What Causes Low Sex Drive in Women? Signs to Watch For
There are a lot of myths surrounding the idea that women have low sex desire. However, low sex drive can happen to anyone. Regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status, the truth is that sexual desire can be a highly erratic thing for everyone.
The degree of sexual desire in women varies over time. When a relationship begins or ends, it's normal to experience highs and lows. Alternatively, they may occur with significant life transitions like pregnancy, menopause, or illness. Women who take certain medications for mood-related disorders may also have decreased sex drive.
Consult your healthcare provider if your lack of desire in sex persists or resurfaces and is causing you personal concern. Sexual interest-arousal disorder is a treatable condition that you might have.
What is low libido?
When you have low libido (low sex drive), you no longer feel as interested in having sex as you once did. You may not have as strong a desire for it, or you may want it less frequently. It may be a short-term or long-term transformation.
It's typical to have low libido, or poor sex drive. Up to one in five males and even more women will experience it at some point in their lives. While hormones and anatomy can influence libido, poor sex drive can affect anyone. Over the years, many people experience multiple fluctuations in their sex drive.
Symptoms of low sex drive:
Neither of you may have a sex desire that is unusual for someone in your age range.
Additionally, your relationship might still be solid even if your sex urge has decreased. In summary, low sex drive is not defined by a magic number. It differs. Women with reduced sex drive may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Exhibiting little to no interest in masturbation or other forms of sexual behaviour.
- Having sexual thoughts or fantasies is rare or non-existent.
- Feeling depressed or worried about your lack of fantasies or sex.
Causes of low libido in women:
If your low sex drive feels different from your normal desire, particularly if you've noticed a sudden change and it's emotionally draining, knowing the potential causes may help you come up with a solution. Sometimes, a mental health professional like a therapist, an ob-gyn, or both is needed for this. (If, of course, you're interested in doing that.) Some of the most typical causes of women's reduced libido are as follows:
1. Mental health issue:
Your body goes into a state of unrest when you are under stress or anxiety. When your fight-or-flight response takes over, it becomes challenging for your body to perform "non-essential" processes, such as sexual desire.
According to research, libido may decline as a result of the spike in stress-related hormones like cortisol. It makes sense that depression could potentially be a factor in a decline in sexual desire. It makes sense: you probably aren't feeling very motivated to do much else if you can hardly get out of bed to take a hot bath.
2. You are on your period:
Hormonal changes occur throughout the month as the body cycles through the various phases for women who menstruate. Therefore, those changes may affect how high or low your desire is. Experts believe that the minor increase in testosterone production around this time is the reason why libido is typically at its height right before and the beginning of ovulation. However, those who use contraception, such as combination pills, may not notice that increased libido around ovulation since hormonal birth control that suppresses ovulation can diminish the regular testosterone surge.
There may be a psychological component to the menstrual cycle's impact on libido as well. For example, if you are uncomfortable having sex while you are actively on your period, you may naturally have a lower sex drive during that time. Additionally, premenstrual symptoms, such as mood swings, may have a detrimental effect on it right before your period.
3. You are on certain medications:
Another way mental health can play an essential part in low libido: Many regularly prescribed drugs, particularly the selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor (SSRI) class of antidepressants, count a loss in libido among their potential side effects. Many of these medications may cause erectile dysfunction in certain individuals, reduce vaginal lubrication, or suppress sexual desire. Additionally, several antipsychotics, pharmaceuticals used to prevent seizures, and some medications used to treat hypertension and cancer might affect libido.
4. Not getting enough sleep:
Your level of sexual arousal and sleep duration may be related. For instance, one study discovered that for every hour of more sleep, women's libido or desire to have sex rose by 14%.
Furthermore, according to a small study, sleep deprivation may lower a man's testosterone levels, which may also result in reduced libido. This decrease in testosterone may also result in trouble sleeping, according to another study.
5. You are not happy with your body image:
For whatever reason, feeling bad about your body and appearance can significantly affect how "in the mood" you are for sex. For example, many people suffer from body image worries, frequently exacerbated by diet culture and anti-fatness, that could have an impact on their comfort in becoming intimate with another person. Libido is decreased by negative thoughts, which leads to more negative thoughts, and so on.
Furthermore, despite the obvious importance of having safe sex, people who have experienced an STD may not feel that they can or want to have safe intimacy because they feel uncomfortable, ashamed, or desexualized around their bodies. This is frequently because many of these health conditions are stigmatized in society.
6. You recently gave birth:
After giving birth, it's normal to have a decrease in libido or a total loss of sex drive for a variety of reasons. While some people find childbirth to be a lovely experience, others may find it to be extremely traumatic. During this time, postpartum women may experience reduced sex drive. Prolactin, a hormone that promotes the production of breastmilk, is elevated after giving birth, and this, along with other common postpartum factors like sleep deprivation and vaginal dryness, can cause your sex drive to drop during the first year after giving birth.
7. You have a chronic health condition:
There are several reasons why people with chronic illnesses or persistent medical conditions may experience a decline in their libido, but one major contributing factor is the worry that frequently follows a diagnosis. Any illness will lead to stress, which will reduce your libido. Women frequently experience reproductive-related health issues, which can easily lead to low sex drive. Due to the cyclical and unpredictable nature of living with conditions like endometriosis, pelvic floor difficulties, vaginitis, and/or recurrent bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections, as well as the symptoms that accompany them, desiring to have sex can be difficult.
How is low sex drive treated?
The cause of your low sex desire will determine the best course of action. There are numerous options for treatment. You may receive direct treatment from your provider or be referred to a specialist, such as:
- A sexual therapist
- A psychologist
- A gynaecologist
- A urologist
- An endocrinologist
Other treatments for low libido may include:
- Education on sex
- Stress management
- Change in medication
- Testosterone therapy
- Hormonal therapy for women
- Treatment for sexual arousal disorder
- Couples therapy
- Individual psychotherapy
Conclusion:
Women having low sex drive is a complex problem that can be brought on by hormonal fluctuations, interpersonal difficulties, psychological pressures, physical health issues, and lifestyle choices. Recognizing the signs, such as prolonged disinterest in sexual activity, absence of sexual desires, or avoidance of intimacy, is vital for resolving the problem. Although some variation in sexual desire is acceptable, persistent distress needs to be addressed.