For many women, midlife brings a wave of transformation. It’s a season marked by shifting hormones, changing bodies, evolving relationships, and often, a reawakening of priorities. But one topic that often goes unspoken—yet deeply felt—is sexual health.
If you’re a woman navigating perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause and feeling a disconnect in your desire, intimacy, or sexual vitality, know this: you are not alone, and you are not broken. Functional medicine offers a powerful, whole-body approach to reclaiming your sexual well-being—rooted in understanding, not shame.
While men’s sexual health is openly discussed and addressed (often with a prescription), women are often told that declining libido, discomfort during intimacy, or feeling “shut down” is just part of getting older. This narrative is outdated—and untrue.
Sexual health is not a luxury. It’s a core part of your physical, emotional, and relational health. And when things feel off, it’s not just “in your head.” Your body is trying to tell you something.
Functional medicine looks beyond symptoms to uncover the root causes of imbalance. It sees your body as an interconnected system—where hormones, gut health, stress, lifestyle, and emotional well-being all play a role in how you feel.
Rather than masking symptoms, functional medicine works to restore balance and support the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive. And when it comes to sexual health, this approach is a game-changer.
Here’s what we often find at the core of low libido, painful intercourse, or loss of intimacy in midlife and beyond:
As estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin to decline, so can desire, lubrication, and sensitivity. These hormones don’t just impact your reproductive system—they affect your mood, energy, confidence, and overall vitality.
Functional medicine providers often test for:
Addressing these imbalances with bioidentical hormones, targeted supplements, or lifestyle changes can dramatically improve sexual function and overall well-being.
Chronic stress is a major libido killer. When you’re in fight-or-flight mode, your body prioritizes survival—not reproduction or pleasure.
High cortisol over time can suppress sex hormone production, drain your energy, disrupt sleep, and numb emotional connection. Functional medicine helps identify and address sources of chronic stress while teaching tools to shift into a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state—where intimacy and pleasure live.
Your gut isn’t just about digestion—it’s central to hormone metabolism, immune function, and mood regulation. When your microbiome is off or your gut lining is inflamed, it can impact hormone detoxification and nutrient absorption.
Key nutrients for sexual health include:
A gut-healing protocol combined with nutrient repletion can have a powerful ripple effect on sexual function.
Many women carry unprocessed emotional wounds—sexual trauma, body image issues, or relationship disappointments—that create subconscious barriers to intimacy. These experiences can cause the body to shut down physically and emotionally as a form of protection.
Functional medicine recognizes that true healing requires emotional safety. Techniques like somatic therapy, EMDR, breathwork, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and nervous system retraining (like DNRS or Gupta) can help release trauma stored in the body and reconnect women to pleasure.
As estrogen declines, the vaginal lining becomes thinner, drier, and more sensitive—leading to discomfort or pain with intercourse. This isn’t just inconvenient; it can lead to a full avoidance of intimacy and increased anxiety around connection.
Functional solutions may include:
Votiva is a non-invasive, in-office treatment that uses gentle radiofrequency energy to rejuvenate vaginal tissue. It promotes collagen production, improves elasticity, increases blood flow, and enhances nerve sensitivity. Votiva effectively treats a wide variety of women’s health concerns.
The Votiva treatment employs specialized handpieces to target specific areas. Gently applying heat to the vaginal walls promotes tissue remodeling and tightening, while also focusing on resurfacing the skin and stimulating deeper tissue regeneration. These combined approaches result in improved vaginal tone, increased natural lubrication, and enhanced sexual satisfaction. Additionally, Votiva can aid in reducing stress urinary incontinence by strengthening pelvic floor muscles and improving bladder control.
Women report improvements in:
Unlike hormone therapies, Votiva is safe for women who can’t use estrogen or prefer non-hormonal options.
Patients typically undergo a series of 2 to 3 sessions, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, with each session lasting approximately 30 to 60 minutes. The procedure is generally well-tolerated, with most individuals experiencing only a warm sensation during treatment. Post-treatment, there is minimal to no downtime, allowing patients to resume daily activities promptly. However, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse and avoid hot tubs or pools for a few days following the procedure to ensure optimal healing.
Votiva is suitable for women experiencing changes due to aging, menopause, or childbirth, and those seeking to enhance their intimate wellness without undergoing surgery. By addressing both functional and aesthetic concerns, Votiva offers a comprehensive solution for improving feminine health and quality of life.
Desire is not just a hormone—it’s a reflection of how safe, nourished, and connected you feel in your body. It’s about pleasure, presence, and reclaiming your right to feel good.
Here are some functional medicine-aligned steps to begin your journey:
Test your hormones, nutrient levels, inflammation markers, and gut health. Insight is empowering.
Use breathwork, mindfulness, nature walks, and movement to calm your stress response and return to your body.
Eat whole, anti-inflammatory foods. Avoid sugar and ultra-processed foods. Support your gut and eat enough healthy fats to fuel hormone production.
Rediscover what feels good without pressure. Sensuality is a muscle that can be rebuilt.
Work with providers who see the whole you—mind, body, and spirit. At Enhanced Welllness Living we offer functional medicine care as a compassionate, customized path forward.
Sexual health is deeply personal, but you don’t have to navigate it in silence or shame. Whether you’re feeling disconnected from your body, struggling with pain or low desire, or simply want to feel more alive again—your story matters.
There is support. There is science. And most importantly, there is hope.
Midlife isn’t an ending—it’s a powerful new beginning. With the right tools, mindset, and care, you can reclaim your sensuality, reignite your confidence, and reconnect with the vibrant, radiant woman you’ve always been.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, Votiva may be right for you:
Women of all ages can benefit from Votiva, whether they want to restore function, rebuild confidence, or enhance pleasure.
If you’re curious about how our clinic, Enhanced Wellness Living, in Ridgeland, MS can support your sexual health journey, keep reading and reach out to us! We offer in-depth lab testing, individualized care plans, sexual health treatments for men and women, and compassionate coaching to guide you every step of the way.
Fill out our Women’s Health Intake form to see if sexual health treatments at Enhanced Wellness Living are a right fit for you. Let’s talk about your goals and explore what’s possible with Functional Medicine!
You deserve to feel good—in your body, your relationships, and your life to Live Life Well!
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