Everything You Need to Know About Loss of Libido in Females

Women’s sexual desires naturally fluctuate over the years. This desire or appetite for sex is known as libido. Highs and lows in libido often coincide with the beginning or end of a relationship or significant life changes, such as menopause, pregnancy, or illness. Some medications used for mood disorders can also cause low sex drive or loss of libido in women.

Symptoms

Symptoms of loss of libido in women include:

• Having no interest in sexual activity
• Never or only seldom having sexual fantasies or thoughts

Causes

The desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many factors affecting intimacy and beliefs, including physical and emotional well-being, experiences, lifestyle, and your current relationship. If you’re experiencing complications in any of these areas, it can affect your desire for sex.

Physical Causes

A wide range of physical changes, illnesses, and medications can cause a low sex drive, including:

• Sexual problems: Painful sex, lack of orgasm, or other sexual dysfunctions.
• Medical diseases: Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and neurological diseases.
• Medications: Certain antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and oral contraceptives can decrease libido.
• Lifestyle habits: Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and lack of exercise can contribute to low libido.
• Fatigue: Physical and mental exhaustion can reduce sexual interest.

Relationship Issues

Loss of interest in sex can result from ongoing relationship issues, such as:

• Lack of connection with your partner
• Unresolved conflicts or fights
• Poor communication of sexual needs and preferences
• Trust issues

Hormonal Changes

Changes in hormone levels can alter libido. This can occur during:

• Menopause: Decreased estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness and pain during sex, reducing sexual desire.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy can decrease libido.

Psychological Causes

Your state of mind always affects your sexual desire. There are multiple causes of loss of libido, including:

• Mental health problems: Depression and anxiety can reduce interest in sex.
• Stress: Work stress, financial stress, and other stressors can impact libido.
• Low self-esteem: Negative self-image can affect sexual desire.
• Poor body image: Feeling unattractive can decrease sexual interest.
• History of physical or sexual abuse: Past trauma can lead to sexual aversion.
• Previous negative sexual experiences: Bad sexual experiences can reduce interest in sex.

Diagnosis

In addition to asking you about medical and sexual history, your doctor may also:

• Perform a pelvic exam to check for physical changes that could affect sexual desire.
• Recommend blood tests to check for thyroid problems, diabetes, high cholesterol, and liver disorders.

Treatment

Most women benefit from an approach aimed at the causes behind this condition. Recommendations may include counselling, sex education, medication, and hormone therapy.

Medications

• Adjusting current medications that might affect libido.
• Prescribing medications to address underlying conditions, such as antidepressants that do not affect sexual desire.

Counselling & Sex Education

• Therapy sessions with a licensed counsellor can help address psychological causes.
• Sex education can help improve communication with your partner and enhance sexual techniques.

Hormone Therapy

• Estrogen therapy can help alleviate symptoms of menopause-related low libido.
• Testosterone therapy may be recommended for some women.

Conclusion

Don’t underestimate the effect a decreased sexual desire can have on your well-being. If you feel symptoms of loss of libido have impacted your quality of life, talk to your doctor. If you are looking for treatment for loss of libido in females or other intimacy-related issues, book an appointment with a specialist to discuss your options.