Sex is a natural part of our everyday lives, so sexual wellness shouldn’t be treated as a taboo topic. Just like physical and mental health, it’s important that you understand sexual wellness and how it impacts your overall well-being. The best way to start is by visiting a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati.
If you’re unsure what sexual wellness doctors do, don’t worry. The team of providers at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates are experts on sexual wellness. We help men and women across Cincinnati jumpstart their holistic health journey. Below, we’ve compiled a guide to help you understand exactly what a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati can do for you.
What is sexual wellness?
“What is sexual wellness?” is a question we get a lot from our patients. It’s hard to understand what a sexual wellness doctor does if you’re not aware of what sexual wellness is!
The truth is, many people don’t realize that sexual wellness goes beyond the act of intercourse; it’s multifaceted and complex.
The World Health Organization defines sexual wellness as:
The quality of your relationships, physical & mental health, how you feel about yourself, and more all play an important role in your overall sexual wellness. Therefore, if you’re having problems in other aspects of life, it’s not unusual for them to seep into your sex life.
The importance of sexual wellness
Since sexual wellness is an important part of your overall health, it’s extremely important that you understand it. A poor understanding of sexual wellness can impact your relationships, self-confidence, and even your ability to maneuver through daily life!
If you don’t have a good grasp on the importance of sexual wellness, you could be suffering in silence with sexual dysfunctions. Everyone deserves a positive and pleasurable sexual experience, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed to speak up about issues you might have. A strong awareness of sexual wellness can give you the confidence to take charge of your sex life.
Causes of sexual dysfunction
There are many reasons why someone could be unhappy with his or her sex life, and the source of the issue isn’t always physical. It may stem from relationship issues, lack of libido, and even health conditions. Either way, we always want our patients to understand that having sexual problems isn’t the end all be all.
Common causes of sexual dysfunctions we’ve seen at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates include:
Hormones
Hormones such as testosterone, progesterone, and adrenal hormones can affect your sexual desire. We want to emphasize that hormonal changes don’t always mean there’s a problem.
As you go through life, your body is going to naturally change. This includes:
- Menstrual cycle
- Menopause
- Hormonal medications
- Pregnancy
- Nursing
- Ovary & adrenal gland removal
NOTE: A problem only arises when changes in hormone levels affect your sexual desire. A sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati can help you connect the dots between your hormones and your sex drive.
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal secretions help lubricate the vaginal walls to reduce unwanted friction during sex. As you age, your vaginal walls may become thinner, which lowers the amount of lubrication produced. Vaginal dryness (atrophic vaginitis), can lead to discomfort or even pain during sex.
Although the main cause of vaginal dryness is hormonal changes, other factors can lead to the condition such as:
- Depression
- Extreme workouts
- Breastfeeding
- Smoking
- Stress
- Childbirth
- Immune system disorders
- Certain cancer treatments
Medications
Some medications can negatively impact your sex life. For instance, antihistamines are great for drying out the nose, but they can also dry out the vagina. In addition, medications for depression & anxiety, opioids, and even Beta-blockers can all reduce your sexual desire.
Speaking with a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati can help you determine if your medications are causing any kind of sexual dysfunction.
Genital mismatch
Usually genital mismatch occurs when the diameter of a woman’s vaginal canal increases in conjunction with the decreased size of an erect penis. It can stem from:
- Childbirth
- Weight gain
- Chronic straining (from constipation or difficulty urinating)
- Pelvic injury
Genital mismatch is very common as couples age together and can take the pleasure out of sex.
Lifestyle
Believe it or not, your everyday life impacts your sexual wellness too. Lack of sleep or even stress from work can turn down your sex drive. How you take care of yourself physically, such as your diet and exercise habits, also play a role in sexual intimacy. Mental health and a negative outlooks on your body (and life in general) can make sex a daunting task riddled with anxiety and fear.
Gynecologic conditions
Overall vaginal health has a major impact on your sex drive. There are many gynecologic conditions that come into play, including:
- Dyspareunia (chronic painful sexual intercourse)
- Lichen sclerosus (a condition that causes changes in the appearance of the skin of the vulva, resulting in chronic itching, pain, and scarring of the vulvar tissue),
- Vulvar vestibulitis (a chronic pain syndrome possibly linked to chronic yeast, bacterial vaginosis, or HPV infection)
- Other vaginal infections
- Heavy and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Peyronie’s disease
Though Peyronie’s disease commonly affects middle-aged men, it can happen to men of all ages. Peyronie’s disease occurs when scar tissue called plaque forms in the penis. When the penis is soft, the condition isn’t noticeable. But when the penis is erect, the plaque can cause it to bend, causing pain and discomfort.
Doctors and researchers don’t know the exact cause of Peyronie’s disease, but some believe it may come after a trauma that causes the penis to bleed. You might not even notice the trauma. Other times it may arise over time due to genetics.
Testosterone deficiency
Testosterone has a crucial role in aiding with sexual libido and proper erections. A testosterone deficiency can lead to erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire. Naturally, testosterone production will decrease as a man ages.
What does a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati do?
A sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati guides you toward a better, more pleasurable sex life by evaluating your underlying conditions and reducing symptoms that cause sexual dysfunction. When you meet with a sexual wellness doctor, he or she will take a look at your current medications, past diagnoses/medical procedures, and examine your body when necessary. All of these steps are meant to help find a solution that will get you back to enjoying sex.
Finding a sexual wellness doctor at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates
If you’re looking for the best sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati, Amy Brenner, MD & Associates is the way to go. With us, we’ll equip you with MyIntimacy®, which is your customized treatment plan that’ll cater to your specific needs to restore your sexual health.
