Struggling with Low Libido? 4 Minimally Invasive Procedures That Can Help

Sex is an important part of a happy, healthy life. If you struggle with low libido, though, getting motivated enough for a sexual encounter may not seem worth the effort.

At Viva Health, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Aleksander J. Bodnar and his team understand how difficult it can be to struggle with low libido. They offer minimally invasive procedures that can help their patients overcome difficulties when there’s a biological cause.

Causes of low libido

A major cause of low libido in women and men is changing hormone levels as you age.

For women, perimenopause, the period leading up to the end of fertility, sees a sharp drop in estrogen levels. That can cause uncomfortable symptoms, including vaginal atrophy (thinning of the vaginal walls), vaginal dryness, painful sex, laxity of the vaginal tissues, and low libido. 

Even when you do feel up to sex, it may be painful or uncomfortable, putting a damper on your mood.

Together, these symptoms are called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and affect about 70% of all women.

For men, andropause begins around age 30, but the decline in testosterone production (low T) is a more gradual process than in women, dropping only about 1% per year. That’s sufficiently low that only about 10%-25% of men have symptoms of low T. 

Low T symptoms can include reduced libido, decreased spontaneous erections or erectile dysfunction, breast discomfort or swelling, low bone density, and hot flashes or sweats.

Medical conditions can contribute to a low sex drive in both genders, including cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and neurological diseases. So can some medications and things like tobacco and alcohol.

It’s important to get the underlying causes treated to improve your sexual function.

4 minimally invasive procedures to help low libido

At Viva Health, we offer four minimally invasive procedures to help you overcome low libido.

1. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)

Bioidentical hormones are manufactured from plant estrogens. They’re chemically identical to those produced in your body, and they interact normally with your hormone receptors, diminishing uncomfortable symptoms of GSM and andropause. 

Because the hormones stimulate tissues, women experience tightening of the vaginal tissues, increased lubrication, and decreased pain during intercourse, and men can achieve firmer and more spontaneous erections. Both men and women see a healthy increase in libido, as well.

BHRT can be administered in numerous forms, including oral pills, implanted pellets, patches, injections, and topical creams and gels. The topical forms, though, only improve lubrication and laxity, as they’re not systemic applications.

2. Votiva®

Votiva by InMode is the only radiofrequency (RF) device that treats internal and external vaginal issues, including atrophy and laxity. The Votiva platform contains FormaV® (internal) and FractoraV® (external) technologies; we can use one mode or both, depending on your needs.

Within the vaginal cavity, FormaV delivers RF energy to the tissues, triggering a healing response that leads to increased vascularization and lubrication and renewed production of collagen and elastin (essential structural proteins).

This treatment essentially reverses the effects of decreased estrogen. Sex becomes more pleasurable, and libido increases.

FractoraV improves the appearance of vaginal tissue.

3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

PRP is a newer treatment for vaginal atrophy and scrotal aging. Dr. Bodnar uses a conventional blood draw to obtain a sample of your blood. He then spins it in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, which contain healing and growth factors. 

Finally, he injects the platelet-plasma solution into the vaginal or scrotal tissue to boost collagen production and reverse the effects of lower hormone levels. With improvement in tissue tone, libido increases.

4. Acoustic wave therapy

Acoustic wave therapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy, uses high-frequency sound waves to treat chronic inflammation that causes penile tissue to become lax and unable to achieve or maintain an erection. 

The procedure stimulates metabolism and enhances blood flow, which improves circulation, tissue strength, and stimulation. Libido increases as a result.

Struggling with low libido? Viva Health can help. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bodnar, call us at either location, in Linden or Clifton, New Jersey, or book online today.