Recognition of the problem is a good place to begin. Try not to have hurt feelings over this problem. It's a common couple occurrence. And, it’s not just men who suffer insipid sex. Women actually report boredom in the bedroom more often than men, according to research. Time to really man up guys!

There's something new on the menu for you. Set aside more time than you think you’ll need to satiate your sexual desires. Go in hungry, literally hungry. Be open. Be vulnerable. Own it. . Check your problems at the door. Keep the end game in mind. It’ll be fantastic, you’ll feel fulfilled and fabulous--if you follow my lead!

Chances are you have not satiated your sexual palate lately. Make a commitment together that the two of you will add flavour to your sexual repertoire. To do so, look no further than your own refrigerator--time to bring in the aphrodisiacs! Pour yourself a stiff drink. Then get out the whipping cream, chocolate sauce, honey, maple syrup and more. The ultimate in oral sex.

Now you’re getting it. Maybe it’s time to rekindle the flame somewhere other than your bedroom. Make love in the lav. Dim the lights, add candles. Think shower head. Excellent for experiencing sexual pleasure. Besides, it’ll make things hot and steamy. Place some thick luscious towels on the base of the tub and hop in. Run warm water, bask in your oasis.

Set up a smorgasbord of your favourite sensual flavours soon to be turned into sexual sensation delicacies. The softness of the whipping cream, the silkiness of chocolate, the sweetness of honey making a mess of maple syrup! Invite your lover to pick their favourite flavour gently applying, rubbing, massaging onto their erogenous zones. Touch, lick, taste. Oral love play.

Head for the shower, it’ll add some splash! With a little creativity, imagination, time and a towel, you’ll soon be asking, “what’s on the menu tonight, honey?”

Married men may experience frustration at repeated rejection because they initiate sex more often than women do but women may be even more devastated at male rejection believing there is something unattractive or undesirable about them to their partner. Men just think women hate sex. But that's another blog post.

Once couples marry, it seems that sex priorities change dramatically. Couples settle in like they would an old comfy couch. Appearances of a perfect union to the neighbours, friends and/or relatives may be more important than a bond in the bedroom.

With kids comes fatigue, smaller space, stress or a move to the suburbs and the need for a new vehicle. You will never have sex in a minivan so don't even think about it. Time, desire, finances, conflict resolution strategies, in-laws and jobs replace the passion of yesteryear (as long as you didn't marry your best friend or answer the call of your ticking biological clock which means sex was doomed from the start).

So if your wife seemingly hates sex unless she wants something (shoes, a new car or a baby) or if your husband is covertly arranging threesomes with women he's never met (a sure sign of the sexually deprived husband), or if your husband prefers sleep to seduction, your wife is too tired for sex but not shopping, you may be a victim of married sex. And here are the signals:

1. If you do this……I will have sex with you sex….This is sex that is typically associated with an unfinished home project, a hedge trim, the promise of a household chore or simply putting down the toilet seat. (women's standards are pretty low)
2. Shower Sex: The water is hot and the sex isn't. It's awkward, done only to save time.
3. Hurry up sex: The kids are awake, home, listening, going to walk in etc sex. Inevitably she hears someone at the door whether they are there or not. She will check and ruin the moment.
4. Did you did you did you.....? sex. This is transformational sex which goes from in the early days of dating, was that good for you baby? To did you, did you, did you......finish? What's wrong with you? We've been at this for a minute and a half. The hard truth is a soft reality.
5. Morning sex: I am in mourning over the loss of my sex life.
6. Sex anytime anywhere sex: You: Honey, I'm breastfeeding, have a fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, a runny nose and am bleeding from every orifice. Him: Can we have sex?
7. Tech Sex: No this isn't about vibrators, but about watching tv or checking your iPhone during sex.
8. I want another baby sex. Yes! Yes! Yes! The sex life is reignited. Because most men’s brains are below the belt they are more than happy to oblige because pregnancy is the last thing they think will result from unprotected sex when a woman is ovulating. Our brains are hard-wired for instant gratification. So is his.
9. Why can’t we just cuddle sex? This needs no further description.
10. I wanted to but you were sleeping sex: You didn’t come upstairs fast enough and I fell asleep. Or I just had so much to do downstairs and by the time I came up (the next day), you were asleep.
11. Lights out sex- especially after children, with weight gain, peri-menopause, menopause
12. I just bought 6 pairs of Jimmy Choos sex. Cowboy, take me away!

