Low Sex Drive - Causes and Management

Introduction:

Libido or sex drive refers to an individual's desire for intimacy. Libido is humankind's most potent behavior, governed by various factors ranging from simple habits such as smoking to complex conditions such as hormonal imbalance.

Sex drive is often confused with sexual dysfunctions, and they are way different. Sex drive is desire-related chiefly and is transient at times, whereas sexual dysfunctions are persistent, usually involving a physical problem.

What Does a Low Sex Drive Feel Like?

Low sex drive is a condition irrespective of gender and sexual preferences. There are numerous causative factors, including physical characteristics, psychological factors, and hormonal fluctuations; having a change in sexual desires is fine, but when to term it as low sex drive?

Here are a few points which describe what a low sex drive feels like:

• Lack of interest in sexual activity for about six months and above.

• Lack of spontaneous sexual fantasies.

• Lack of pleasure sensation even on stimulation.

• Reduced interest in intimacy when compared to that of a partner.

• Lack of sexual activity with self (masturbation).

• Most importantly, being concerned about the reduced desire for intimacy.

What Are the Common Causes for Low Sex Drive in Men and Women?

Health is defined by three parameters; physical, mental, and social well-being. Each parameter has a significant impact on sex drive. Alterations or deviation from individual parameters can adversely affect.

• Conditions such as diabetes, blood pressure, arthritis, and coronary heart disease hurt the physical state, affecting the sex drive. Nerve damage that regulates sexual stimulation and response might make it challenging to achieve a hard enough erection to engage in sexual activity. Damaged blood arteries might potentially contribute to erectile dysfunction by reducing blood flow.

• Mental health diseases such as anxiety and stress can cause reduced sex drive. The sex-related hormones are out of balance in a person who is depressed. As a result, sexual desire is either absent or poor. Low amounts of these substances might also make it challenging to enjoy pleasant feelings. The medications used to treat these mental health conditions also affect sexual desires.

• Fatigue: Parenthood can be exhausting; young couples overburden themselves, which results in low sex drive.

• Unhealthy Lifestyle: Smoking, obesity, use of drugs can contribute to low sex drive.

• Lower Self-Esteem: A couple's sex life can be harmed by a low self-image, regardless of the source. As a result, performance anxiety can emerge, leading to a downward spiral of sexual failure and low self-esteem. Correcting this issue necessitates paying close attention to its source.

• History of Sexual Abuse - According to recent studies, sexual violence has a harmful influence on the mental and physical health of victims. The most prevalent sexual abnormalities discovered in those sufferers were fear of sex, arousal dysfunction, and desire dysfunction. It is also found that victims are dissatisfied with their present sexual interactions and the overall quality of their connections.

Are There Any Particular Causes for Low Sex Drive in Women?

The Paradigm Shift in Hormones: Women's bodies go through massive changes such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, which harm their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. As hormonal levels alter libido, these conditions will likely shoot your sex drive or put you off the mood.

Dyspareunia: Is the genital pain that occurs during or after sexual intercourse. The causes include vaginal dryness, injury during vaginal childbirth, and urinary tract infections. Irrespective of the reason, such pain can decrease interest in sexual intercourse.

Birth Control Pills: Birth control pills are highly efficient in preventing pregnancy, although decreased sex drive is one of the side effects.

Are There Any Particular Causes for Low Sex Drive in Men?

Hypogonadism: Hypo means low, and gonad refers to secretions from gonads. Testosterone, the hormone produced by the testicles, plays a vital role in sperm production and overall sexual development. Lower the level of testosterone, lower the sex drive. Thus hypogonadism in men refers to reduced production of the male hormone testosterone. The brain perceives emotions with the help of neurotransmitters. Testosterone also helps in neurotransmission, thereby monitoring sexual desires.

Does Masturbating Too Often Reduces Sex Drive?

Masturbation and its association with sex drive are controversial. There is literature that suggests no impact of masturbation on testosterone and documented cases of reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation in men who masturbate pretty often.

Multiple sources alter sex drive, and masturbation does not reduce or alter the hormone level but affects the built-up sexual energy, affecting sexual desires.

What Link Exists Between Sex Drive and Pornography?

According to research, overexposure to highly sexualized film and imagery has been linked to poor bedroom performance, notably erectile dysfunction. Frequent masturbating to on-screen sex makes it much more challenging to get an erection when having sex in real life. Pornography can impact how people think about sexual partners and how they behave with them.

There are certain advantages of watching porn and combining it with sex life.

• Pornography could aid in becoming more imaginative and at ease.

• Pornography, when used correctly and with mutual permission, has the potential to bring the partners closer together.

How to Recharge Sex Drive?

A low sex drive is not something you live with. It can be altered or boosted by identifying the underlying cause.

Here is a list of a few things that can help to recharge sex drive:

• Manage the underlying medical condition.

• Hormonal replacement therapy.

• Reduce stress.

• Quit smoking.

• Exercise at least thrice a week.

• Consume fibrous food.

• Regular sleep cycle.

• Reduce the intake of alcohol.

Is There Any Test to Diagnose Low Sex Drive?

The hormonal levels can give us an insight into sex drive but not necessarily define it. Blood examination reveals the levels of hormones closely related to sex drive.

They include:

• Estrogen.

• Testosterone.

• Progesterone.

• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

What to Do If Your Partner Has Low Sex Drive?

• "Communication" is the key to a happy and successful relationship. Talk to your partner, understand their desires, having a compatible sex drive is necessary.

• It is essential to understand that there are many reasons; the first task is to identify the cause.

• Work as a unit and not as an individual.

• Talk to your therapist about it.

• Be supportive, and it can just be a phase.

Which Is the Most Efficient Aphrosodiac to Increase Sex Drive?

Aphrosodiac is food or substance that elevates sexual instincts. There are two types: natural and synthetic.

Here is a list of aphrodisiac foods:

• Chocolate.

• Oyster.

• Watermelon.

• Pomegranate.

• Pistachio.

• Maca.

• Ginseng.

• Tribulus.

• Saffron.

According to Masters and Johnson, the most effective aphrodisiac is "an interesting and interested partner."

When Do You See Your Doctor for Low Sex Drive?

Here are a few signs to notify that it is time to see a doctor:

• A sudden drop in sex drive.

• Low sex drive co-exists with erectile dysfunction.

• Painful intercourse.

• Low sex drive affects psychological well-being.

Conclusion

Misconceptions and unrealistic expectations always lead to low sex drive. Every individual has a different thinking process, and it is crucial to understand and normalize the difference in opinion. Emotional closeness is essential for intimacy, and unresolved relationship issues can cause a decrease in sex drive. It is vital to understand that fluctuation in sex drive is fine. It can be treated by self-educating or visiting a sexologist or therapist who can help by providing sex education and hormonal replacement therapy.