Boost Low Libido: The Right Answers to the Right Question

Are you someone who skips past the steamy sequences in Game of Thrones to get back to the story because you would rather find out what happens next?

I mean, that’s totally okay if you do. But you may need to ask yourself if there is something more to it.

Did you know that up to one in three women and one in five men experience low libido or low sex drive at some point in their lives?

This is a pretty common issue affecting men and women all over the world. But still, we do not talk about it enough. Libido is complicated, and a loss of libido could mean different things. It could be permanent, but it could also be temporary and easily treatable.

There is a shame associated with low sex drive because we invariably feel like we ‘lack’ something. Whether or not that is the case with you, read on to find out more about low libido and what are some of the ways we can enhance it.

Libido, or sex drive, is basically a desire to have sex.

Sex drive can look different for everyone. Your desire to have sex can also change throughout your life. Some people may feel the desire to have sex daily, while others might only want it a few times a year or not at all.

What is normal depends mostly on you. If you feel like your sex drive has decreased from before or if your sex drive in general is concerning to you, you likely have low libido.

There could be a variety of things that can affect your desire to have sex.

Physical

Ageing

This is probably the most obvious one. As you grow older, you may lose interest in having sex due to the reduced levels of sex hormones, health problems or even due to some medication.

Men usually go through a loss in testosterone from the age of 30, which could impact their libido.

Diseases or Medication

High blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, or heart disease could all affect your sex drive. Some medications could reduce libido, like medication for high blood pressure and antidepressants.

Hormonal

Menopause

This is what majorly affects all women. Menopause causes estrogen levels to drop and cause vaginal dryness, which can make sex feel painful. Your body goes through major hormonal changes, and sex could very well be the last thing on your mind.

Contraception

Using hormonal contraception like the hormonal pill, patch, or implant could affect your sex drive.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Pregnancy, after giving birth and during breastfeeding are all the times when your body is going through a hormonal upheaval, and this can affect your sex drive.

Turns out, crying baby - not the best aphrodisiac!

Psychological

Where is your mind at? Because your mental state can hugely impact your desire to have sex. Let’s look at some of the factors that can cause low libido -

• Stress

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Low self-esteem

• History of sexual abuse

Social

Relationship problems

Communication with your partner can be paramount to feeling the desire to have sex. For some, intimacy in terms of the emotional closeness that you feel with your partner is essential for sexual intimacy. When there are problems in the relationship, it could lead to a low sex drive.

Lifestyle choices

Habits like smoking, drinking excessive alcohol or drug abuse can affect your sex drive.

Finding out what the cause of your low libido is can help you figure out the next steps to try to fix it.

Communicate

If you are facing relationship problems, it is absolutely imperative that you talk it out with your partner. However, if you are unable to, it is a good idea to consider relationship counselling.

Check your options

If you are facing sexual health problems like vaginal dryness or erectile dysfunction, consider getting vaginal lubricants or medication to help you get an erection.

Reduce stress. Also, therapy

If you are struggling with stress or anxiety, consider different stress management techniques to help you cope with it. You could also consider going to therapy!

Therapy but the other kind

If you are currently going through menopause, consider looking into hormone replacement therapy(HRT).

Choose alternatives

If you feel your medication or contraception is affecting your libido, consider choosing alternative options.

Ditch bad habits

Smoking, drugs, excess alcohol can all affect your sex drive. Consider ditching these habits to lead a healthier life and have a better sex drive!

Sexual desire is a complex mix of things. It may feel like the most natural thing in the world, but in reality, it could depend on a great many number of factors. Whatever the reason, it is up to you to first identify if there is indeed a problem.

Your libido or sex drive is a problem only if you think it is a problem. But if you have a problem, don’t shirk it away! Don’t get complacent. Don’t brush it off. Read up. Do the work. Bring the change.

Life is too short to not be having enough sex, don’t you think?

And if nothing works, hey, there are other things in life other than sex that are just as good. Like… getting a small tattoo of a Japanese hand fan!

Q. What are signs of low libido?

A. Signs of low libido could be a lack of interest in or desire for sex, including masturbation.

Q. How can I increase my libido quickly?

A. There is no one quick fix to increase your libido. But making lifestyle changes like getting enough sleep, exercising, eating right, and quitting smoking and drinking and having a healthy communicative relationship with your partner could increase your sex drive.

Q. Why is my sex drive so low as a man?

A. As a male, some of the causes of low sex drive are low testosterone, stress, heavy alcohol use and low self-esteem.

Q. At what age does a man’s sex drive start to decrease?

A. There’s research that shows that after the age of 30, testosterone levels start to decrease by up to 2% which could affect sex drive.

Q. Is low sex drive a normal part of ageing?

A. Yes. It is normal to experience a loss in sex drive as you age due to hormonal changes. However, if this is greatly impacting your life, you should speak to a doctor.