What Causes Low Sex Drive in Women?

The term low sex drive in women refers to a diminished sexual desire in women. If you are the one going through it, then you have to understand that every woman experiences this at some stage in their lives. Sometimes it just lasts for a few weeks, and sometimes it lingers for quite some time.

Some people also search for what the causes behind low sex drive in females really are. This can not be answered in one line since there are a number of factors affecting libido, like physical health, emotional health, lifestyle, and hormones. We will delve deeper into this later on.

Common Causes of Low Sex Drive in Women

There could be a number of things causing low sex drive in women, and since every woman is different, understanding the actual reason is the first step towards resolving the issue.

Hormonal Changes

Hormones play a major role in sexual desire. Certain conditions and life stages like pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and menopause can alter a woman’s libido. It is temporary in some cases for a woman; however, in other cases it may last for a long time.

Stress And Mental Load

In this age and time, when everything is accelerating at a rapid rate, there are a ton of things a working woman has to take care of. For instance, there are daily responsibilities, office pressure, taking care of children, and financial issues. The brain gets so stuffed by all of these factors that there is little to no energy left for intimacy. When the brain is in survival mode, just trying to make it through the day, sexual desire may naturally fade away.

Emotional Health

Certain psychological conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, or emotional burnout may significantly affect libido. If the brain is in a constant state of stress, the libido diminishes naturally.

Relationship Problems

If you are in a relationship with weak communication, unresolved conflicts, trust issues, or emotional disconnection, sexual desire may weaken slowly. Not every case of low libido is linked to a medical issue. Sometimes, relationship dynamics play a huge role in low desire.

Medical Conditions

Apart from the psychological factors outlined above, there are certain medical conditions like thyroid disorders, hormonal disorders, chronic pain, diabetes, and other medical conditions that may affect libido. In the same way, certain antidepressants and blood pressure meds may also have an effect on sexual desire.

Can Low Sex Drive in Females Happen Without a Serious Disease?

Not every case of low sex drive is necessarily driven by a certain medical condition. Low sex drive in females may also be affected by lifestyle choices, which we will discuss in detail below.

Poor Sleep

Less sleep is one of those things that doesn’t just cause tiredness. It also affects hormones and alters mood. If you are experiencing less sleep on a regular basis, then it is quite possible that your low desire is being caused by sleep entirely.

Physical Exhaustion

Constant workload or lack of exercise may also affect libido. When the body is tired, the brain really doesn’t care about intimacy.

Body Image Issues

Some women have negative feelings about their body or physical features. If even you are not confident about your body image and looks, then sexual confidence can take a hit, and so can the libido.

Lack of Emotional Intimacy

Everything mentioned still does not paint the whole story. Appreciation, emotional support, safety, and healthy communication all play a major role in maintaining sexual desire.

Low Sex Drive in Women and HSDD: Are They the Same?

Every woman is different, and so is their sexual desire pattern. Therefore, it is important not to jump to conclusions as soon as you hear the word. It is especially important to understand that it is not always the same as HSDD or Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, which is a specific condition. Low libido could just be an experience or symptom, whereas HSDD is a specific clinical term that refers to a low sex drive that has been going on for a long time and is causing significant distress in the person’s personal or married life.

So even though they may share some traits, they are not the same. Every woman who experiences a low sex drive does not necessarily have HSDD. HSDD doesn’t just mean a low sex desire; rather, it is a deficiency that is significantly affecting the person’s life emotionally, personally, or mentally.

Risk Factors That Can Increase the Chances

There are a number of factors that can increase the chances of you having a low libido. They are:

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Certain prescription medications
• Relationship difficulties
• Lack of sleep
• Long-term health conditions
• Hormonal alterations with age
• Menopause
• Chronic Stress
• Anxiety or Depression
• Excessive alcohol consumption or smoking

One or more of these factors may work in conjunction to decrease your libido.

Can Low Libido Improve?

The good news is once the underlying issue is identified, it is fairly easy to resolve this issue. For instances:

• If the issue is stress, stress management techniques can help.
• If relationship issues are affecting libido, then healthy communication or couples therapy under the guidance of a competent couples therapist can improve the condition.
• If it is being caused by a certain medication, then talking to your doctor about an alternative can help.
• If the issue is medical or hormonal, then appropriate treatment can also help improve libido.

The most important thing is that each individual’s experiences are different; therefore, what benefits one woman may not benefit another. Hence, it is important to first get to the root cause of the issue that is affecting your libido in the first place and then follow the advice of a medical health professional.

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

If low libido is something you have not been experiencing for just a few days but it has been going on for months, then it is definitely not normal. Similarly, if it is causing significant emotional problems or affecting your relationship, then you should definitely seek professional help.

Doctors, gynecologists, sex therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists can all help depending on the root cause. They can get to the root cause once they have a record of your medical history, emotional health, current relationship status, among other things. Only after that can a plan be charted for your treatment.

Final Thoughts

Low sex drive in women is a common issue, and the reason may vary from one woman to another. Sometimes hormones are responsible, sometimes it is chronic stress, sometimes anxiety, depression, relationship issues, lifestyle choices, medical conditions, or so on. In the meantime, it is also important not to confuse low sex drive in females with HSDD if it has just been going on for a few days.

The most important thing is identifying the root cause behind the condition instead of ignoring it. The earlier an issue is tackled head-on, the quicker and smoother the recovery is in most cases. Merely brushing it off won’t make it magically disappear.

Author: Dr Tahira Rubab Hafeez

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