Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Low Libido?Other Low Libido SymptomsCausesDiagnosisRelated ConditionsTreatmentsLifestyle and Home Remedies for Low LibidoCopingHow to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Low Libido?
Other Low Libido Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Related Conditions
Treatments
Lifestyle and Home Remedies for Low Libido
Coping
How to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
It’s normal for women’s libido, or sex drive, to fluctuate across time, especially because of major life changes or stress. Sometimes, hormonal or physical changes are at play. Certain medications can lead tosexual dysfunction, including a low libido in women. In many cases, a reduced sex drive is nothing to worry about. However, if your low libido persists or is causing you personal distress, it could be classified as a condition.
Here’s everything you need to know about low libido in women, from common symptoms and causes to treatment options, coping tips, and more.
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What Is a Low Libido in Women?
Libido, or “sex drive,” refers to your sexual desire and appetite. This includes your desire to have sex and your sexual fantasies, thoughts, and pleasure.
Low libido is one kind of sexual dysfunction that affects women. Many women with a reduced sex drive may also have trouble becoming and remaining aroused, reaching orgasm, and/or enjoying sex. This can affect your personal life in several ways, from interfering with your sexual pleasure and self-esteem to causing problems with romantic partners.
Other Symptoms of Low Libido in Women
TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-5) defines female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD) as a condition that causes women to have difficulty becoming sexually aroused and/or staying aroused during sex.Previously known ashypoactive sexual desire disorder(HSDD), this condition affects around 10% of women in the United States.
Signs and symptoms of a low libido in women include:
What Causes Low Libido in Women?
Women experience a reduced sex drive for many different reasons. Common causes of low libido include physical, hormonal, and psychological changes, as well as relationship concerns.
Physical Causes
Many women notice a downturn in their libido if they experience pain during sex. There are many possible reasons for painful sex, including:
Several prescription medications can reduce your appetite for sex. It may be the culprit if your symptoms started when you began taking a certain medication, .
Medications with low libido as a potential side effect include:
Finally, misusing drugs and alcohol can sometimes lead to low libido in women.
Hormone Changes
Your hormones play a key role in your sexual desire, drive, and pleasure. Hormone-related reasons that your sex drive may take a dip include:
Psychological Causes
When it comes to sex, it’s difficult to separate your mind from your body. Your emotional and psychological well-being can affect your sex drive in a variety of ways.
For example, women can experience a loss of libido due to:
Relationship Issues
If you’re having trouble connecting with your partner, your sex drive may follow suit. For example, the following relationship issues may have a negative impact on your desire to have (and especially initiate) sex:
How Is Low Libido in Women Diagnosed?
To diagnose you with female sexual interest/arousal disorder or any other condition related to low libido, your healthcare provider may perform a physical examination (including a pelvic exam). They’ll also most likely ask you about your current symptoms, such assexual pain, as well as your mental health, medical history, and any medications you’re taking.
Possible Conditions That Cause Low Libido in Women
In some cases, low sex drive is due to an underlying health condition. Long-term health conditions that have been linked to low libido in women include:
Low Libido Treatment Options
There are many differenttreatment options available for low libido, depending on the cause. If your low sex drive is related to an underlying physical or psychological condition, treating that condition may help to improve your sex life as well. Other options include sex therapy, counseling, medications, and hormone therapy.
Sex Education and Counseling
In some cases, counseling and sex education can help you address an unwanted low libido and its underlying causes. For example, you and/or your partner could reach out to:
Medications
Hormone Therapy
If your libido has decreased due to menopause or a hormonal imbalance, your healthcare provider may recommendhormone replacement therapy(HRT). HRT involves taking synthetic hormones, typically estrogen and progesterone, to increase your sex drive and relieve vaginal dryness, among other symptoms.
These hormones may be delivered in the form of:
Some serious potential side effects are associated with HRT, such as an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether it’s the right choice.
There are several steps you can take to boost your sex drive and make sex more pleasurable, including:
There is some evidence that certain supplements may help to boost women’s libido, such as:
Coping and Support
Dealing with low libido can sometimes make you feel alone. Here are a few ways to cope with a reduced sex drive and find the support you need:
Tips for Talking to a Healthcare Provider
You might want to talk to a healthcare provider about your low libido if:
It can seem intimidating to talk to a healthcare provider about your sex life, but it doesn’t have to be. To start the conversation, you can say something as simple as “I’m not enjoying physical intimacy as much as I did before” or “I have some concerns about my sex drive.” Before your appointment, you may also want to keep a journal of your physical and emotional symptoms for a few weeks so you can take note of any patterns and discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Summary
Your sex drive will most likely fluctuate throughout your life. In most cases, that’s perfectly normal. Factors like hormonal changes, stress, aging, certain medications, and relationship issues can all affect our desire for sex.
