Why your libido is low

Why your libido is low

Learn why your sexual desires change over time and what you can do to maintain the vitality of your libido.

Recently, a married woman of 28 years came to me to renew her prescription for birth control pills. While I was setting him the blood pressure cuff, she told me she was concerned because she had no interest in sex. "It lasts for a while and this state begins to undermine my relationship."

I was glad she speaks. An American study conducted in 2010 by the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health found that 43% of women over 18 having problems with sexual type and 10% complained of low sexual appetite. Many women are embarrassed to talk about sexual issues, and I think even many doctors forget to ask the question; this happens to me sometimes. It is important to address these concerns.




Desires are directly linked to our emotions; that is why we must always take into account the psychological and relational factors. In medicine, we have a rule: always check if the causes are physical. If your sex drive decreases, talk to your doctor and ask if you should have a blood test to check your hormones and exclude certain diseases such as anemia or diabetes. These diseases are common, but that is diagnosed only by means of a blood test. And if you do not feel well physically, it is plausible that you have little interest in anything sexual.

If you have started their forties, it is quite possible that hormones are involved; ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist in women's hormonal health or a general practitioner specializing in this area. I realize that, unfortunately, medical schools do not take much into account the complexity of women's hormonal health. It is difficult to interpret hormone test without specialized training and some specialists, blood tests are not as useful as testing saliva or urine that are not available everywhere.

But one thing is for sure, if hormonal changes each decade, well before menopause.

 
Twenty to thirty years

During this decade, the body responds to sexual stimulation lot because all the hormones are at their optimum level. During this time, progesterone and estrogen are in balance, and with testosterone, they play an important role in sex drive.

 
During the thirty

It is often said that women reach their sexual maturity in their thirties. If this is true for some, for others, it was at this time that progesterone levels begin to decline. This imbalance is a cause of fatigue, weight gain and decreased libido.

 
After 40 years

It is during the perimenopause quarantine occurs: estrogen production starts to decrease, and therefore, the sex drive. At menopause occurs to fifty years, the level of testosterone which stimulates the libido decreases. But fortunately, hormonal health specialists can help you to rebalance this.

 
The pill is it the problem?

The medical explanation of low sexual desire may be simple, as was the case of my patient. The birth control pill is one of the most common causes: it increases the production of a protein in the blood that inactivates testosterone and decreases the desire. As the composition of pills varies depending on the brand, you can ask your doctor to suggest another brand. If there is no improvement after a few tries, you may consider not to take it, after consulting with your doctor of course. You should notice an increase in sexual appetite within about three months. 

How to effectively control your fertility? 

Do not despair: there are many solutions. The market offers many types of condoms, even models that vibrate. And frankly, it is advisable to use them even when you take the pill to prevent the possibility of sexually transmitted infections.

Another option is the injection of Depo-Provera, a progesterone-like producing contraceptive effects that last three months hormone; However, it carries a risk of low bone density.

The intrauterine system is similar to intrauterine diapositive but has fewer side effects and less risk. These two options are best suited for women who have a long-term monogamous relationship. There is a slight risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can cause infertility in women with multiple sexual partners. Note: The difference between the two options is that the contraceptive effects of intrauterine copper come diapositive which it is made, while the intrauterine system releases a hormone linked to progesterone. Some women can not tolerate intrauterine because it causes bleeding device. The intrauterine system significantly reduces menstrual bleeding; about 20% of women who use it are no longer menstruating. My patients who use make it a rave review. This unit must be renewed by a doctor every five years while other devices can be left longer.

In closing: Consult your doctor if you have problems of sexual appetite. Your doctor wants to know and is able to help you.