Both men and women in same sex marriages or heterosexual unions who are deprived of sex from their spouse, experience sadness, loneliness and are at increased risk of hypertension and early death.

The signals above are foreplay to a marital fiasco. Sex in marriage does ebb and flow because marriage is under the constant influence of sex, money and in-laws. Technology too may extinguish the spark. Blue light emission interrupts your sleep and you are more likely to fight the next day. Libido plummets due to resultant tech fatigue. This may be an addiction and every bit as lethal as an addiction to alcohol, drugs, porn, sex, food or shopping.

Communication is key. Keep having the talk. The. Sex. Talk. And it's actually women who report more boredom in the bedroom. Talking about sex is arousing. Why do you think sexting is so popular? Keep in mind, a lack of sex in a marriage is the number one reason for divorce.

So if you're having more quickies than coital extravaganzas, more rejection than reconnection, she prefers long johns to lingerie or if long john is rather lonely, it may be time to massage the marriage and get Back To The Bedroom. Making sex a priority in your marriage is good for intimacy, health and your relationship. Yes, take a page out of Nike's book and "Just Do it!" But just do it well.

Maureen McGrath is a sexpert, women's health expert and hosts the CKNW Sunday Night Sex Show . Maureen's TEDx Talk on No Sex Marriage: Masturbation, Loneliness, Cheating and Shame has had close to 6 million views in one year. Sexless marriage is a thing. Maureen is the creator of the blog 50ShadesofPink.ca and has a clinical practice in North Vancouver, British Columbia where she helps many couples in sexless marriages. Maureen is also available for SKYPE consults. Contact her at her website: Back To The Bedroom For more information about Mona Lisa Touch a new novel hormone-free therapy for vaginal dryness, painful sex, low sexual desire and urinary incontinence visit Mona Lisa Touch.

Are you headed to a Sexless Marriage? Take the Quiz Sexless Marriage Quiz

Most women know the familiar symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats, yet vaginal dryness, one of the most common problems for women at this time of life, often comes as a surprise.  When women ask each other how they are, rarely might she reply: "Well my vagina is dry, how are you?" It can be embarrassing even for a couple to discuss. Yes, vaginal dryness may lead to painful sex, itching, and odor, and may also negatively impact a woman's life. It may shut down a sex life and could even impact physical exercise and overall happiness with life.  The impact that women tell me can be astounding.

Women who experience vaginal dryness may shut down their sex life, avoiding sex with their partners. The relationship can rapidly deteriorate. Men also do not want to do anything to hurt the women they love so they may equally avoid sex.  If you experience vaginal dryness, painful sex and/or low sexual desire it is vital that you seek treatment before it becomes too bad or if your intimate relationship suffers.  Sex is the tie that binds in an intimate relationship.

Vaginal dryness does not discriminate and women who are not sexually active may also experience this. It may make physical activities harder as the dryness, burning, and itching can be most uncomfortable.

"Because women live long after menopause, it is vital to educate women about vaginal and sexual health so that they can get the help need to live a better quality of life and/or continue to have a healthy intimate relationship."

Vaginal dryness is a medical condition that is easily treated today with hormone-free personal moisturizers that can be purchased without a prescription, such as RepaGyn, which is an ovule that contains ingredients similar to facial moisturizers like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E.

It is just as important to moisturize your vagina as it is your face.

Personal moisturizers must be used routinely and for the rest of a woman's life or the vaginal dryness will rebound.  Women live long after menopause and it is vital that the quality of life is good so that life may be enjoyed.  So pick up your hormone-free personal moisturizer RepaGyn today because you don't need a prescription. Get back to the bedroom during menopause and long after!

They used to have so much fun especially engaging in anal play and using sex toys like dildos and strap-ons. But the only thing she felt like strapping on these days was a chastity belt, she said. Sex was so painful she did everything to avoid it. It had been months since they had had sex.

According to a 2015 Globe and Mail survey of approximately 10,000 respondents, although 75.9 % of respondents reported being satisfied in their relationship, 51.2% were dissatisfied with their sex lives. There are many reasons people are unhappy in their sex lives from painful sex to body image, gender identity issues, medical conditions and more.

