How to turn ‘not tonight’ into every night 

(and 6 foods to get you in the mood)

Lost your mojo? One of the more common symptoms I see from clients in perimenopause is low libido. Here are some of my top tips to boost your sex drive and feel great in bed again. 

It’s something I see a lot in clinic. For women, having sex is often far more complicated than just feeling “in the mood”. When we’re spinning so many plates (from children, work, partners and social life, not to mention caring for elderly parents and demanding PTAs), sex is often last on the ‘to-do’ list. 

Throw into the mix low self-esteem, lack of body confidence, stress, relationship problems and hormonal issues, it’s no wonder that 57% of women say they prefer Facebook to sex.

Certain medication including anti-depressants, blood pressure drugs and even the Pill can also add to low libido. But after years of working with people who want to enjoy sex again, I can reveal the majority of low sex drive is due to misfiring hormones. The good news is resolving hormonal imbalances can help you get your mojo back!

Here’s how it works: when your hormones are out of whack, your libido takes a nose-dive. But when your menstrual cycle is working properly, the clinical changes in oestrogen levels mean you’ll have a few days a month when you feel naturally sexy (nature’s way of helping you get pregnant). So you’ll probably feel in the mood about 14 days before your period. 

For women going through the transition to menopause (the five or so years run-up known as perimenopause), when oestrogen levels dip, your sex drive does, too. It doesn’t help that intercourse at this time can often feel uncomfortable – a massive passion killer.

Low libido can also be down to thyroid disease. If you have (or think you have) an underactive thyroid, this will all sound familiar. Synthetic thyroid hormone medication can resolve this, although it doesn’t work for everyone.

You can also try eating these six sexual energy-boosting foods to turn that ‘not tonight’ into every night…

BROCCOLI – eating this vitamin C-rich vegetable has been shown to boost circulation and sex drive.

WATERMELON – this contains lycopene, citrulline and beta-carotene, which relax blood vessels and creates a natural Viagra effect.

AVOCADOES – packed with nutritious goodies, including desire-boosting potassium and folic acid, which helps with stamina. They also contain vitamin B6, which research shows can decrease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (such as fatigue, bloating and irritability). This might make it easier for you to feel “in the mood”. 

EGGS – one of nature’s superfoods, bursting with B vitamins, including B6 that helps balance hormones and beat stress – which means you will be more in the mood.

STEAK – women who have a high sex drive often have higher levels of the ‘male’ hormone testosterone. So, fill up on steak – it’s rich in zinc, known to boost libido by blocking an enzyme that converts testosterone to the ‘female’ hormone oestrogen.

MACA - a libido-boosting herb from Peru that is proven to boost sex drive as well as fertility thanks to its high iodine and zinc levels. Research into maca has also found it can relieve symptoms associated with the perimenopause, including lack of vaginal lubrication and hot flushes. You can eat maca as a supplement in tablet form or in a powder, which you can add to cereal, soup, yoghurt or - my favourite - a smoothie. 

Don’t just put up with a lack of libido – it’s a vital sign that things are not quite as they should be with your hormones. If you’re feeling that perimenopause is taking its toll, or you have other hormone issues, why not get in touch?