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The concept of a low sex drive in womenand frankly, in anyoneis often paired with many misconceptions.
There can be both physical and mental causes for a low sex drive.
Thats not to say theres no biological basis for how often you want to have sex.
So its no wonder that humans would have a wide range of, well, horniness.
First, is it normal to not want to have sex?
Our desire for sex exists on a spectrum and can be fluid from person to personand within ourselvesover time.
So, simply put, it can be normal to not want to have sex.
But you also dont need to be going through a Big Life Moment to justify a low libido.
Fluctuations in the desire for sex are extremely common.
These changes can happen over months or years, even day to day.
Its also normal to never or rarely experience the desire for sex.
(People who relate to those feelings may identify asasexual.)
On top of that, this lack of sex drive must be causing a lot of personal distress.
At what age is it common to lose interest in sex?
Office on Womens Health.
However, going through these changes doesnt necessarily mean youll lose interest in sex.
Theres a libido cocktail, Dr. Streicher says.
Hormones are just one component.
(If thats something youre interested in doing, of course.)
As a result, those shifts can have an impact on how high or low your desire is.
For some people, the last thing they want to do on their period is have sex.
For other people, its not an issue.
Either way, its fine to have sex on your period.
It may also be negatively impacted bypremenstrual symptoms, including fluctuations in your mood, just before your period.
Hormonal contraception often gets brought into the does-this-medication-affect-sex-drive discussion, and the answers are mixed.
For others, an IUD or something other than hormonal contraception is better.
They can help confirm that and switch you to another option safely if needed.
Sleeping well doesnt just make you feel energizedits vital to keep your body running at its best.
And its hard to feel relaxed if youre exhausted, so see if some extra shut-eye helps.
Its a cyclical pattern, says Dr. Buckley.
Negative thoughts reduce libido which results in more negative thoughts and so forth.
Dr. Worly says this can be a very complex area.
In this way, hormonal therapy can increase sex drive, he says.
As a result, some patients with a penis may notice decreased sexual desire or erections as a result.
In this case, you may experience an increase in sex drive, especially in the beginning.
The stress, lack of sleep, surgical procedures, and more can all weigh a toll.
Within the first year after pregnancy, sexual drive diminishes for physiological reasons, Dr. Thomas says.
Thats especially true with a chronic illness.
Simply not feeling in control of your body and overall health is another biggie.
Understandably, this can make even contemplating sex difficult.
Alcohol is a depressant, Dr. Streicher points out.
How do I get my sex drive back?
If your low libido is causing problems for you, we understand how frustrating it can be.
Rest assured, though, that there are things you’ve got the option to do to help.
First, if accessible, make an appointment with your health care provider.
Thats why understanding the mechanisms of libido is so important.
Additional reporting by Korin Miller
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