What is decreased libido?
Decreased libido, or lowered sex drive, is when a person experiences a reduced interest in sexual activity or sexual thoughts. This can negatively impact relationships and a person's quality of life. Some key points about decreased libido:
- Common causes include stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, relationship issues, some medications, low testosterone levels, and medical conditions.
- It can affect both men and women. Estimates vary, but over a third of women and up to 15% of men deal with decreased libido at some point.
- Diagnosis involves identifying potential underlying causes through physical exams, blood tests, reviewing medications, and asking questions about lifestyle and relationships.
- Treatments depend on the cause but can include stress management, counseling, adjusting medications, testosterone therapy, and using devices like vacuum pumps.
- Communication with your partner is important when dealing with libido differences in a relationship. Compromise and understanding goes a long way.
- Don't hesitate to seek help from your doctor or a sex therapist. Decreased libido often has solutions if proper steps are taken.
- Healthy lifestyle choices like staying active, eating nutritious whole foods, reducing alcohol intake, and getting enough sleep can all help boost libido.
- In some cases, using medications like flibanserin (Addyi) may help improve sex drive, but side effects are common.
- For women, investigating potential hormonal causes like low testosterone, high prolactin, thyroid dysfunction, or imbalances in estrogen and progesterone may uncover issues affecting libido.