Health COMMENT

THE idea that you’d tell your GP about your sex life or loss of libido might seem odd. But it is worth mentioning, as it can be a sign – and sometimes the only one – of an underlying condition that we can treat, such as a thyroid condition, depression and the menopause. Even relatively low-grade mental health problems such as stress can lower sex drive.

Q If you’ve gone off sex, well, isn’t that just a fact of life? A It is a relatively expected part of long-term relationships, although sometimes, when I hear women talk about losing interest in their husband, I wonder if it’s more a self-fulfilling prophecy. I do have patients in their 60s and beyond who have active sex lives.

If a mainly platonic relationship is something partners are happy with, then that’s fine too. But if it is a problem that is affecting your quality of life, then it’s worth doing something about. GPs can refer NHS patients to psychotherapists who specialise in sex, and also relationship counsellors.

Q What about medication to enhance libido? A For men, where the problem is likely to be mechanical, we have effective drugs, for instance Viagra. For women, it’s a bit more subtle, and there is currently no medication licensed in the UK for NHS treatment of low sexual desire. If there is an underlying condition, we might prescribe drugs to treat those.

Q If I’m menopausal, can I stop using contraception? A We recommend women continue to use contraception until a year after the menopause. Although it’s rare, we do see unwanted pregnancies every year in peri-menopausal women as they can continue to ovulate.

It is also well documented that there has been a rise in sexually transmitted infections in the 50-plus age group, who make up the newly divorced demographic.

The physical changes that occur in women after the menopause actually make them more susceptible to picking up such an infection.