Let’s face it a woman’s sex drive is complicated and often challenging to understand.  A low sex drive or low libido is the most common sexual complaint affecting millions of women. Women’s sexual desire and appetite begins in that great organ above the shoulders, rather than the one below the waist. The daily stresses of work, money, children, relationships and diminished energy are common issues contributing to low libido in women. Other causes may be depression, anxiety, lack of privacy, medication side effects, medical conditions such as endometriosis or arthritis, menopausal symptoms such as a dry vagina, or a history of physical or sexual abuse.

1. Stress- Stress not only affects our body physically but also affects our emotions and behaviors.From the moment you feel emotional stressed your body has a series of hormonal changes that create physical reactions.  For those suffering from constant and on-going stress, long term physical and mental medical complication can occur.  Depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss or weight gain, poor concentration, accidents, high blood pressure and heartbeat irregularities are some of the common medical conditions associated with chronic stress.  All of these types of stress related medical conditions drop your libido quickly.
2. Pelvic Pain-There are many causes of pelvic pain including endometriosis, a sexually transmitted infection, vaginal dryness, uterine fibroids and positional penetration. Pain with intimacy is a common reason that flattens sex drive. If pelvic pain is causing a low drive than discussing this with a health care provider will help to identify the cause and treatment options.
3. Hormonal changes that lower estrogen levels as seen postpartum, perimenopause and menopause, will affect libido and vaginal lubrication. The female hormone estrogen plays a key role in women’s sexual functioning. Estrogen helps maintain the genital tissue sensitivity, elasticity, secretions and pH and microbiome flora balance. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) describes vaginal dryness, burning and irritation and sexual symptoms including lack of lubrication, discomfort or pain with sexual intercourse and urinary symptoms including urgency, pain and frequency with urination. When estrogen flucuates or dimenishes, physical, emotional and mental changes occur. These normal hormonal cycles cause erratic or low levels of estrogen which have an obvious impact in lowering sex drive.
4. Any history of sexual abuse and trauma (emotional or physical) can contribute to an aversion or general dislike of sex causing a low sex drive. A devastating experience that leads to “post-traumatic stress disorder” may only enable you to feel pain with sex. As in dealing with emotional problems, therapy and an open communication with your partner is key to helping resolve issues linked to abuse and trauma.

Medical conditions/medications and Lower libido?

Medications and alcohol can decrease a sex drive. Medications including birth control pills, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, narcotics and mood alternating drugs can lower sex drive and make having an orgasm difficult. Allergy medications, not only dry up your sinuses but also your vaginal tissue, making natural sexual lubrication challenging.

For those suffering from constant and on-going stress, long term physical and mental medical complication can occur.  Depression, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss or weight gain, poor concentration, accidents, high blood pressure and heartbeat irregularities are some of the common medical conditions associated with chronic stress.  All of these types of stress related medical conditions drop your libido quickly.

Medical conditions including polycystic ovary syndrome, hypothyroidism, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause, genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), depression, anxiety, chronic stress, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain are the more common conditions associated with a low libido.

Increase your libido

In order to improve your sex drive you have to understand the cause of why it’s being affected. When you can identify the cause, you can take steps at improving it.

1. Exercise is the perfect prescription for so many medical conditions, sex included. Women who do moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise showed an increase in libido and sexual performance.  During exercise the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones are released which are responsible for this health benefit.
2. Stress doesn’t have to be associated with a negative physical or mental outcome, especially in the bedroom.  How you manage and control your behaviors in reaction to stressors can be controlled through making healthy life choices. Therapy and medications are often needed if stress become unmanageable.
3. Foreplay begins in our greatest erogenous zone that sits on our shoulders. The little pink pill, also known as Addyi works at the core of a low sex drive begins. Even though the exact mechanism is not completely known studies show there are areas in the brain that control women’s sexual response for those suffering from HSDD.
4. Addyi is thought to work on neurotransmitters in the brain including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which are all thought to be involved with sexual desire The “pink” pill for women encourages the chemicals in the brain to get excited about sex and inhibits those that have a negative effect on the desire to have sex.
5. Testosterone is a medication that can be given for a low sex drive. Testosterone comes in many different forms, from lozenges, creams, ointments and gels, that go on the legs, arms or stomach area. The dose given should be discussed with your health care team. Side effects of testosterone therapy include acne, hair growth the face and body, hair loss on the head, and weight gain.
6. GSM does not have to ruin a sexual relationship with your partner if you start using vaginal estrogen, DHEA or vaginal hyaluronic acid regularly. Keeping the vulva and vagina hydrated and moisturized with products designed specifically for this sensitize pH balance area must be a priority.  The Morpheus8 and Mona Lisa Laser are other treatment options for GSM.

Foods to Increase Libido

It would be great if you could eat to way to a healthy sex drive but unfortunately, this is not the case. There are well known aphrodisiac foods including oysters, strawberries, chocolate, figs, avocados and asparagus that help support a healthy sex drive. Eating a colorful and healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, seeds and spices like saffron, ginger and cinnamon, help promote a well-nourished body that supports an overall well-being.

Avoid highly processed foods, excessive alcohol and caffeine, high-sodium foods and food intolerances or allergies.