An estimated 30 to 39 percent of women in any given population will report little or no interest in sex at any given time in their lives. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), more commonly referred to as low sex drive or libido is a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
During life is biggest physical and emotional changes perimenopause, postpartum phases, and menopause our reproductive hormones can become imbalanced. This is when lots of women first experience low sex drive, fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, and even digestive issues, all common symptoms of fluctuating hormones.
We know that virtually every woman can climax and indeed have multiple climaxes if the circumstances of her life are right. And these circumstances usually include having a caring, understanding partner who’s knowledgeable about sex and who uses that knowledge to help her relax and to reach orgasm.
“The average age of menopause in American women is 50.2 years of age. Women live, one average, to 80. So, she spends a third of her life dealing with menopause,” Johnson said. “By the year 2030, 1.2 billion women globally will be in menopause, and women are living longer and longer. So, this is a growing, major problem for female patients.”
Kenneth e. Johnson, DO, FACOOG, Chair, Dept. of Ob/GYN Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
This article looks into the possible reasons for the fall in sex drive, and how to get back on track:
- Lack of adequate knowledge of your physical Being: Understanding the physical changes that are occurring helps you make practical choices, so you can create a sex life that suits you now one that can be believe it or not better than ever. At some point in their lives, approximately 50% of women experience thinning, tightening, dryness, and atrophy (a decrease in muscle mass) in the vulva and vagina. These changes can cause irritation, soreness, itching, and severe pain during sex, as well as embarrassing urinary frequency and urgency. Women who have been unassertive about their sexuality in the past may be prepared to sacrifice their sex lives rather than speak up now about their sexual needs.
- Balance between the sex hormones: The estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Drifting away from 40 causes a decline in ovarian estrogen production, however, the body is designed to produce adequate estrogen from secondary sites, such as subcutaneous fat and the adrenal glands, as long as you provide the raw materials and support. Dietary adjustments, nutritional supplements, and targeted endocrine support are key parts of a combination approach to help symptoms that impair a woman’s libido. Testosterone is fundamental to our sex drive because it influences the entire circle of sex: interest, arousal, sexual response, lubrication, and orgasm. Normally, estrogen levels fall relatively quickly in women after menopause, while testosterone levels taper off more slowly. This leaves us comparatively testosterone dominant after our change of life, while men trend in the opposite general direction.
- Finding ways to a lasting OrgasmStress: The biggest obstacles to optimal sex hormone production is chronic stress. Under stress, progesterone, the precursor molecule to testosterone, is converted into stress hormones instead of sex hormones. And over time, this switchover results in lower testosterone levels and reduced libido, among many other possible health problems. Testosterone production in women takes place in both the ovaries and adrenal glands. Some women maintain good testosterone production throughout peri-menopause and menopause, and with few complaints. They may have better adrenal function and healthier metabolism due to good nutrition and a less stressful lifestyle.
- The partner Component: one of the biggest reasons women have arousal problems are because they don’t understand how their bodies work, they can’t communicate what they want to their partners, and their partners aren’t very good at arousing them. Many women don’t realize that their body needs foreplay in order to feel sexual excitement. Instead, some women think moving forward with intercourse is all they need to become aroused and have an orgasm. As a couple becomes overly familiar, they lose the mystery and lack of predictability that once facilitated sexual excitement.
- The medication Factor: Medications can also interfere with the ability to experience orgasm. Many antidepressants, including Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil have a high propensity to cause such problems. In addition, antipsychotic drugs such as Haldol, Thorazine and Mellaril can cause inability to reach orgasm and Valium may delay orgasm. Fortunately there are other antidepressants (Wellbutrin SR) and antipsychotic drugs (Zyprexa and Seroquel), which don’t seem to cause inability to experience orgasm. Antihypertensive drugs may also interfere with orgasm.
Hints to Boost Libido:
- Take an outing to an upscale sex shop with a group of friends, or go by yourself the products there will amuse you, you may be pleasantly surprised by, and interested in, the offerings there. There are good over-the-counter lubricants, such as Wet, Silk, Astroglide, Senselle and K-Y Jelly. These are all suitable, by the way, for any age of woman.
- Check out the latest books about sex. If you’re too embarrassed to browse the shelves at your local bookstore, check out some online bookshops.
- Entertain some new techniques with your partner, or on your own maybe something outside your comfort zone but still safe.
- Finding ways to a lasting Orgasm Watch an erotic movie with your partner or by yourself, and notice what turns you on. Or watch a movie with one of your favorite actors whoever you classify as eye candy!
- Adding or changing medication. Sometimes the problem of HSDD can be solved simply by changing medications, from an older psychoactive drug that interferes with sexual desire, for example, to one of the newer drugs with fewer side effects. The addition of some drugs for underlying conditions.
- Practicing sound nutrition to support physical and emotional health – a diet rich in estrogenic food (soy, apples, alfalfa, cherries, potatoes, rice, wheat and yams).
- Taking steps to get regular, restorative sleep.
- Exercising, to build energy and stamina, both elements of libido. Exercise can also directly reduce menopausal symptoms.
- Healing old emotional wounds, and being aware that stress takes both an emotional and physical toll on your libido. Your sexual desire may diminish or even disappear temporarily, but it can and will come back. We see it happen all the time! That’s why reducing physical symptoms by restoring hormonal balance and supporting your emotional health are so important.
- Understanding that your self-image and sexual identity evolve throughout your life. It�s a gift to allow yourself to be (and look like) the woman you really are.
Your sexuality is an expression of your creative life force, with great influence on your health and well-being.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
