Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWithout MedicationWith MedicationHypersexuality With Co-MorbiditiesControlling LibidoAfter Coming Off Medication
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Without Medication
With Medication
Hypersexuality With Co-Morbidities
Controlling Libido
After Coming Off Medication
Sexuality exists on a spectrum, and what’s normal for you may differ from another. If your sex drive is interfering with your everyday life, causing discomfort, distress, and distractions, you may be wondering if you can control your libido and, if so, how.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman / Getty Images
How to Lower Sex Drive Without Medication
There are several methods to try to lower your sex drive without medication. Here are a few options to explore.
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—SOMA MANDAL, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT
Mindfulness-Based Techniques
Research in this area leans toward mindfulness for treating low arousal, enhancing sexual want or desire, or reducing sexual anxieties.However, more research is needed to confirm this.
It’s important to note research on complementary and alternative treatment methods for hypersexuality is scarce, and limited findings are hard to generalize.
What Is Mindfulness Therapy?
Masturbation
Masturbation can help treat sexual problems and relieve sexual tension. Masturbation also carries no risk of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
Does Masturbation Decrease Testosterone?
Can Eating Certain Foods Lower Sex Drive?Anti-aphrodisiacs are foods that lower testosterone, which is associated with lower sex drive. Examples include spearmint and licorice, but more studies are needed to confirm their effects.
Can Eating Certain Foods Lower Sex Drive?
Anti-aphrodisiacs are foods that lower testosterone, which is associated with lower sex drive. Examples include spearmint and licorice, but more studies are needed to confirm their effects.
Therapy
Working with asex therapistor psychotherapist can also provide a safe space to explore sexual concerns.Hypersexuality is also sometimes referred to assex addiction.You may also consider working with an addiction specialist, especially if you are living with co-morbid substance use disorder orbehavioral addictions.
Defining the Role of a Sex Therapist
How to Lower Sex Drive With Medication
Many medications may lower your libido, but whether or not they’re right for you depends on factors like your health history and current conditions and medications. Consult with a healthcare provider to determine which medication, if any, may be suitable for hypersexuality.
Medications associated with loss of libido include:
Antidepressants and LibidoIt’s well-known thatselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)used in antidepressant drugs likeProzac (fluoxetine)may contribute to loss of libido during and after treatment.Other types of antidepressants, includingserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or SNRIslike Effexor, are also associated with sexual side effects.
Antidepressants and Libido
It’s well-known thatselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)used in antidepressant drugs likeProzac (fluoxetine)may contribute to loss of libido during and after treatment.Other types of antidepressants, includingserotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or SNRIslike Effexor, are also associated with sexual side effects.
Serotonin’s Role in Ejaculation
Addressing co-morbidities with hypersexuality is essential for ensuring appropriate treatment of underlying and contributing causes. Common co-morbidities associated with hypersexuality include:
Understand Hypersexuality and Bipolar Disorder
Reasons to Control Libido
There is no right or wrong level of libido to have. Some people may want to have sex more often than others, and this can change over time.
People may want to control their libido to commit to celibacy or try to match a partner’s sex drive. If high libido is impacting other areas of your life negatively, it may be time to learn to control it.
Sex and Gender and HypersexualityPast studies suggest cisgender men, on average, have a higher sex drive than cisgender women.Studies like this don’t take into account fluctuating sex drive during menstruation or associated reasons for wanting to control the increased sex drive during ovulation (i.e., when estrogen peaks alongside chances of getting pregnant).
Sex and Gender and Hypersexuality
Past studies suggest cisgender men, on average, have a higher sex drive than cisgender women.Studies like this don’t take into account fluctuating sex drive during menstruation or associated reasons for wanting to control the increased sex drive during ovulation (i.e., when estrogen peaks alongside chances of getting pregnant).
Mental Health and Other Reasons
Mental health, physical health, and sleep health are other reasons someone may try to control their sex drive.
Hypersexuality can contribute to:
Everything You Need to Know About Low Libido in Women
Sex Drive After Coming Off Medication
Coming off certain medications can impact your sex drive. If you’re tapering off SSRI antidepressants, for example, sexual effects, including loss of libido, may still endure or worsen post-treatment. Since 2006, this type of enduring impact on sex drive after coming off medication has been reported as post-SSRI sexual dysfunction syndrome.
Timelines for how your sex drive is affected coming off other medications will depend on numerous factors. If you have specific questions, consult with your prescribing provider. Do not attempt to stop medication without consultation, as withdrawal and relapse can occur.
Summary
Several methods may be used to decrease libido, including mindfulness-based techniques and certain medications, if appropriate, based on your health history, conditions, and medication list. People may try to control their libido for different reasons ranging from religious reasons to mental health reasons. Coming off medication can also impact sex drive for an extended period. If you’re concerned about hypersexuality, you may want to consider speaking with a healthcare provider or mental healthcare provider like a sex therapist.
16 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.
Jaderek I, Lew-Starowicz M.A systematic review on mindfulness meditation-based interventions for sexual dysfunctions.J Sex Med. 2019;16(10):1581-1596. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.07.019
Larraz AMC, Moya AV, Actis CC.Mindfulness-based intervention and sexuality: a systematic review.Trends Psychiatry Psychother. doi:10.47626/2237-6089-2021-0459
Planned Parenthood.Is masturbation healthy?
Armanini D, Mattarello MJ, Fiore C, et al.Licorice reduces serum testosterone in healthy women.Steroids. 2004;69(11-12):763–766. doi:10.1016/j.steroids.2004.09.005
Grant P.Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome. A randomized controlled trial.Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):186-188. doi:10.1002/ptr.2900
International Society for Sexual Medicine.What happens during sex therapy?
Nassif J, Joshi P, Wagoner R, Newman W.Sexual addiction as a legal defense.J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2022;50(4):552-565. doi:10.29158/JAAPL.210151-21
AARP.Prescription medications that can ruin your sex life.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Sexuality and cancer.
Healy D.Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction & other enduring sexual dysfunctions.Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2019;29:e55. doi:10.1017/S2045796019000519
Montejo AL, Prieto N, de Alarcón R, Casado-Espada N, de la Iglesia J, Montejo L.Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: a clinical approach.J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1640. doi:10.3390/jcm8101640
Tiwari, S.Hypersexual disorder: a comprehensive review of conceptualization, etiology, assessment and treatment.Archives of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023;007(001):054–063. doi:10.29328/journal.apps.1001044
BetterHealth.Libido.
Frankenbach J, Weber M, Loschelder DD, Kilger H, Friese M.Sex drive: theoretical conceptualization and meta-analytic review of gender differences.Psychol Bull. 2022. doi:10.1037/bul0000366
University of Rochester.Ask the sexpert: sex drive and the menstrual cycle.
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