However, if you’re frustrated with your lack of sexual desire and arousal, you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to talk to your healthcare provider about your low libido. They can help you find a wealth of support, resources, and effective treatment options. They can also rule out any underlying physical conditions that could be affecting your sex drive.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your sexual health.American Psychological Association.Female sexual arousal disorder.Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH.Treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder among women: general considerations and pharmacological options.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200039The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.When sex is painful.National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.National Health Service Inform.Loss of libido.Inayat K, Danish N, Hassan L.Symptoms of menopause in peri and postmenopausal women and their attitude towards them.J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2017;29(3):477-480.Holanda JBL, Richter S, Campos RB, Trindade RFC, Monteiro JCD, Gomes-Sponholz FA.Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women.Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2021;29:e3438. doi:10.1590/1518.8345.3160.3438Basson R, Gilks T.Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment.Women’s Health (Lond). 2018;14:1745506518762664. doi:10.1177/1745506518762664U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common sexual health problems and who can help.MedlinePlus.Women and sexual problems.MedlinePlus.Flibanserin.MedlinePlus.Bremelanotide injection.MedlinePlus.Hormone replacement therapy.Dording CM, Sangermano L.Female sexual dysfunction: natural and complementary treatments.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2018;16(1):19-23. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170049
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your sexual health.American Psychological Association.Female sexual arousal disorder.Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH.Treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder among women: general considerations and pharmacological options.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200039The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.When sex is painful.National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.National Health Service Inform.Loss of libido.Inayat K, Danish N, Hassan L.Symptoms of menopause in peri and postmenopausal women and their attitude towards them.J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2017;29(3):477-480.Holanda JBL, Richter S, Campos RB, Trindade RFC, Monteiro JCD, Gomes-Sponholz FA.Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women.Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2021;29:e3438. doi:10.1590/1518.8345.3160.3438Basson R, Gilks T.Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment.Women’s Health (Lond). 2018;14:1745506518762664. doi:10.1177/1745506518762664U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common sexual health problems and who can help.MedlinePlus.Women and sexual problems.MedlinePlus.Flibanserin.MedlinePlus.Bremelanotide injection.MedlinePlus.Hormone replacement therapy.Dording CM, Sangermano L.Female sexual dysfunction: natural and complementary treatments.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2018;16(1):19-23. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170049
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your sexual health.American Psychological Association.Female sexual arousal disorder.Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH.Treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder among women: general considerations and pharmacological options.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200039The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.When sex is painful.National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.National Health Service Inform.Loss of libido.Inayat K, Danish N, Hassan L.Symptoms of menopause in peri and postmenopausal women and their attitude towards them.J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2017;29(3):477-480.Holanda JBL, Richter S, Campos RB, Trindade RFC, Monteiro JCD, Gomes-Sponholz FA.Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women.Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2021;29:e3438. doi:10.1590/1518.8345.3160.3438Basson R, Gilks T.Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment.Women’s Health (Lond). 2018;14:1745506518762664. doi:10.1177/1745506518762664U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common sexual health problems and who can help.MedlinePlus.Women and sexual problems.MedlinePlus.Flibanserin.MedlinePlus.Bremelanotide injection.MedlinePlus.Hormone replacement therapy.Dording CM, Sangermano L.Female sexual dysfunction: natural and complementary treatments.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2018;16(1):19-23. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170049
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your sexual health.
American Psychological Association.Female sexual arousal disorder.
Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH.Treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder among women: general considerations and pharmacological options.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20200039
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.When sex is painful.
National Health Service.Vaginal dryness.
National Health Service Inform.Loss of libido.
Inayat K, Danish N, Hassan L.Symptoms of menopause in peri and postmenopausal women and their attitude towards them.J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2017;29(3):477-480.
Holanda JBL, Richter S, Campos RB, Trindade RFC, Monteiro JCD, Gomes-Sponholz FA.Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women.Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2021;29:e3438. doi:10.1590/1518.8345.3160.3438
Basson R, Gilks T.Women’s sexual dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders and their treatment.Women’s Health (Lond). 2018;14:1745506518762664. doi:10.1177/1745506518762664
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Common sexual health problems and who can help.
MedlinePlus.Women and sexual problems.
MedlinePlus.Flibanserin.
MedlinePlus.Bremelanotide injection.
MedlinePlus.Hormone replacement therapy.
Dording CM, Sangermano L.Female sexual dysfunction: natural and complementary treatments.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2018;16(1):19-23. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170049
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