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

DEAR DEIDRE: MY wife and I never had any problems with our sex life, but the last year has been like living with a nun.

 We’re both 51 and have been together for 23 years.

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

My wife and I always ensured we made time for each other, even after our two children came along.

Our children are now grown up and have just moved out.

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

I’m worried about her and have been encouraging her to get on Hormone Replacement Therapy.

But she’s insistent it has nothing to do with the menopause.

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DEIDRE SAYS: It is definitely worth your wife visiting her doctor to discuss menopause treatments, especially as loss of libido and depression are symptoms of the menopause.

But as your wife is adamant her menopause isn’t affecting her, do ask if there is something else worrying her as depression in isolation can also affect people’s libido.

Could she be struggling with empty-nest syndrome, for example, as your children have recently moved out?

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