Libido means sex drive. The desire for sex varies from one person to the next, and even the same person can vary in their desire depending on a range of circumstances. Medical conditions, hormone levels, medications, lifestyle and relationship issues can affect your libido.
Unless you are concerned about your sex drive, or it is causing problems with your partner, there is no need to seek professional help.
Female sexual desire
Some of the conditions that can cause changes in female sexual desire include:
- Menopause – the decline in sex hormones can affect a woman’s libido.
- Dyspareunia – painful sexual intercourse.
- Vaginismus – the involuntary (not under the woman’s conscious control) clamping of the vaginal muscles, which makes penetration difficult, if not impossible.
- Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding – changes in hormone levels, particularly the hormone prolactin, may reduce sexual desire.
- Infections – such as thrush or urinary tract infections.
- Orgasm problems – the woman is unable to reach orgasm or to reach it within a reasonable time.
Male sexual desire
Some of the conditions that can cause a drop in male sexual desire include:
- Male menopause – as a man ages, his testosterone levels slowly decline. Some researchers believe that reduced sex hormones are linked to decreased libido.
- Impotence – the failure to achieve or sustain an erection sufficient for intercourse.
- Premature ejaculation – a lack of control over ejaculation so that it always happens sooner than the man or his partner would want.
- Retarded ejaculation – not being able to reach orgasm.
Illness may reduce sex drive
Some physical illnesses and conditions may also be responsible for the loss of sexual drive. For example:
- Anaemia
- Kidney failure
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
- Depression.
Medications can affect libido
Reduced libido may be a side effect of some medications. For example, some antidepressants have a recognised side effect of decreasing libido. Some women feel they have a lowered libido with contraceptives that contain hormones, such as the pill. You may wish to talk to your doctor about changing your medication or exploring other alternatives.
Other issues
Other factors that may affect libido include:
- Fatigue
- Lack of time
- Sexual incompatibility
- Lack of privacy
- Some drugs.
Diagnosis
If your interest in sex has waned for no apparent reason, your doctor may investigate the condition with a variety of tests including:
- Physical examination
- Medical history
- Blood tests.
Treatment
Treatment for reduced libido depends on the cause, but may include:
- Treatment for any underlying medical disorder
- Hormone therapy
- Antidepressants (although a side effect of some antidepressants is reduced libido)
- Stress management
- Counselling.
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Family Planning Victoria Tel. (03) 9257 0100
- Sex therapist
- Psychologist
- Gynaecologist
- Urologist
Things to remember
- The desire for sex varies enormously from one person to the next.
- If your interest in sex has waned for no apparent reason, see your doctor for advice.
- Some health conditions and some medications can affect your libido.
You might also be interested in:
Erectile dysfunction.
Libido - relationship issues.
Menopause.
Sex - premature ejaculation.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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