Understanding Low Libido in Women
There is no objective measure for sexual desire or measure. Every woman needs to determine for herself whether her libido (sex drive) is normal for her or not. Polls suggest that many women over age 40 tend to report their sex drive as being “below average.” Let us understand some of the most common reasons for loss of libido.
Stress
Piled up files and unreasonable deadlines keep nose-diving into life. Stressful events suck out the sexual energy from us. If you feel you’re constantly tired, stressed or anxious, you may need to make some lifestyle changes.
Illness
When you are PMSing or running a fever, you will be uninterested in sex. However, it is only temporary, until you don’t recover. But more serious illnesses such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, cancer, heart and lung disorders, and STIs may also be responsible for the drop in your sex drive.
Medications
Your sexual appetite can be affected by the use of many prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Well-documented sex drive crushers include antidepressants such as Prozac and Xanax but medication for hypertension, psychotropic drugs, sedatives, opiates and even birth control pills can lessen your interest in sex or make reaching orgasm difficult.
Ageing
Researchers are in conflict about the effects of age on libido levels of women. While some studies have revealed that sexual responsiveness may get better with age, hormonal imbalances in perimenopausal and menopausal women lead to a diminished sex drive.
Relationship Stress
If you have been in a relationship for a long time, you may have become overfamiliar with your partner and feel a degree of erotic dissatisfaction. This is quite common and can have a negative effect on your sex drive.
Alcohol
Drinking excess amounts of alcohol can reduce your sex drive, so it's a good idea to moderate your intake to no more than three to four units a day if you're a man and no more than two to three units a day if you're a woman.
Body image
Learning to love your body is probably one of the greatest hurdles to developing a strong sense of sexuality. If you feel uncomfortable with your physical self, you may hide your body from your partner, which can lead to a slowdown in sexual activity.
