How do you support your libido after breast cancer and menopause?
Let's talk about it.
For women, estrogen is really our libido hormone.
Yet after breast cancer, you may not be able to use HRT safely. So, whether you’ve developed chemotherapy-induced menopause or you're going through menopause, it's difficult to maintain your libido.
Libido is controlled by your hypothalamus.
Thinking about sex, as well as being sexually responsive and orgasmic is controlled by a couple of hypothalamic hormones - prolactin and oxytocin.
Therefore, optimizing your hypothalamus health can actually help to balance both hormones and improve your libido. Oxytocin helps you bond to your lover and is released during orgasm.
- Hugging helps increase oxytocin production.
- Prolactin can inhibit your responsiveness to hormones if it’s produced at high levels during the day.
- Sleeping in the dark at night and getting up with the sun helps regulate prolactin.
Optimizing your hypothalamus function will help balance oxytocin and prolactin to help increase your libido.
My patients who've had breast cancer and are going through menopause use Genesis Gold® regularly to optimize their hypothalamus function.
As a result, they report higher sex drives and more sexual responsiveness. Including more vaginal lubrication than those who do not support their hypothalamus.
If you have any questions about managing libido post breast cancer and menopause, please join us in our Hormone Reboot Training.
Resources:
Management of Sexual Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review
Why does libido decline after breast cancer treatment?
Breast cancer treatment — including chemotherapy, anti-estrogen therapies like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, and surgically induced menopause — dramatically lowers estrogen and other sex hormones. Since estrogen is a primary driver of female libido, arousal, and vaginal lubrication, its loss often results in reduced sexual desire and comfort. Chemotherapy-induced menopause can cause these changes to happen abruptly rather than gradually.
Can you restore libido after breast cancer without hormone therapy?
Yes, for many women. Because HRT may not be safe for breast cancer survivors — particularly those with hormone-receptor-positive tumors — non-hormonal approaches are essential. These include optimizing hypothalamic function, which regulates oxytocin and prolactin, addressing sleep and stress, and using non-hormonal supports like lubricants, vaginal moisturizers, and pelvic floor physical therapy.
What role does the hypothalamus play in libido?
The hypothalamus is the brain's master regulator of hormonal function — including the hormones most directly tied to sexual desire and response. It governs the release of oxytocin, which promotes bonding and is released during orgasm, and prolactin, which at elevated daytime levels can suppress hormonal responsiveness. When hypothalamic function is optimized, these hormones are better balanced, which can improve libido even without conventional hormone therapy.
What is oxytocin and how does it affect sex drive after menopause?
Oxytocin is a hypothalamic hormone often called the "bonding hormone." It's released during physical touch, including hugging, and surges during orgasm. For women going through menopause or post-cancer treatment, oxytocin plays an important role in maintaining emotional and physical connection with a partner. Supporting oxytocin production — through touch, intimacy, and hypothalamic health — can help sustain sexual responsiveness even when estrogen levels are low.
How does prolactin affect libido in menopausal women?
Prolactin is a hypothalamic hormone primarily known for its role in breastfeeding, but it also affects sexual responsiveness. When prolactin is elevated during the day — which can happen with poor sleep, chronic stress, or hypothalamic dysfunction — it can dampen hormonal sensitivity and reduce libido. Keeping the bedroom dark at night and waking with natural light helps regulate prolactin levels and supports healthier hormonal rhythms overall.
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