A woman’s sexual desires naturally vary over the years and low sex drive affects at least one out of five women in the United States.
While emotions are frequently behind a loss of sex drive in younger women, doctors say it is frequently the aging process itself that’s behind desire changes in women over age 45.
Highs and lows sexual desire commonly coincide with the beginning or end of a relationship or with major life changes, such as pregnancy, menopause or illness.
A low sex drive is the most common sexual complaint made by women - up to 30% to 40% of them. The American Medical Association has estimated that several million US women suffer from low sex drive or libido.
A low sex drive in women refers to a lack of interest in sexual relations. In medical terms, you have hypoactive sexual desire disorder if you have a persistent or recurrent lack of interest in sex that causes you personal distress. It is not unusual to experience a temporary decline in sexual desire at some point, and many women do. But if it persists, it may present problems.
Low sex drive can result from physical conditions (such as illness or pregnancy), psychological issues (such as stress or anxiety), or other factors.
The major symptom of low sex drive in women is a low or absent desire for sex. According to some studies, more than 40 percent of women complain of low sexual desire at some point. The percentage is smaller — 5 percent to 15 percent — if you only count women with ongoing problems.
Researchers acknowledge that it’s difficult to measure what’s normal and what’s not. There is no number to define low sex drive. It varies from woman to woman.
The signs of a low sex drive include:
- Less frequent sexual thoughts and fantasies
- Reduced sexual desire
- Reluctance to initiate sex
- Less frequent masturbation
- Lack of desire for sex when you’ve gone without sex for days, weeks, or months (depending on what was previously normal for you)
Causes can include:
- Sexual problems: Pain during sex – dyspareunia - or inability to orgasm.
- Medical diseases: Nonsexual diseases including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and neurological diseases. Infertility also can contribute to low sex drive, even after infertility treatments are over.
- Medications: Prescription medications including antidepressants, blood pressure medications, chemotherapy drugs and antihistamines.
- Alcohol and drugs.
- Surgery: Surgeries related to your breasts or your genital tract can affect your body image, function and desire for sex.
- Fatigue
Hormone changes can also lead to low sexual drive:
Menopause: Estrogen levels drop during the transition to menopause, which can cause a decreased interest in sex and dryer vaginal tissues, resulting in painful or uncomfortable sex. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Hormone changes during pregnancy, after having a baby and during breast-feeding. Also, fatigue, changes in body image can contribute to changes in your sexual desire.
Psychological causes that can guide you to low sexual drive:
- Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- Stress, such as financial stress or work stress
- Poor body image
- Low self-esteem
- History of physical or sexual abuse
Relationship issues might also lead you to low sexual desire:
- Lack of connection with your partner
- Unresolved conflicts or fights
- Poor communication of sexual needs and preferences
- Infidelity or breach of trust
But loss of sex drive is not something you have to live with; there is much you can do to regain your sex drive and your happy outlook on life. Talk to you doctor about it. |