Many people do not know how to deal with the sexual dissatisfaction in their relationship in part because they don't know the reason that underlies the problem. In this way, Theresa was fortunate because she knew the reason for her problem was vaginal dryness a direct result of the oral contraceptive pill, which she did not wish to discontinue at this time.

When I explained to Theresa that vaginal dryness was a common side effect of the oral contraceptive pill, not to mention low sexual desire, she was relieved.  When I explained that a personal moisturizer was in order, she was happy to know something could be done about it.

I suggested she use RepaGyn an ovule that is inserted into the vagina and she seemed astounded! She said, "you want me to put the treatment into my vagina?" Yes, I responded. The vitamin E will keep your tissues healthy and the hyaluronic acid will help to repair tissues.  Still a bit stunned, she said, “my vagina doesn’t swallow.”

Trying to maintain composure as best as I could, I took a big gulp and retorted, you are correct, your vagina does not swallow,  “your vagina absorbs.”  It will absorb the RepaGyn ingredients which will help to  make your vaginal tissues healthy and moist once again.  She was able to swallow the information and after two months was right where she wanted to be....back to the bedroom with Mark.

She and her husband were hardly intimate and she felt quite badly about this. She loved her husband said they had so much in common but on the rare occasion that they did get back to the bedroom, their sex life was lacklustre to say the least. She said she did not feel anything "down there" and rarely experienced orgasm. The natural thing one would think is that fatigue was a major contributor to Tina's sorry sex life because that is indeed the number one reason for low sexual desire in women. But it was more than that.......

Tina said she never really enjoyed sex and never had that "Sex in the City" kind of sex anyway. "Who has that?" she wondered. Those who report spicy sex lives are women who are educated well in terms of sexuality, can be vulnerable with themselves or a partner, value their sex lives and most important are comfortable getting naked because body image is key.

When I inquired about the kind of sex Tina was having, she said no longer did they have penetrative sex because she has vaginal dryness. She also told me she was not comfortable having oral sex and therefore her husband never "went down" on her. She did not enjoy giving oral sex either basically because she lacked the skill. I hope they both like vanilla was all I was thinking. Regardless, it was clear that Tina was at a time in her relationship and life that she had a desire to strive for a more robust sex life and after four children was in need of a little sex education.

Tina was curious about how she could improve their sex life as she did not want to perceive herself exclusively as a mother and not a sexual woman. In terms of sex education, Tina had learned that sex was not to be enjoyed and that she should get it over with quickly. She was breaking this sexpert's heart. Before I could address Tina's inappropriate education and views on healthy sex, I had to address another health issue of hers. Tina had had four babies in six years and her body went through many hormonal changes, which would impact her vaginal health, the root cause of vaginal dryness and decreased sexual sensation.

The personal moisturizer Repagyn that I recommended for her vaginal dryness contains Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid to heal vaginal tissues and keep them youthful.  She reported that treatment with Repagyn, "woke her up down there." She said she started to feel tingling sensations in her clitoris and labia when she thought of making love to her young buck. Her vagina was almost as young again as he was!

Next up (pun intended) was dealing with her fear about sex or great sex. First I was quick to point out the advantages of oral love play. Oral sex when performed on a woman (cunnilingus) is an excellent way of helping her to get sexually aroused and may help to increase her own personal lubrication. If a woman's partner whether male or female is skilled at oral sex, it is a great way of helping her to experience an orgasm.

Oral sex performed on a man or oral stimulation of a man's penis (fellatio) is something most men find exhilarating but sadly for many it is no more than the annual birthday gift. Be sure you look your man straight in the eye when performing oral sex and fondle his testicles, I advised Tina. A little "rimming" in other words using her tongue on her husband's anal rim will add variety for her and increase sensation for him. Rubbing his penile shaft will help and being enthusiastic is critical!

Tina was more comfortable now and felt that oral sex was something she was willing to try on her husband! "Blow out the candles, lucky man, your birthday is coming early! I explained to Tina, that licking her husband's penis like you're licking an ice cream cone (in their case vanilla) is a real turn on for a guy and a nice way to begin. Regular rhythm would get her into the groove and get him worked up, sustaining the arousal.

