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.

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.

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.
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.

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.