Libido or ‘sex drive’ is your sexual instinct or erotic desire for sexual pleasure. Libido varies from person to person and different factors are responsible for it. The sex hormones namely estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels play a major role in deciding the sex drive and these hormones keep fluctuating or changing throughout not just your life but also during the day. This rise and fall of hormones to affect the sex drive along with it. The estrogen levels rise before and during ovulation in people with ovaries, causing an increase in sex drive.
“Loss of sexual desire, known in medical terms as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most common form of sexual dysfunction among women of all ages. A recent study showed that nearly one-third of women aged 18 to 59 suffer from a lost interest in sex, and it’s not all in their heads.”
www.webmd.com
Though research suggests that the libido in women is highest between the ages of 18 and 24, there is no age limit as since sex drive depends on several factors.
What causes low libido?
- Unresolved conflict and frequent arguments with a partner
- Poor communication with partner
- Hormonal imbalance with low testosterone
- Chronic illnesses
- Medications like antidepressants
- Stressful work-life routine
- Body image issues
- Mental health and medical problems
- Menopause, age and falling androgens
Hence determining the cause of a low libido can also help in treating it effectively with the following options:
- Sex therapy and/or relationship counseling.
- Changing medications or altering the dose.
- Addressing underlying medical conditions.
- Vaginal estrogens.
- Testosterone therapy.
Over-the-counter medications and pills are not evidence-based or tested for their efficacy hence should be avoided.
Also, a more psychological approach helps with the ‘mind over matter’ concept of helping women combat a falling libido.
“A woman’s libido is a muscle. If she doesn’t use it, she’ll lose it”, says Dr. Elly Michelle Lieppman, ND. Elly helps women transform their relationship with their bodies and connect with their inner radiance through balancing hormones, healing the metabolism, and cultivating intimacy with their bodies.
So according to Dr. Elly, since libido is a muscle and since muscles don’t magically appear, you have to put in the work to train them and you have to feed them. Libido is something we train, cultivate, and feed within ourselves as women.
“A common misconception about the female libido is that it’s either there or it’s not. Many women think if they don’t have it, there’s something wrong with them. Or maybe they just naturally have a low sex drive”, says Elly.
“You can absolutely train yourself to have a strong, healthy sex drive, is what she thinks. “We might not *feel* like going to the gym to work out, but we do it anyway because it’s good for us and we know how much better we will feel afterward! I encourage women to apply this same mindset to their libido”.
Some other ways to naturally pep up a falling sex drive and generally improve sexual health may also include lifestyle changes and bring a more healthy approach physically and mentally in life.
- Eat a healthy diet and include natural aphrodisiacs in your meal
- Have a good sleep cycle and be well rested
- Exercise regularly
Some popular aphrodisiacs when it comes to food include:
- Strawberries boost the adrenal gland and are known to produce hormones that help women orgasm.
- Basil improves blood flow and increase heart rate.
- Cinnamon heats up the body, which in turn boosts your sex drive.
- Fenugreek is known to increase the production of testosterone.
- Aniseed is another popular aphrodisiac
- Ginger is known to increase circulation and body temperature, increasing desire.
- Honey is packed with vitamin B and known to support testosterone production.
But for some people lack of a sex drive may not be a result of the above factors but a medical condition in itself. Female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD) is a form of sexual dysfunction where there is a persistent lack of sexual desire, which is not caused by a medical condition or medications. This type of condition may require medication and counseling as treatment.