Tina's husband had occasional erectile dysfunction (yes men in their thirties can get ED) and I explained that oral sex for men with erectile dysfunction may be helpful in that the sucking motion of a person's mouth may induce or improve an erection. Tina felt better learning how sex is related to health and that her intimate life is vital to a happy and healthy relationship. Sex in the City, here she comes! For more information about how sex is related to health, go to my website backtothebedroom.ca where you will find information on how to order my book: Sex & Health: Why One Can't Come Without The Other.

Barbara is a forty-five-year-old married mother of three school age children who came to see me at one of the London Drugs stores where I am presently holding Sexual Health Clinics for men and women.  Barbara a full-time accountant was a self described Type A who did everything for everybody. I might call her Type E; she did everything from making their lunches to beds, driving her children to sports in addition to the gardening, lawn mowing and finances.

Barbara was depleted and had a zero balance in her sexual bank account.  To add to this wonder woman whirlwind of a life was the fact that her husband had had an extramarital affair five years prior.  At that time, she thought their sex life was active enough but apparently not. Heartbroken, they did manage to sort their relationship out after a brief separation.  With little or no sexual desire, she realized the importance of sex and wanted to get back to the bedroom. She did say with the wisdom of age; she would not care if her husband had an affair now as she could use a break from his pleas. That is how low her sexual desire had gone.

Many women who are mothers and wives especially the Type A’s feel a drive to do everything because they can do it better, faster and may feel a need to be in charge. They may be doing a tremendous disservice to themselves and their family. Eventually even the highest powered “ever ready” bunny (for everything except sex) peters out. No human being can sustain this kind of service.

Children who are waited on grow up entitled, incompetent, lack self-confidence, and may never master time management skills. The husband who witnesses the whirlwind of a wife may feel lonely and frustrated. With no interest or energy in having sex, one's marriage is at risk of porn addiction, infidelity and divorce.

In peri-menopausal women (years leading up to menopause) low sexual desire may be related to sexual pain from vaginal dryness but this was not the case for Barbara. Hers was situational and she wanted to make some changes to help to increase her sexual desire balance.

I suggested the following;

• Have a family meeting to discuss sharing of workload
• Create a calendar of responsibilities for making lunches, setting the dinner table, doing dishes and other chores.
• Take time to herself to read soft porn, self-stimulate and/or use a sex toy like the magic banana, a pelvic floor exerciser and female sexual exploration device available at London Drugs.

With her new found freedom, Barbara will have time and energy to resume a sexual relationship with her husband.  She may even try initiating sex with her husband (guys do love that). Barbara will also need a kick start for her sexual desire so she may want to try Zestra, a safe, all natural plant based oil that increases sexual desire effortlessly! Barbara needs all the help she can get even if it does come in a pump and she engages her husband to apply it to her clitoris and labia (hello foreplay).

The Zestra Rush – begins for most women within 3 to 5 minutes and may last up to 45 minutes.  Zestra works by heightening a woman’s sensitivity to touch – for deep, pleasurable sensations (ooh la la) that begins with genital tingling which will rev things up for that fabulous sexual fulfillment.

Once Barbara resumes sex with her husband she will begin to feel better physically and emotionally!  The scourge of oxytocin released at orgasm, will be so pleasurable it will make her wonder why she did not take real charge of her home life long ago.  Then she can delegate what goes on back to the bedroom and really be in charge of her sex life!

If you are a man or a woman with a sexual health concern, and would like to book a free consultation at one of my upcoming London Drug’s Sexual Health Clinics in  British Columbia the week of March14, 2016 visit my website www.backtothebedroom.ca

Sam did a great introduction summarizing the study but I noticed she was careful not to say the s-e-x word (I get it, another pun).  Not everyone is comfortable with the subject of sex and people may be driving around with children in their cars.  Lucky we have been able to procreate at all here, as it turns out that British Columbians are the LEAST satisfied with their romantic and sex lives among all Canadians, and being uncomfortable with the mere mention of sex may be a contributing factor!  Sam spoke about body image as  a reason for low sexual satisfaction. She said, "we are not all that comfortable with our bodies and therefore we are not comfortable when we are naked."  Ironic in a province where running shoes trump suits.

