Low Libido - Unlocking the secrets behind low sex drive

Low Libido is the condition where there is no or decreased sexual desire. There are many reasons why this Low Libido occurs. In this blog, we shall discuss various topics such as the causes, symptoms, and other factors.

What is Low Libido?

Low Libido is the decreased or absence of sexual desire in human beings. Decreased sexual drive includes a lack of sexual thoughts and absences from sex activity. It is also known as Hypoactive Sexual desire disorder(HSDD). Libido can be affected by the factors such as,

• Biological,
• phycological, and
• Social factors.

There is more research done on the low libido in women compared to men. However, there are also cases available for men.

What are the symptoms of low libido?

Various symptoms confirm that a person suffers from low libido, are as follows,

• Absence or decreased interest in sex.
• Decreased sex thoughts and fantasies.
• Procrastinating physical intimacy.
• Depression without any physical reason.
• Difficulty in maintaining relationships.
• Physical symptoms such as hormone imbalance cause weight changes is one of the major reasons for Low Libido.

What are the causes of low libido?

There are many reasons for the occurrence of low libido. This low libido is a condition that can be caused by various categories such as biological, psychological, and lifestyle. The causes of each category are categorized below.

1. Biological Factors:

Low Libido can be caused due to the presence of,

• Chronic illness.
• Medications for serious diseases like cancer, chronic kidney failure, Heart Disease, Liver cirrhosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and so on.
• Lack of sleep or too much busy work can lead to low libido.
• Too much consumption of alcohol.

2. Psychological Factors:

• Couple relationship issues due to ego, lack of trust and loyalty, lack of individuality, lack of communication, and intimacy are the prime reasons for low sex activity among couples.
• Stress and anxiety due to unbalanced work-life and financial crisis.
• Hormonal imbalance due to depression.
• History of sexual harassment long back.

3. Lifestyle Factors:

• A poor diet is not balanced with everyday essential nutrients and minerals.
• Lack of physical activity and exercise.
• Inadequate sleep.
• Side effects of taking other medications which cannot be avoided.

Factors affecting the sex drive of women:

Low libido is most common in women. The common factors affecting the sexual desire of women are,

• Due to the menstrual cycle.
• Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and postpartum.
• Perimenopause or menopause.
• Hormonal issues like PCOD/PCOS.
• Lack of intimacy with the partner.
• Some infections, such as urinary tract infections or sexually transmitted diseases.

Low libido in Men:

Some medical conditions lead to low libido in men. Those conditions are as follows.

• The lack of male hormone testosterone. This condition is called male hypogonadism where the testicles do not produce enough testosterone.
• Sexual dysfunction conditions such as premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, or delayed ejaculation can lead to palpation or anxiety during sex. Hence, this sexual dysfunction may lead to a decrease in sexual desire.

How can we diagnose low libido?

The diagnosis of low libido includes the analysis of the total history as the primary factor. The person’s medical, psychological, and medication history will be discussed in detail. The person who is making the diagnosis will be asked for their details such as,

• Medical conditions,
• Social relationships,
• Stress levels,
• Medication history

Physical examination such as

• Pelvic Examination,
• Hormone level examination by simple blood tests,
• Imaging tests.

How is low libido treated?

Once the low libido has been diagnosed, it should be treated with the right, proven treatment methods. As there are many causes for low libido, the treatment methods also vary based on the cause of low sex drive.

• The primary treatment of low libido is providing basic education about sexual desire and responsiveness. By providing knowledge about sex, it is easy to overcome the anxiety about the functioning of sex.
• Stress Management is the next level of treatment for low libido. Stress management involves activities such as reading journals, exercising, traveling, meditation, and self-care activities.
• Low libido due to menopause condition will be treated with suitable hormone treatments. After the examination of the hormone level, it is decided which hormone therapy needs to be preferred. The two main hormone treatments include estrogen therapy and estrogen-progesterone/progestin hormone therapy.
• Psychological Therapy: Low libido due to psychological factors will be treated with the best mental health professional.
• Couples counseling is another treatment method that will be provided to both partners. By consulting with the mental health professional, the couple's relationship status will be analyzed and needed suggestions will be given.
• Sex therapy is one of the treatment methods to help the couple to overcome sex-related issues.

Conclusion

Low Libido or lack of sexual desire can occur from various reasons such as poor diet, unhealthy lifestyle, psychological problems, and lack of sleep.