Low libido: Causes and treatment for low sex drive
It is quite normal for you not to be in the mood for sex sometimes, but you should be concerned when your sex drive disappears altogether. Low libido can have a big impact on your relationship and your self-esteem, so it is important to fix the problem as soon as you notice it.
Before we go into the ways you can revive your sex drive, you should understand the meaning of libido and why it is a problem if it is low.
What is low libido?
Netdoctor.com defines libido as a person’s interest in sexual activity. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to libido. Everyone has their own normal when it comes to sex drive. Sex drive is often influenced by a person’s biology and personality.
A person is said to have low libidowhen they are disinterested in sex for an extended period time. According to the NHS, one in five men has low libido. This number is even higher for women.
The question is: why would someone suddenly develop an aversion to sex? To answer this question, you should understand the possible causes of low libido.
What causes low libido?
This condition can have physical or psychological causes. Physical factors that can affect a person’s sex drive include:
• Stress
• Hormonal imbalance
• Menopause
• Pregnancy
• Drugs and alcohol
• Contraceptives
• Ageing
• Medication
1. Stress
Day to day stress can affect how a person feels about sex. Low energy levels can leave you tired and uninterested in everything, including sex.
2. Hormonal imbalance
Hormonal problems like an underactive thyroid and hypothyroidism can cause weight gain, exhaustion, and of course, low libido.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can also cause infertility, irregular periods, acne, and a host of other issues. Additionally, it can have a negative impact on sex drive.
3. Menopause
Menopause comes with a drop in estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. These sex hormones, once depleted, can make a person’s desire for sex nosedive. Women who are at this stage in their life often find it difficult to get aroused.
4. Pregnancy
Libido can fluctuate throughout pregnancy. Some women will find that they are insatiable sexually while some will have no desire for sex. All this has to do with the hormonal changes that come with expecting a baby.
5. Drugs and alcohol
Chronic alcoholism can have an impact on a person’s sexual function. Drug addiction can also pose some problems when it comes to sex.
6. Contraceptives
Birth control pills and other methods of contraception can make you feel not in the mood for sex. There is a link between oral contraceptives and a reduction in libido and overall sexual enjoyment. These pills affect women at the hormonal level, and most times the only way to reduce their effect is to discontinue using them altogether.
7. Medication
Have you ever read the leaflet in your medication and found that low libidois listed as one of the possible side effects? This is quite common even though some people don’t take out the time to research the drugs they are taking. Anti-depressants and blood pressure medications are some of the drugs that can cause low libido.
Psychological causes of low libido
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relationship issues
1. Depression
According to Healthline.com, depression can occur due to chemical imbalances in a person’s brain. Since sexual desire is controlled by chemicals in the brain, depression can disrupt these chemicals and cause sexual dysfunction. Also, a person who is depressed usually has no desire to do anything fun, including sex.
2. Anxiety
Anxiety and low libidogo hand in hand. This is because anxiety affects a person’s happiness and can affect sexual arousal.
3. Relationship issues
People who are going through rough patches in their relationships will find that it gets really difficult to get in the mood for sex. If there is cheating or abuse involved, then the lack of trust can have a negative impact on the relationship.
Treatment for low libido
Revving up your libido is possible if you take the time to address the cause of the problem.
Here’s how you can reverse the problem
• Enjoy foreplay
Spend time kissing and touching your partner and have them do that to you, too. This will allow your body to get aroused and in the mood for intimacy.
• Switch things up in the bedroom
Switching things up in the bedroom is necessary if you are finding sex to be repetitive and monotonous. It might be hard at first to get out of your comfort zone, but you need to make a change is you desire changes in your situation.
• Talk about sex
Addressing the issue can go a long way towards increasing your low libido. Talk to your partner about your fears, expectations and the changes you hope to see. Hopefully, they’ll walk with you through the problem.
• Work out
Exercise is not only great for your body but it is also a great mood booster. Your body releases endorphins—happiness hormones—when you work out.
• Talk to your doctor
If you are taking medications that affect your libido, you should let your doctor know. It might be possible to switch them out for something that doesn’t have damaging effects on your sex drive.
• See a sex therapist
A sex therapist can help you deal with the problem when all else fails.
Resources: Cosmopolitan
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