The Global News IPSOS Poll results and other surveys

According to the Global News IPSOS Poll:

• Canadians on the East Coast have the best romantic and sex lives (71% satisfaction), followed by the middle of the country (68%);
• Alberta clocked in at 65% and trailing behind are the Ontarians (59%);
• British Columbians are dead last (someone has to come last, p-u-n).

According to a Chatelaine magazine survey of 1000 Canadian women:

• 60% remain in their romantic relationships for companionship and a mere 2% stay for the sex!

Further, according to a National Globe and Mail on-line study of 10,000 whereby 70% were male respondents:

• 75% reported they were satisfied with their relationship but more than 52% were dissatisfied with their sex lives.

The Sexual Socialization of Girls and Women

This demonstrates a rather obvious disconnect between relationships and sex.  One reason may be that women are poorly socialized about sex. Women are taught to view sex as a commodity, something to give away or withhold or to be used to advance in life.  According the UNAIDS, “sex is the currency by which girls are to pay for life’s opportunities.”  It is not acceptable for women to say they enjoy sex because it places them at risk for slut shaming by men and women.

Another very common reason for low sexual satisfaction in a relationship is desire discrepancy. Simply put, one partner wants it more than the other.  Low sexual desire in women is a common reason and may occur in men too (but less so).  Fatigue is the number one reason for low sexual desire in women; ladies, don’t take on too much that you are too tired to take on your man (or wife) at night.  If you are not having sex with your husband (or wife) someone else will!

Why is Low Sexual Desire so Common?

Lack of sex may have it's roots in the bio-psychosocial as sex begins in the brain, our largest sex organ.  If anxiety, depression or addiction takes hold, then it may impact your sex life as will many of the medications used to treat these conditions. Other concerns including erectile dysfunction, which can occur at any age, vaginal dryness or vaginal atrophy, which affects up to 70% of post-menopausal women, may decrease sexual satisfaction as well.

Of course any history of sexual abuse or assault, bladder health, chronic pain and/or mobility issues may impact sexual satisfaction as well.  Social media plays a role as well.  With the flip of a click we can seek attention from others or find someone better looking, wealthier or having a better time than who or what we have going on at home….on-line at least (remember pictures lie).

Finally, the real reason for the plight of the sexually dissatisfied British Columbians may lie in the fact that we are hugging more trees than lovers.  According to Amy Muise, a sex researcher at the University of Toronto who conducted this poll for IPSOS, claims that increased cuddling time after sex has been demonstrated to improve sexual satisfaction.

Why Aren't British Columbians Frisky?

So why are the Atlantic provinces living the friskier life? We may be more tapped out here in British Columbia given high cost of living saddling couples with excessive debt coupled with high housing costs which lead to stress and may mean less sex. The colder weather and/or higher unemployment rates may keep Atlantic Canada igniting more romantic fires and that makes them more likely to get under the covers! They may be more grateful for the small things (no pun intended) in life.  Our “Fifty Shades of Grey” weather probably does not help our sexual satisfaction because it actually lowers mood for many.

It is difficult to determine exactly why BC is less sexually satisfied but regardless of where you live in the country, the following holds true:

• Both individuals in a relationship need to make sex a priority
• Both need to be curious and open in communicating sexual and intimate needs and desires

After all, if you cannot touch yourself, who can you touch? Knowing how to please yourself and your partner is vital to sexual satisfaction. There is not a position, fantasy, or sex toy (except maybe the womanizer lol) that will create the kind of sexual satisfaction that bringing your best self to the relationship will.

So British Columbians, it is clear; take care of yourself and your partner and be your best self in a relationship by dealing with any issues so that you can get back to the bedroom henceforth!

She told me about her friend in Montreal who was very much in love with her husband of 20 years. She described her friend’s troubles as experiencing a sensation of vaginal “bristling” during intercourse. She said this was very painful for her and it had basically ended their sex life. She also told me that her friend sought help but the doctors she saw did not know what to do. I suggested that her friend email me or visit my website and/or blog to read about this very common women’s health issue.

Lara, a forty something friend told me she was taking hormones from the inside out!  Not only was she using systemic estrogen for her hot flashes, night sweats and shoulder pain, she was also using a low dose localized estrogen tablet for her vaginal atrophy.

