Where Has Your Sex Drive Gone?

What causes one to lose sex drive? What are some of the factors that could reduce one's sex drive? Is there a way to restore one's sex drive once it's gone? This article has discussed the most common causes of loss of sex drive.

Loss of sex drive is a common problem affecting up to one in five men and even more women at the same point in their life. It is often associated with professional and personal stress or important life-changing events such as pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Nevertheless, an unexpected loss of libido, especially when it lasts for a long time or keeps returning, can also indicate an underlying condition that can upset both partners in a relationship. If you are anxious about your sex drive, especially if your diminished sex drive distresses you or affects your relationship, make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss any underlying causes and possible medical treatments. You may find the following information helpful. It explains the most common reasons for the loss of sex drive.

Relationship Problems

Your greatest concern should be whether you are happy in your relationship. Do you have any worries that may be the reason for your loss of sexual desire? If you have dated for a long time, you may have become overfamiliar with your partner and feel a degree of erotic dissatisfaction. This is common, and it can harm your sex drive. Relationship problems are among the most common causes of low sex drives.

Another important thing you should consider is whether the problem is a performance issue that makes sex unfulfilling. For instance, men may experience ejaculation problems or erectile dysfunction, and women can experience painful sex. If these problems are an issue, you should seek medical attention because they are treatable. Your doctor may feel you will benefit from psychosexual counseling, a form of relationship therapy where you and your partner can discuss any sexual or emotional issues causing your loss of sex drive.

Stress, Exhaustion, And Anxiety

Hejazi et al. (2021) stated that stress, exhaustion, and anxiety could affect your sex life. However, if you feel constantly tired, stressed, or anxious, you may need to make lifestyle changes or speak to your doctor for advice.

Depression

Depression differs from feeling unhappy, miserable, or fed up for a short while. It is a serious illness where you may have feelings of extreme sadness that lasts for a long time. These feelings are severe enough to interfere with your daily life and even extend to your sex life. You are most likely depressed if you feel low or hopeless or have lost interest or pleasure in doing things you used to enjoy. In such a case, it is vital to see your doctor. They may feel you'll benefit from antidepressants. Nevertheless, low sex drive can also be a side effect of many antidepressants. Talk to your doctor if you're already taking antidepressants and think they may be the root of your problems, as you may be able to switch to a different medication.

Drugs and Alcohol

George (2019) revealed that excessive consumption of alcohol could reduce your sex drive, so it is a great idea to control your intake to not more than three to four units each day if you are a woman and no more than two or three if you are a lady. Drug misuse is linked to a loss of sex drive.

Getting Older

According to Bhattarai et al. (2020), some people lose interest in sex as they get older, mainly because of falling levels of sex hormones, age-related health problems, or medication side effects. Older men can develop low testosterone levels, which cause fatigue, depression, and a reduced sex drive. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned about this. They may carry a blood test to check your testosterone level and can tell you about treatments if your testosterone levels are low.

While women approach menopause, levels of the female hormone estrogen start to fall, which affects libido. Women can also suffer from low testosterone levels, especially after a hysterectomy. Testosterone is a hormone that can affect sex drive. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned menopause may be affecting your sex drive. They may be able to offer you a trial of hormone replacement therapy if it is suitable for you.

Hormonal Problems

Gottfried (2013) noted that an underactive thyroid might cause a low sex drive. This is where your thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones. Common signs of underactive thyroid are weight gain, exhaustion, and feeling depressed.

An underactive thyroid is easily treated by taking hormone tablets to replace hormones your thyroid is not producing. A hormonal problem known as hyperprolactinemia can harm your sex drive as well. This is where you have raised the level of prolactin in your blood.

Contraception

Some women have reported a decreased sex drive while using some types of hormonal contraception. Nevertheless, the side effects of these contraceptives improve within a few months. Speak to your doctor or local contraceptive clinic if you are worried your contraception makes you have a low sex drive. They may suggest trying an alternative method.

Other Medical Conditions

Long-term chronic medical conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease diabetes can harm your sex drive.

Medication

Certain medications can sometimes reduce sex drive, such as:

• Medication for high blood pressure, including diuretics
• Medication for depression, including SSRI antidepressants
• Medications for seizures
• Medication treats psychosis, a mental condition where a person can't differentiate between reality and their imagination.

Medications such as cimetidine, finasteride, and cyproterone block the effects or reduce testosterone production.

Conclusion

Know your body and tell your doctor how you are feeling. Don't hold back in conditions affecting your sex drive. That is the only way they will know whether your problem is physical, medical, or both. Note that hormonal imbalance in men and women can lead to low sex drive. Using contraceptives affects hormones leading to reduced sex urge. A depressed person does not feel the need to have sex since sex starts in mind. Most men have erectile dysfunction since they take a lot of alcohol. Limit or quit alcohol to retain your sex drive. The sooner you know your problem, the sooner you can return to feeling like yourself again and enjoy yourself.

References

Bhattarai, H. K., Shrestha, S., Rokka, K., & Shakya, R. (2020). Vitamin D, Calcium, Parathyroid Hormone, And Sex Steroids In Bone Health And Effects Of Aging. Journal Of Osteoporosis, 2020.

George, W. H. (2019). Alcohol And Sexual Health Behavior: "What We Know And How We Know It." The Journal Of Sex Research, 56(4-5), 409-424.

Gottfried, S. (2013). The Hormone Cure: Reclaim Balance, Sleep, Sex Drive, And Vitality Naturally With The Gottfried Protocol. Simon And Schuster.

Hejazi, S. S., Hosseini, M., Ebadi, A., & Alavi Majd, H. (2021). Components Of Quality Of Life In Hemodialysis Patients From Family Caregivers' Perspective: A Qualitative Study. BMC Nephrology, 22(1), 1-10.