"Low Libido In Menopause Linked To Trouble Sleeping"
This could well be explained by the .. coincidental .. finding .. of
increased red blood cells("secondary of course"] .. polycythemia /
erythrocytosis found in those with sleep apnea.
Low libido .. and erythrocytosis / increased red blood cells .. are
found .. together.
Sleep apnea .. and erythrocytosis / increased red blood cells .. are
found .. together.
Both libido and apnea .. NOW .. it seems are linked to .. ? ..
erythrocytosis .. increased red blood cell production .. as a
result .. OF .. ? .. increased iron stores / age related iron
accumulation as a .. possibility.
One would have to see if there is a link between increased iron and
inability to sleep .. properly.
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Low Libido In Menopause Linked To Trouble Sleeping
Main Category: Women's Health / OBGYN News
Article Date: 10 Jun 2007 - 11:00 PDT
Women whose sexual desire diminishes during menopause are more likely
to report disturbed sleep, depression symptoms, and night sweats,
according to Group Health research in the June American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology.
To the best of the research team's knowledge, this marks the first
time that sleep disturbance has been independently associated with
diminished sexual desire during or after menopause.
The paper is based on data from Group Health's Herbal Alternatives for
Treatment of Menopause Symptoms (HALT) study. Other results from this
study, showing that the herbal supplement black cohosh did not relieve
menopausal hot flashes or night sweats (hot flashes during sleep),
were reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2006.
All 341 of the women were chosen to be in the study because they were
age 45 to 55 and had hot flashes, night sweats, or both. Of them, 64
percent reported diminished sexual desire, 43 percent slept poorly,
and 18 percent had major depression.
"It seems reasonable that night sweats can disturb sleep," said Susan
D. Reed, MD, MPH, the paper's lead author. Dr. Reed is an associate
professor of obstetrics and gynecology and epidemiology at the
University of Washington and an affiliate investigator at Group Health
Center for Health Studies. "And poor sleep can reduce energy for
everything, including sex."
However, Dr. Reed cautioned against inferring cause and effect between
depression and low libido. "They are each so complex that the
interactions can be difficult to tease apart."
Dr. Reed noted a well-established "catch 22": Like depression itself,
treating depression with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI), the most common type of antidepressant medication, can
interfere with interest in sex. Likewise, she added, although systemic
hormone therapy with estrogen can reduce vaginal dryness, it can also
lower women's natural testosterone, which affects some women's
libido.
"Before starting any drug treatment for changes that happen in
menopause, women need to weigh their individual risks and benefits
with their doctors," said Dr. Reed. She advocates beginning with self-
care to lessen depression and sleep problems (see below). Previous
studies have established that, for women, the most important factor
for maintaining sexual desire is the quality of their intimate
relationships. "Diminished desire can be a red flag that the
relationship needs some work," she said. "Middle age is a great time
for couples to check in with each other and work toward improving
communication and nurturing their partnership."
With age, sexual desire may be diminished for both women and men, said
Dr. Reed, whose clinical practice is at the Women's Clinic at
Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. But gender differences may
complicate matters. "For women, greater intimacy tends to open the
door to more sexual desire," she said. "That's not always true for
men."
"Our work reinforces the difficult time some women have during the
menopause transition, and the importance of other symptoms happening
at the same time," said Katherine M. Newton, PhD, associate director
of Group Health Center for Health Studies and principal investigator
of the HALT study. "We are planning future studies to explore further
the associations between depression, night sweats, sleep, and libido,
including genetic determinants."
###
The National Institute on Aging and the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine funded the study. The other
authors are Andrea LaCroix, PhD, Louis Grothaus, MS, and Kelly
Ehrlich, MS, of Group Health Center for Health Studies.
About Group Health Center for Health Studies
Founded in 1947, Group Health is a Seattle-based, consumer-governed,
nonprofit health care system that coordinates care and coverage. Group
Health Center for Health Studies conducts research related to
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major health problems. It is
funded primarily through government and private research grants.
Self-care tips for menopause
Changes that happen with menopause can disturb women's sense of well-
being. But experts recommend a variety of steps that women can take on
their own to feel better through the transition. Jane Ann Dimer, MD, a
44-year-old Group Health Women's Health Service line chief, provided
these self-care suggestions for the following menopause-linked
symptoms:
Depression:
* Support ongoing regular physical exercise - whatever works for you
(be it yoga or karate) - to promote fitness, balance, social
networking, and an energetic approach to life.
* Eat small, balanced meals, including snacks, at regular intervals.
Avoid getting too hungry or overeating, because a full stomach can
make you feel glum.
* Try new activities.
* Spend some time every day outside in the daylight.
Low libido:
* Address the changes that menopause and age - including changes in
male sexual response - can bring to relationships.
* Be aware that both women and men may need more time for arousal.
* Try learning to massage each other.
* Talk to your doctor about solutions for vaginal dryness, e.g.,
lubricants and topical estrogen.
Vaginal dryness:
* Talk to your doctor about applying small amounts of vaginal
estrogen, e.g., through an estradiol vaginal ring (which is discrete
and not messy and can have the secondary effect of raising interest in
sex through novelty).
* Avoid unhealthy practices, e.g., douching and over-the-counter
vaginal creams.
Night sweats:
* Sleep in a cool room. Near your bed, place ice water and a fan - or
a spray bottle with plain or scented water.
* Avoid possible triggers such as very hot liquids and alcohol.
Disturbed sleep:
* Try taking a warm shower just before going to bed: The effect of
cooling off may help you drift to sleep.
* Try wearing a sleep mask.
* Especially if you snore, are overweight, or have lung problems, talk
to your doctor about the possibility that you might have undiagnosed
sleep apnea.
* Some sleep disturbance results from tooth grinding. So ask your
dentist whether you grind your teeth; if so, wearing a night guard
might decrease your tooth grinding and help you sleep more soundly.
Contact: Joan DeClaire
Group Health Cooperative Center for Health Studies
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