And finally, as I was bidding my farewell, the hostess told me that she was a very sexual woman but was suddenly (pretty well overnight) finding sex to be painful which has led to low sexual desire. She described her discomfort as feeling like sandpaper.

I explained that vaginal dryness, the hallmark symptom of vaginal atrophy, happens when estrogen decreases in the vagina.  There are many treatment and management options available such as:

• Coconut oil preparations like JoyGel
• Tea tree creams like DrUAqua
• Gels like Gynatrof®,
• Personal mositurizers (ovule) with tissue healing properties like RepaGyn®
• And some women need low dose localized estrogen in the form of a tablet, ring or cream

After explaining the options, I told her that I would drop off some samples in her mailbox so that she could choose what was right for her. She was delighted and said it would be the best gift ever if she could go back to being the sexual woman she always was and get back to the bedroom once again!

Dear Maureen,

My sweet sister bought us tickets to HOT FLASH IN THE CITY for your event in West Vancouver.  I really enjoyed the evening and think you are amazing for bringing attention to these issues.  I have been suffering with hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, mood swings and no sex drive (my poor husband). I was wondering if you know of someone, hopefully a female practitioner that I could see to help me with these issues. Unfortunately, I  don't have much faith in my doctor.  I had a full hysterectomy about twelve years ago, I'm 67 and have tried creams, health store menopause remedies, and my doctor gave me a prescription for Pamprin last year. I tried it for a month and it really didn't change anything. In fact, it made me drowsy and dry all over and especially "down there." Thanks for listening.  

Sincerely,  

Dried Up and Fed Up (DRAFU)!

Dear DRAFU,

Thank you so much for your lovely note and for attending Hot Flash in the City! In general, women go through menopause during their  their 40s and 50s. Hormonal changes during this transition may produce symptoms such as hot flashes and others as you described. Generally, hot flashes and night sweats usually subside after 5-10 years (before the age of 60); however, some women have hot flashes well into their postmenopausal years.

Vaginal dryness is also common and may be a result of medications like antihistamines (an ingredient in Pamprin).  Vaginal dryness is commonly associated with low sexual desire.  I often recommend hormone free personal moisturizers to help relieve vaginal dryness.   Vaginal dryness may progress to vaginal atrophy, a chronic condition that DOES NOT get better with time unlike other menopausal symptoms. Vaginal Atrophy requires treatment with low dose localized estrogen therapy. This is so important especially in women over the age of  65 because of the increased risk of urinary tract infections which may lead to sepsis (an overwhelming multi-system infection) and/or hospitalization.  Treating vaginal dryness or vaginal atrophy may also aid in increasing sexual desire for some women.

As a place to start, I would recommend that you ask your doctor for a referral to a gynaecologist. Gynaecologists are trained to treat  your postmenopausal symptoms.  Being an advocate for your own health at this transitional time of life is key to symptom management!

For your information, Pamprin is an over-the-counter medication for Premenstrual Syndrome (which you are well past and, in fact, you are surgically post-menopausal).  It contains an antihistamine to treat irritability (and will dry things up especially in your vagina which may lead to painful sex and may decrease sexual desire). It also contains a diuretic to fight against bloating and water weight gain, and a pain reliever to alleviate cramps. Are you sure it was Pamprin and not Premarin that your doctor prescribed for  you? I would love to hear back from you regarding this.

There are many treatments besides hormones for women after the age of 60 and your gynaecologist will explore these treatment options with you. Health store remedies will have little more than a placebo effect and that is unlikely at best.

Keep in mind that lifestyle changes like reduction of alcoholic beverages, managing stress, eating a healthy plant-based diet, and routine strenuous exercise may help to reduce hot flashes. And, one more thing... about your sex life... yes indeed, I agree your poor husband, but in reality, poor you. You are missing out on the greatest pleasure and tremendous health benefits when you turn your back on the bedroom. The release of endorphins at orgasm will help with mood, sleep and increasing sexual desire even further. But don't worry, getting the right help at menopause is key to getting back to the bedroom!

Best of luck to you!

Maureen

For those of you who are new readers (and for those who may have just missed a few articles) I wanted to showcase the top 10 most read articles so far! As always, feel free to leave me a comment or write me an email if you have any sexual-health related questions – my door is always open!

