Table of contents:
- Signs of decreased sex drive or female libido
- The cause of decreased female libido
- 1. Physical causes
- 2. Hormonal changes
- 3. Psychological causes
- 4. Problems in the relationship
A lack of sex drive in some women does not mean that they don't have a libido. Everyone, both men and women, must have a sexual desire, but sometimes that desire decreases. When a woman's libido is low, she is usually not interested in having sex with her partner.
An unexpected drop in libido, especially when it lasts for a long time or keeps repeating itself, can indicate personal problems, health problems, lifestyle or relationship problems.
Signs of decreased sex drive or female libido
How do we know the symptoms of decreased libido? Below are 3 symptoms that indicate a woman's libido is low:
- Not interested in sexual intercourse, including masturbation.
- Lacking sexual desires or fantasies or rarely feeling any sexual desires or fantasies.
- Feeling annoyed by a perceived lack of sexual desire or fantasies.
If you experience any of these three signs, it is possible that you are experiencing a decrease in libido. Then, what can cause decreased sex drive?
The cause of decreased female libido
The cause of decreased female libido consists of 4 factors, namely physical causes, hormonal changes, psychological causes, and problems in the relationship.
1. Physical causes
A variety of illnesses, physical changes, and drugs can cause a decrease in sexual desire, including:
- Sexual problems. If you experience pain during sex or difficulty orgasm, it is blocking your sexual desire.
- Medical illness. Many non-sexual diseases can affect the desire to have sex, such as arthritis (arthritis), cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and neurological diseases.
- Drugs. Many prescription drugs, including some anti-depressant and anti-seizure drugs, are known to be libido killers.
- Contraception. Often times certain birth control tools decrease a woman's libido. Many women experience decreased sex drive when using contraception. Contraceptives that affect are the progestogen-only pill, combined pill, vaginal ring, Depo-Provera injection, and contraceptive implants.
- Lifestyle. Too much alcohol consumption can damage your sex drive, just like drugs and cigarettes, because smoking can reduce blood flow and can reduce libido.
- Operation. All operations, especially those related to the chest and genitals, can affect sexual function and desire for sex.
- Fatigue. Tiredness due to child care or daily work can contribute to low libido. Tiredness caused by illness or after surgery can also result in reduced sexual desire.
2. Hormonal changes
Changing hormone levels can affect a woman's libido, such as:
- Menopause. Estrogen levels decrease during the transition to menopause. This can lead to decreased interest in sex and make the vagina dry, making sex painful and uncomfortable. Although many women who have gone through menopause still enjoy satisfying sex, some have lost their libido.
- The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are not the only absorbers of a woman's libido. Fatigue, changes in body shape, and feeling stressed during pregnancy and after childbirth can all contribute to changes in your sexual desire.
3. Psychological causes
There are many psychological causes that can lower a woman's libido levels, including:
- Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- Stress, such as stress due to financial problems or work problems
- Low self-esteem
- Having negative sexual experiences such as physical abuse or sexual assault
4. Problems in the relationship
For most women, emotional closeness with a partner is an important start before sexual intercourse. So, problems in the relationship can also be a major factor in low sex drive. A decrease in sexual desire is often the result of issues in an ongoing relationship, such as:
- Lack of relationship with your partner
- There are problems that have not been resolved
- Poor communication of sexual needs and preferences
- Affair
If you have high concerns about your libido, especially when your sex drive is still reduced even though you do not have the causes as described above, it is imperative that you contact your doctor.
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