WHAT IS LOW LIBIDO?
Low libido is defined as difficulty becoming sexually aroused. Since there is no way to measure “enough” desire for sex, a “low” libido is subjective and can only be measured by what YOU consider to be “not enough”. This does not mean that your partner thinks it is enough, or even what you heard your neighbor thinks is normal. Everyone has a different ideal level of sexual desire.
If you are troubled by how little you think about or desire sex read ahead. A low libido can interfere in your relationship, rob you of a natural stress reliever and take away one of the most important pleasures in life.
CAUSES OF LOW LIBIDO
HORMONAL CHANGES:
Hormonal changes are the number one reason for a drop in libido. A hormonal change can kill a libido or drive someone horny all of the time. Hormones change normally over time and in different stages of life.
1. Birth Control Pills: In the past the birth control pill contained high levels of both estrogen and progesterone. Any tiny imbalance of these hormones can set your libido off kilter. Today the pills are still effective as a fraction of the dosage and are less likely to cause low libido, but if you are sensitive to hormones, which many women are, your dosage may be enough to knock out your desire. Talk to your doctor about switching to a dosage/combination of pill that will not cause a low libido.
2. Pregnancy: When pregnant your body spurts progesterone (known as the pregnancy hormone) preparing the body to create a soft cushy place for your fetus to live. Unfortunately, large doses of progesterone, no matter how normal and natural can kill cause a low libido. Desire fluctuates for other reasons too during pregnancy.
Many women lose their desire for sex in the first three months because of morning sickness, making you too ill to want sex only to have it return (in spades) in the second trimester and then fade again with your ever-growing belly leaving you feeling too uncomfortable or unattractive to have sex. Have heart, it is only temporary. Hormone levels will return to normal, morning sickness will go away and many partners find a pregnant belly irresistible.
3. Menopause: Hormones go all over the place in peri-menopause and menopause. By definition your hormones, especially estrogen, start to drop. Again it is the balance between the hormones that kills the drive for sex and causes a low libido.
Progesterone. Just like large amounts of progesterone will kill drive, so will too small amounts. As progesterone levels drop, so does sex drive. Progesterone creams, used topically on the skin, have been found to decrease the symptoms of menopause including boosting a sagging sex drive. We have found Emerita Progesterone cream manufacturer to be the most knowledgeable and effective.
Dropping estrogen levels can cause the lining of your vagina to thin making sexual activity uncomfortable leading to an avoidance of sex. Topical estrogen creams are very effective at building up the walls of the vagina to pre-menopausal levels making the vaginal wall soft and supple again. Estrogen replacement therapy can be effective in preparing your body for sex, but be aware that the extra estrogen may disrupt the balance of other hormones such as free testosterone.
If testosterone drops below a threshold level, causing a testosterone deficiency. Since testosterone is directly related to desire, any drop in testosterone will cause a low libido. Many studies showed testosterone to decrease sexual inhibition and increase sexual fantasy and arousal. As a rule, however, it only has any significant affect in women who have a deficiency of testosterone.
PAIN WITH SEX:
One sure-fire way to get turned off is pain. Common forms of sexual pain are: a) a painful vulva due to swelling and irritation (vulvodynia); b) involuntary muscles spasm in the vagina (vaginismus); c) burning or itching in the vagina; d) sharp pain with thrusting; or d) tenderness of the bladder. Many of these could be due to infections. See your doctor.
It isn’t just pain during sex that can inhibit. Even the anticipation of pain with sex can lead to a memory in your body that puts a stop to a rousing sex drive. Past painful experiences condition your body to get tense, tightening muscles and restricting blood flow leading to a turn down of sexual heat.
ILLNESS:
Illness is the anti-libido. When you are ill your body is focused on getting well. Libido naturally falls off the bodies priority list.
- Cancer can focus attention on survival more than sex. And the surgery and chemotherapy used in treatment may make you temporarily feel too sick for sex. Chemotherapy may affect hormonal levels (estrogen and testosterone) due to damage to ovarian function. Hormonal therapy may be necessary to return hormones to their normal levels.
- Diabetes (vaginal dryness, decreased genital sensitivity and decreased libido).
- Heart and Lung diseases can interfere by taking away the energy reserves needed to have sex.
- STI’s can get in the way of sexual enjoyment and deter any sexual activity until dealt with.
- Other illness such as MS, autoimmune diseases and arthritis are known to directly affect sexual function and deplete arousal.
MEDICATIONS:
Often it is not the illness, but rather the medication that can leave some women feeling impotent.
Anti-depressants: Anti-depressants don’t inherently decrease the urge for sex. But what they do is make it extra difficult to have an orgasm. After a while your body learns not to get aroused because it knows it will just get frustrated.
Blood pressure medications:
Interfere with the nervous system including the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and prevents blood flow to the genitals.
SPECTATORING:
This is one of the biggest killers of libido known to woman. Being able to multi-task can be a positive thing when you need to juggle kids schedules, work, home and marriage all at the same time, but it is not such a positive trait when you are trying to get aroused and reach orgasm. Focus, focus, focus is the mantra when it comes to arousal. Stay with the stimulation, the fantasy or your lover. If your mind is wandering to the bills or the kids, perhaps you need take care of the things before you even start to get aroused. Create a private time and space where you know you will not be disturbed. Read erotic fiction or watch a sexy (explicit) film.
BODY IMAGE:
Many women have been exposed to the traditional belief that their sexual value is in their attractiveness. Being overweight or just feeling unattractive can kill your drive. It is strong woman who can bypass this programming and focus in on her own sexual feelings. Or turn out the lights or play by yourself to practice emerging yourself into your own sexual bliss without some imaginary (or real) eyes judging you.
PAST SEXUAL ABUSE:
Approximately 24% of women have experienced some sort of sexual abuse. After a traumatic sexual experience your body learned to put sex into the category of activities that cause tension and pain. Past sexual abuse can cause the body to “clam up” with tension before you even get to the foreplay. Once tight and tense, your body’s juices stop flowing. Blood flow will not make its way to the genitals and skin. These areas will become less sensitive to touch and arousal will be more difficult, if not painful. Staci Haines has written a wonderfully sensitive book on the subject called Survivors Guide to Sex.
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