Since we’re both a med spa and medical practice, we’re uniquely equipped to be a one-stop shop for all of your sexual wellness needs. Our treatments aren’t just for women; we have experienced doctors that can help men achieve their sexual goals as well!
Our sexual wellness procedures
We understand that sexual wellness requires a holistic approach which focuses on the whole patient rather than small aspects. Our procedure combines advanced, modern, and minimally invasive care in a safe and friendly environment.
For women
Bio-identical hormones
Bio-identical hormones are structurally and chemically identical to your natural hormones. We use them to help our patients with hormonal imbalances that could be affecting their sexual desire. At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, we offer three different bio-identical hormone treatments for women.
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- Pellet Therapy (Subcutaneous implants): After using a local anesthetic, we place Testosterone +/- Estradiol pellets through a 3mm incision in the hip or buttocks. The procedure only takes about three minutes.
- Testosterone Injection Therapy: Many women don’t realize that testosterone also has a huge impact on female sexual health. These injections are self-administered (usually in the belly or love handle area) 1 to 2 times a week.
- Bioidentical Hormone Cream: Estrogen/Progesterone/Testosterone cream is self-administered everyday and eliminates the need for needles and downtime.
Intima® Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation
Intima® Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation is a non-surgical treatment that delivers controlled energy to the vaginal or vulva tissue. As a result, cells make more collagen, improving the tone, texture, and overall appearance of the external vulva. The procedure treats:
- Vaginal laxity (looseness)
- Vaginal atrophy (dryness )
- Incontinence (leaking of urine)
- Vulvar pigmentation (darkening)
- Sagging of of the labia majora (outer vaginal lips)
- Lichen sclerosus – get a personalized assessment for Lichen Sclerosus
The procedure only takes about 15 minutes for an internal treatment, and 30 minutes for an external treatment.
O-Shot®
Also known as the “orgasm shot”, the O-Shot® implements platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to increase sexual satisfaction, help urinary incontinence, and improve vaginal dryness.
PRP is full of growth factors that are used to heal wounded tissue. When separated from your blood and injected into the clitoris and vaginal walls, those growth factors increase collagen and elastin; promote angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels); improve blood flow; and promote the formation of new nerve endings.
Many of our patients even combine the O-Shot® with our other sexual wellness procedures. You can speak with a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati to help you build a plan that’ll work best for you!
Everything you need to know about the O-Shot® in Cincinnati
Wave therapy
Wave therapy is a non-surgical, drug-free sexual wellness solution to enhance sexual performance and overall wellness. Pulse waves improve blood flow to the vagina by repairing damaged blood vessels. As a result, women can experience increased sensitivity, lubrication, and vaginal appearance. We recommend this treatment for patients who suffer from:
- Difficulty becoming aroused
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Scar tissue from episiotomy repair
- The inability to reach an orgasm
Votiva
Votiva is the only FDA-cleared device to treat sexual dysfunctions and stress urinary incontinence. With the help of radio frequency (RF) energy, Votiva heats tissue to stimulate collagen and elastin production. Overtime, the boost in collagen and elastin lead to noticeable vaginal rejuvenation, including:
- Vaginal and vulvar tightening
- Vaginal lubrication
- Increased sexual sensations
- Decreased urinary leakage
This painless procedure only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish, meaning you’re in and out in no time! Although you may notice results right away, most patients require three procedures to achieve to maximize the amazing benefits.
For men
Testosterone optimization
Our testosterone optimization treatment can help men replenish their testosterone levels to have them feeling like they’re in their 20s again! At Amy Brenner, MD & Associates, we offer 4 different testosterone treatment options.
- Testosterone Pellet Therapy (subcutaneous implants): After using a local anesthetic, testosterone pellets are placed through a 5mm incision in the hip or love handles The process only takes a few minutes, and the benefits last between 4 to 6 months!
- Testosterone Injection Therapy: Unlike pellets, testosterone injections don’t require any downtime. They are self-administered 2 to 3 times a week.
- Bioidentical Hormone Cream Therapy: We will provide testosterone cream that you will apply on a daily basis.
- HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin): HCG is a natural hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. However, we can use it off label to maintain testicular size and offset the decrease in sperm count that could occur after testosterone therapy. HCG injections are given twice a week.
P-Shot®
The P-Shot®, or Priapus Shot, is designed to improve erectile dysfunction, penis size, and overall sexual wellness in men. We also use the treatment to help with Peyronie’s disease.
Just like the O-Shot®, the P-Shot® uses PRP from your blood to rejuvenate the penis. After the procedure, men can benefit from:
- Increased penis size
- Strengthened penis
- Straightened penis
- Increased circulation within the penis for a healthier organ
- Increased sensation and pleasure
- Relief from Peyronie’s disease
How the P-Shot® treats erectile dysfunction
Wave therapy
Wave therapy for men is designed to give stronger, longer-lasting erections and optimize sexual performance. It fights against erectile dysfunction, which affects 50% of men to some degree. Unlike oral medications, wave therapy gives long-term results so that you can perform better than you have in years!
Wave pulses target aging blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis, resulting in increased sensitivity and shorter recovery times in between sex.
Jumpstart your sexual wellness today
It’s never too late to start seeing a sexual wellness doctor in Cincinnati. Our team of doctors and nurse practitioners at Amy Brenner, MD & Associates will customize a plan that will help relieve sexual dysfunctions to get you back to enjoying sex in your daily life. When you choose our expert team, you can join our many other patients who experience:
- Boosts in confidence
- Better sex life
- Overall wellness improvement
- Increased libido
- Bladder control for women
To get started, contact us or use our virtual consultation tool to get you one step closer to finding the perfect sexual wellness treatment.