TOP 10 MOST READ ARTICLES

(1) Replens® vs RepaGyn®: What's the Difference?

Given the variety of personal moisturizers available, it is so important that a woman chooses the right product for the right reasons. Knowing the ingredients and how it works is also one important aspect of optimizing treatment. Meredith had tried Replens® for vaginal dryness but was still experiencing pain with intercourse and wondered if RepaGyn® might be a better choice for her. Read about my recommendation for Meredith >

(2) 5 Tips for a Better Sex Life

Is your sex life in a slump? If you have stopped fantasizing about sex or have no interest, and this cannot be better accounted for by a medical condition, you may have low sexual desire.  Fatigue is the number one cause of low sexual desire but there are a number of other root causes that could be at play. Time is a hot commodity these days and lack thereof may result in less spent in the bedroom. View my 5 tips for sprucing up your sex life >

(3) Doctor, It is Dry Down There

I ask every patient of mine if they experience vaginal dryness, because I know they won’t tell me on their own. Most often, women will answer by saying, “I am not sexually active.” One does not need to be sexually active to experience vaginal dryness; women associate the vagina with sex but it is time we associated the vagina with health! Learn what you can do about vaginal dryness right now >

(4) Caught Red-Handed... You Won't Believe the 'Now What'

Joanna, married for 17 years entered my clinic after discovering that her husband had been communicating sexually online with another woman. Admittedly, life had become hectic and sex was infrequent. The couple had not discussed their arid sex life or her dwindling sexual desire; she assumed that Caleb was not bothered, but she now had evidence to the contrary and felt that she needed to talk action... Read about how Joanna took control >

(5) A Fish Named Wanda

50 year-old Wanda told me, during a routine visit, that she and her husband were not sexually active. In the past month, they only had sex once and he had difficulty attaining and maintaining an erection (the textbook definition of erectile dysfunction). She also suspected that he was communicating with other women. It would be important for Wanda to talk to her husband about how his recent activities were negatively impacting their relationship. Wanda might have to release her fish as he needed to help himself and accept responsibility for his actions. Read more about Wanda's story  >

(6) My Angry Vagina

47 year-old Susanne told me that she and her vagina were both angry. She had a vibrant sex life in her twenties and thirties but more recently had the unfortunate circumstance of requiring chemotherapy for breast cancer. It was at this time that sex became extremely painful and her sexual desire plummeted. As if her sexual desire wasn’t already low (due to peri-menopause) this made things worse. Read more >

(7) Can a Lack of Sex Lead to Divorce?

Recently I had received some criticism for saying, “if couples are not having enough sex, then men may cheat to meet their sexual needs.” Understanding that men’s sexual drives are driven by strong urges and cravings, I saw this simply as a risk factor for infidelity, a public service announcement of sorts. Other women did not see it this way and perceived this as blaming women for men’s bad behavior. Learn how I enlightened Valerie >

(8) Understanding and Managing Vaginal Dryness (Video)

I am extremely passionate about empowering women through teaching them about taboo subjects such as vaginal health. To that end, I was delighted to be invited by Canadian Health & Family (Better Living TV) to discuss vaginal dryness, a common but not often discussed condition, which affects many women.! Watch the 4-minute video now >

(9) Aligning the Stars

Elsa asked me about a new sexual desire gel she heard about on the radio, called V-Love. Divorced for over two years, she had always been hesitant to delve into the online dating world because she’d been living with low sexual desire due to vaginal dryness. Although she was interested in meeting someone to spend time with, she was hesitant because of her low sexual desire (which she did not realize stemmed from her vaginal dryness). Learn how Elsa was able to get back into the dating world, comfortably >

(10) Ladies are Fooling Themselves: Men Need Sex

As a rule, men cannot go without intimate sexual relations when in a relationship unless they are having sex with someone else. That may sound drastic but believe me, the men in sexless marriages come to my clinical practice and tell me about their intimate experiences with other women from friends, to women seeking sex online, to prostitutes. Ladies, if you don’t think it's important to seek treatment when your relationship is good and you stop having sex, think again. Shutting the door on your sex life may have other consequences. Learn how to face your situation >

Well, there you have it - the top 10 most read articles (so far). I hope these articles have helped you get back to the bedroom!