Experts estimate that the condition may affect up to 10% of women. On top of that, this lack of sex drive must be causing a lot of personal distress. When a person is diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, it means they have lost some or all motivation to engage in sexual activities for at least six months or longer. “Hypoactive sexual desire disorder can have a negative impact on a person’s relationships and personal health,” Brett Worly, M.D., an ob-gyn at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. However, there is a clinical condition characterized by a sex drive that’s persistently lower than baseline: hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). (People who relate to those feelings may identify as asexual.) It’s also normal to never or rarely experience the desire for sex. These changes can happen over months or years, even day to day. “Just because someone has a low libido at one point in their life doesn’t mean that they’ll have low libido all of their life,” Lauren Streicher, M.D., professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and author of Sex Rx, tells SELF. Fluctuations in the desire for sex are extremely common. Send us your question and it may be featured (anonymously) in a future newsletter.But you also don’t need to be going through a Big Life Moment to “justify” a low libido. After evaluating your particular situation, your doctor can recommend what’s best for you.Īsk Sofia: If you have a woman’s health question, share it with us! We love sharing information about common female health issues to help women get the care and answers they need to be healthy and well. And you may not suspect that douching would create dryness, but it disrupts the normal chemical balance in your vagina, which may lead to an itchy and dry condition known as vaginitis.ĭon’t hesitate to bring up vaginal dryness with your doctor-especially if it’s affecting your lifestyle and the way you feel. Allergy and cold medicines are notorious for decreasing moisture in your entire body-even your vagina. Estrogen levels may fall due to menopause, childbirth, breast feeding, cancer therapy, removal of ovaries, immune disorders, or smoking.Īnother cause of vaginal dryness is medications. When estrogen levels decrease, your defense does also, leading to a more fragile vaginal lining and increase risk of vaginal and urinary tract infection. Estrogen maintains normal vaginal lubrication and tissue health, providing a natural defense against infections. Reduced estrogen levels are the leading cause of vaginal dryness. It’s a common problem in menopausal women, but can occur at any age. I’m experiencing uncomfortable vaginal dryness, but I’m not sure why.Īlthough vaginal dryness affects many women, they rarely bring up the topic with their doctors. Your sexual health is an integral part of your overall health and well-being, and your doctor can help assess why your libido isn’t as high as you’d prefer. You may feel embarrassed to talk about low libido with your doctor, but it is perfectly appropriate. There are also psychological issues that may cause low sex drive, including mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety stress low self-esteem poor body image or a history of abuse. If you and your partner have unresolved conflicts, lack of connection, or have experienced a breach of trust, such as infidelity, it may be difficult to feel intimate. Problems in your relationship could also be a factor in your decreased interest in sex. If you’re menopausal, pregnant, or breast feeding, you may notice a waning sexual desire. Hormone levels may also alter your sex drive. Fatigue is another common libido killer and one commonly faced by caregivers-whether you’re a new parent or tending aging parents. Medications, alcohol, and drugs can all affect libido as well. Physical causes for low libido could be sexual problems, such as experiencing pain during intercourse or being unable to orgasm, or an underlying medical issue, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, or something else. Often a woman’s physical health, mental well-being, experiences, lifestyle, and current relationship affect her libido. Which means low sex drive isn’t always about the sex. What can I do about my low sex drive? I’m just not in the mood.Ī woman’s libido is based on many components that affect intimacy. Here are a few recent questions we received from readers about their health concerns and some information that can help them-and you-feel more confident when discussing issues with your doctor. They might be embarrassed or just unsure if it’s something that can even be treated. At some point, most women have faced a health issue that they don’t feel comfortable discussing with friends or even doctors.
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