Low libido, or reduced sexual desire, can affect anyone. It is not unusual for a person’s interest in sex to fluctuate over different periods of their life due to hormonal changes, age, and stress.
While it is not unusual, low libido can affect a person’s overall well-being or lead to anxiety about their relationship.
Reduced sexual desire can have an underlying medical cause, or it may be due to lifestyle factors. In this article, we explore the causes of low libido, the potential treatments, and when to speak with a doctor.
Several chronic conditions can affect sexual desire or function. through a variety of functions. For example, changes in hormone and energy levels can affect a person’s sex drive.
Additionally, some conditions can cause functional disruption to sex organs, such as blood flow disruption leading to erectile dysfunction and vaginal arousal response. This disruption in sexual response or performance may, in turn, lead to a decrease in sexual interest.
Conditions that may affect a person’s libido include:
- Diabetes: High blood sugar levels can cause vascular and nerve damage. These effects can result in decreased genital blood flow, causing issues such as erectile dysfunction. Unmanaged diabetes can also affect hormone levels.
- Heart disease: Heart disease can affect circulation, sexual performance, and libido in
some cases. - High blood pressure: High blood pressure
can also affect blood circulation, limiting sexual performance and arousal responses. - Cancer: Treatments for cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, can all affect libido.
- Obstructive sleep apnea:
Research suggests that untreated obstructive sleep apnea can cause symptoms of low libido.
Some medications can cause sexual dysfunction or lowered sexual desire. These drugs include:
- antidepressants with serotonergic effects
- antipsychotics that increase prolactin levels
- medications for an enlarged prostate, including finasteride and dutasteride
- hormonal contraceptives
Recreational drug use or excessive alcohol consumption can result in low libido.
Experiencing sexual dysfunction can decrease a person’s sexual desire. Physical disruption to arousal processes may lead to anxiety around intimacy.
Many emotional and psychological factors can affect a person’s desire for sex.
Mental health issues resulting from anxiety, depression, fatigue, poor self-esteem, or prior sexual abuse can diminish a person’s interest in sexual activity.
Relationship problems, including lack of trust, conflict, and poor communication, can also lower a person’s sex drive.
A person’s hormones play a key role in their sex drive. Changes to hormone levels or balance can lead to libido changes.
Menopause
Sexual problems relating to menopause are often a result of decreased levels of estrogen and testosterone. A change in hormone balance can cause a
After menopause, low estrogen levels can cause thinning and dryness of the vagina, which may lead to discomfort and painful intercourse.
If a person experiences discomfort or pain during sex, they may begin to associate these feelings with sex and have little or no interest in it.
Pregnancy
Hormonal changes that occur during and after pregnancy can affect a person’s sex drive. These changes affect everyone differently. Some may have an increased interest in sex, while others might have a low libido.
Hormones continue to fluctuate during the postpartum months, which may affect sex drive during this time, too.
Low testosterone
Testosterone is a sex hormone. Testosterone is responsible for a range of bodily processes and characteristics, including facial and body hair, muscle mass, sex drive, sperm production, and bone health.
Low testosterone can produce other symptoms, such as enlarged breasts and erectile dysfunction.
Testicular trauma, prior chemotherapy or radiation, anabolic steroid use, certain medications, and chronic illness can cause low testosterone.
The treatment for low libido will depend on the cause of the problem.
Medication changes
For example, a doctor may recommend changing a medication that is causing sex-related side effects or treating any underlying medical conditions that are reducing the individual’s sex drive.
Lifestyle changes
Sometimes, lifestyle changes may help a person regain sexual desire. Eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, reducing or cutting out alcohol, and exercising may help increase interest in sex and improve a person’s overall health.
Reaching a moderate weight can also have a positive effect on hormone balance relating to sexual function.
Talk therapy
For some people, talk therapy or sex therapy can help. Therapy can help people manage trauma, improve their self-esteem, and strengthen their relationship with their partner.
Research has found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can be beneficial for some with sexual dysfunction, such as low sex drive.
These therapies can help a person focus on pleasure and engagement and reduce negative thoughts about sex.
If low libido is having a significant effect on a person’s life, they should speak to a doctor. Low libido can cause additional stress for some people, which can take a toll on their overall mental and physical health.
Some signs that a person should speak to their doctor about low libido include:
- strained relationship with a partner
- poor self-esteem, social isolation, or stress leading to a decreased quality of life
- no improvement after other attempts to increase libido
Talking about a low sex drive should not cause embarrassment. It is a common experience and can be a symptom or side effect of many different factors.
A doctor can help a person work through the problem and find an effective treatment, or they can refer someone to a sexual health specialist.
All people can experience low libido, or reduced sexual desire, for a variety of different reasons, including medical conditions, a hormone deficiency, or mental health concerns.
If low libido is affecting a person’s life, they should discuss this with a doctor to find the best treatment options.