopause every day in America. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) reports that approximately 75 percent of women experience some kind of menopausal distress. And sadly, for close to 20 percent of these women, night sweats and hot flashes are severe enough to interfere with nearly every significant aspect of their lives: work, relationships and sleep.

Even though I’ve been studying and practicing Regenerative Medicine for over a decade, I am continually amazed at the human body. One of the most miraculous aspects I’ve come to appreciate is our regenerative capacities. In particular - the power of Plasma-Rich Platelets (PRP). Why, you ask? Because harnessing and applying PRP has allowed me to help heal countless patients - helping with all manner of ailments.

You might have heard the term “vaginal rejuvenation” and wondered, what in the world does that mean? Does my vagina really need to be, look or feel younger or more lively? What’s important to point out is that vaginal rejuvenation is about far more than aesthetics. This treatment is really about enhancing function and feeling. My patients turn to me for vaginal rejuvenation because they are having some level of dysfunction that is compromising their quality of life or relationships and they’re looking for a solution.

As we have explained in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series on Women’s Sexual Health - experiencing problems with sexual response, desire, orgasm or pain is a common, and complex, issue. So many women suffer from unsatisfactory - and challenging or painful - sex lives. The causes can be hormonal, psychological or related to medications or other comorbidities. So how should women approach treatment? Thankfully, there are many options.

As discussed in our previous post, so many women have some form of sexual dysfunction. It has even been reported that the majority of women - up to nearly 87% according to one scientific literature review - suffer from sexual challenges, whether it’s a declining interest in sex or an increased difficulty reaching orgasm.   So what’s to be done? One component of women’s sexual dysfunction that is garnering increased focus is testosterone.

Talking about sex isn’t always easy. It’s private, and intimate and - when we experience problems - can be embarrassing for some. And challenges can be especially prevalent after menopause.