Almost 40 million in the U.S. take an antidepressant. The most common are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, which boost your serotonin levels.
SSRIs kill your sex drive — with low libido and the inability to reach orgasm among the most common side effects.1,2
You see, your body’s biochemical pathway for sexual desire involves more than just serotonin. There are other important chemical messengers at work, like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that’s linked to the intense passion and arousal of romantic love, while norepinephrine is associated with the heightened attention and motivation of desire.
But here’s the thing… serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine all work together and in opposition to regulate wide ranges of emotional responses.
So, when you take serotonin-boosting SSRIs, you’re blunting your sexual desire by reducing the ability of dopamine and norepinephrine to become activated.
When well-meaning doctors misdiagnose lack of sexual desire as a mental health problem, they’re actually making your bedroom problems worse.
And now new research shows that sexual intimacy isn’t just good for you… it actually makes you healthier and younger.
Sex Can Even Help You Live Longer
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have discovered scientific proof that intimacy in the bedroom is directly linked to the length of your telomeres.
You may recall your telomeres are the little protective caps at the ends of your chromosomes. They’re your biological clock. The shorter your telomeres, the more vulnerable your body is to “old age” and all of the diseases that come with it. But the longer your telomeres, the younger your cells act and the healthier you are.
The UCSF scientists studied 129 women in relationships and found that those who were sexually intimate with their partner at least once a week had “significantly” longer telomeres than those who had less sex.3
And it didn’t matter whether the relationship was a happy one or not. Sex on a regular basis keeps you feeling younger and healthier… and your telomeres long.
But there’s a problem — and I see it all the time at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine…
If you’re unhappy in the bedroom, you’re less likely to fulfill the once-a-week minimum that’s necessary to slow the aging process.
And sadly, low libido is one of the most common problems I see every week in my clinic. Nationwide, around 43% of women complain about low sexual desire4 — and after menopause, it jumps to a staggering 70%.5
I find that testosterone treatments can be an almost taboo therapy for women. They relate it to masculinity. But in lower doses, testosterone actually stimulates femininity.
I’ve seen extraordinary… changes in women in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. Their eyes become bright and full of life… they walk with confidence and purpose… and they tell me they’re having the best sex of their lives.
But testosterone doesn’t just improve pleasure in the bedroom. It also turns up your energy levels. And it puts your body into fat-burning mode.
Studies prove that testosterone also strengthens bones and prevents bone loss,6 protects against breast cancer,7 and lowers your risk of heart disease.8
In other words, testosterone helps battle the aging process by reviving your sex drive and lengthening your telomeres — but it also gives you stronger bones, a healthy heart, and a youthful figure.
Rekindle Your Passion With A Natural Libido Cure
Boosting your testosterone levels isn’t difficult or risky. And the results can be dramatic.
- The first thing to do is have your blood level checked. A woman’s testosterone ranges from about 25 to 85.
- Then talk to your doctor about getting a low dose of bioidentical testosterone. It’s just like the natural hormone your body makes. It comes in several forms such as creams, injectables, pills, and patches.
- Don’t let your doctor talk you into a synthetic testosterone. Your liver can’t process it very well — and it’s been linked to liver failure, cancer, blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes. Bioidentical testosterone doesn’t carry those risks.
- Once you begin taking bioidenticals, you should get your hormones checked regularly. I recommend every three months. You may have to adjust your dosage a few times — but the results will be worth it.
If you’d like to know more about bioidentical testosterone therapy at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, please contact my staff on 561-784-7852.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. Harvard Health Publishing. “When an SSRI medication impacts your sex life: Coping with this common side effect from antidepressants.” May, 2017.
2. Rosen RC, et al. “Effects of SSRIs on sexual function: A critical review.” J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1999; 19(1):67-85.
3. Cabeza de Baca T, et al. “Sexual intimacy in couples is associated with longer telomere length.” Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017;81:46–51
4. Laumann EO, et al. “Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors.” JAMA. 1999;281(6):537-544.
5. Ambler DR, et al. “Sexual function in elderly women: A review of current literature.” Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2012;5(1):16–27.
6. Michael H, et al. “Estrogen and testosterone use different cellular pathways to inhibit osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption.” J Bone Miner Res. 2005;20(12):2224-2232.
7. Dimitrakakis C, et al. “Testosterone in limiting estrogenic stimulation of the breast.” Menopause. 2003;10(4):292-298
8. Golden SH, et al. “Endogenous postmenopausal hormones and carotid atherosclerosis: A case control study of atherosclerosis risk in communities cohort.” Am J Epidemiol. 2002;155(5):437-445