My wife and I have never had any problems with sex life, but the past year has been like living with a nun

DEAR DEIDRE: MY wife and I have never had any issues with our sex lives, but the past year has been like living with a nun.

We are both 51 and together for 23 years.

1

I listen to other men complain that the physical side of their relationship takes a hit once they have kids, but we were never affected.

My wife and I always made sure to make time for each other, even after our two kids were around.

Our children are now adults and have just moved.

My wife has gone through menopause and her libido, as well as her mood, has definitely taken a hit.

I am concerned about her and have encouraged her to start taking hormone replacement therapy.

But she insists it has nothing to do with menopause.

DEIDRE SAYS: It is well worth your wife’s visit to her doctor to discuss menopausal treatments, especially since loss of libido and depression are symptoms of menopause.

But since your wife is adamant that her menopause doesn’t affect her, ask if there’s anything else that worries her, since depression in isolation can also affect people’s libido.

For example, could she be struggling with empty nest syndrome because your kids recently moved?

Even if her symptoms are unrelated to menopause, the next step is to see her doctor.