Low libido meaning: Low sex drive in women – Symptoms and causes

12.09.202306.07.2023 by alexxlab

Common Causes of Low Libido and No Sex Drive in Men

It’s natural to sometimes lose interest in sex, but long-term low libido may have an underlying cause. It may stem from low testosterone, lack of sleep, depression or stress, substance use, and more. If changes in your sex drive concern you, a physician can offer more guidance.

Low libido describes a decreased interest in sexual activity.

It’s common to lose interest in sex from time to time, and libido levels vary through life. It’s also normal for your interest not to match your partner’s at times.

However, low libido for a long period of time may cause concern for some people. It can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health condition.

Here are a few potential causes of low libido in men.

Testosterone is an important male hormone. In men, it’s mostly produced in the testicles.

Testosterone is responsible for building muscles and bone mass, and for stimulating sperm production. Your testosterone levels also factor into your sex drive.

Normal testosterone levels will vary. However, adult men are considered to have low testosterone, or low T, when their levels fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), according to guidelines from the American Urological Association (AUA).

When your testosterone levels decrease, your desire for sex also decreases.

Decreasing testosterone is a normal part of aging. However, a drastic drop in testosterone can lead to decreased libido.

Talk to your doctor if you think this might be an issue for you. You may be able to take supplements or gels to increase your testosterone levels.

Taking certain medications can lower testosterone levels, which in turn may lead to low libido.

For example, blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers may prevent ejaculation and erections.

Other medications that can lower testosterone levels include:

chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer
hormones used to treat prostate cancer
corticosteroids
opioid pain relievers, such as morphine (MorphaBond, MS Contin) and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
an antifungal medication called ketoconazole
cimetidine (Tagamet), which is used for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
anabolic steroids, which may be used by athletes to increase muscle mass
certain antidepressants

If you’re experiencing the effects of low testosterone, talk to your doctor. They may advise you to switch medications.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is the uncontrollable urge to move your legs. A study found that men with RLS are at higher risk for developing erectile dysfunction (ED) than those without RLS. ED occurs when a man can’t have or maintain an erection.

In the study, researchers discovered that men who had RLS occurrences at least five times per month were about 50 percent more likely to develop ED than men without RLS.

Also, men who had RLS episodes more frequently were even more likely to become impotent.

Depression changes all parts of a person’s life. People with depression experience a reduced or complete lack of interest in activities they once found pleasurable, including sex.

Low libido is also a side effect of some antidepressants, including:

serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)

However, the norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NRDI) bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) hasn’t been shown to reduce the libido.

Talk to your doctor if you’re taking antidepressants and you have a low libido. They might address your side effects by adjusting your dose or having you switch to another medication.

When you’re not feeling well due to the effects of a chronic health condition, such as chronic pain, sex is likely low on your list of priorities.

Certain illnesses, such as cancer, can reduce your sperm production counts as well.

Other chronic illnesses that can take a toll on your libido include:

type 2 diabetes
obesity
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
chronic lung, heart, kidney, and liver failure

If you’re experiencing a chronic illness, talk with your partner about ways to be intimate during this time. You may also consider seeing a marriage counselor or sex therapist about your issues.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that nonobese men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience lower testosterone levels. In turn, this leads to decreased sexual activity and libido.

In the study, researchers found that nearly one-third of the men who had severe sleep apnea also had reduced levels of testosterone.

In another recent study in young, healthy men, testosterone levels were decreased by 10 to 15 percent after a week of sleep restriction to five hours per night.

The researchers found that the effects of restricting sleep on testosterone levels were especially evident between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm the next day.

Testosterone levels, which are linked to libido, are at their highest when men are in their late teens.

In your older years, it may take longer to have orgasms, ejaculate, and become aroused. Your erections may not be as hard, and it may take longer for your penis to become erect.

However, medications are available that can help treat these issues.

If you’re distracted by situations or periods of high pressure, sexual desire may decrease. This is because stress can disrupt your hormone levels. Your arteries can narrow in times of stress. This narrowing restricts blood flow and potentially causes ED.

One study published in Scientific Research and Essays supported the notion that stress has a direct effect on sexual problems in both men and women.

Another study of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that the stress disorder increased their risk of sexual dysfunction more than threefold.

Stress is hard to avoid. Relationship problems, divorce, facing the death of a loved one, financial worries, a new baby, or a busy work environment are just some of the life events that can greatly affect the desire for sex.

Stress management techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and talking to a therapist, may help.

In one study, for example, men who were newly diagnosed with ED showed significant improvement in erectile function scores after participating in an 8‐week stress management program.

Self-esteem is defined as the general opinion a person has about their own self. Low self-esteem, low confidence, and poor body image can take a toll on your emotional health and well-being.

If you feel that you’re unattractive, or undesirable, it’ll likely put a damper on sexual encounters. Not liking what you see in the mirror can even make you want to avoid having sex altogether.

Low self-esteem may also cause anxiety about sexual performance, which can lead to issues with ED and reduced sexual desire.

Over time, self-esteem issues can result in larger mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and drug or alcohol abuse — all of which have been linked to low libido.

Too little or too much exercise can also be responsible for low sex drive in men.

Too little exercise (or none at all) can lead to a range of health problems that can affect sexual desire and arousal.

Getting regular exercise may reduce your risk for chronic conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are associated with low libido. Moderate exercise is known to lower cortisol levels at night and reduce stress, which can help increase sex drive.

On the other hand, over-exercising has also been shown to affect sexual health. In one study, higher levels of chronic intense and lengthy endurance training on a regular basis were strongly associated with decreased libido scores in men.

Heavy alcohol drinking, or more than 14 mixed drinks in a week, has also been linked to a decrease in testosterone production. Over a long period of time, excessive amounts of alcohol can reduce your sex drive.

The Cleveland Clinic recommends that men who consume more than three or more alcoholic beverages regularly should consider drinking less. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that an average adult male should have two or fewer alcoholic beverages daily; any more than this can lead to long-term health deterioration.

In addition to alcohol, the use of tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs such as opiates has also been connected to a decrease in testosterone production. This can result in a lack of sexual desire.

Smoking has also been found to have a negative impact on sperm production and sperm movement.

A decreased sex drive can be very unsettling for men. Low libido can lead to a vicious cycle of physical and emotional side effects, including ED — the inability to maintain an erection long enough to have satisfactory sex.

ED may cause a man to experience anxiety around sex. This can lead to tension and conflicts between him and his partner, which may in turn lead to fewer sexual encounters and more relationship issues.

Failure to perform due to ED can trigger feelings of depression, self-esteem issues, and poor body image.

Treating low libido often depends on treating the underlying issue.

If low libido is caused by an underlying health condition, you may need to switch medications. If your low libido has psychological causes, you may need to visit a therapist for relationship counseling.

You can also take steps to boost your libido on your own. The following actions have the potential to increase your libido:

living a healthier lifestyle
getting enough sleep
practicing stress management
eating a healthier diet

A:

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

Common Causes of Low Libido and No Sex Drive in Men

Low libido describes a decreased interest in sexual activity.

It’s common to lose interest in sex from time to time, and libido levels vary through life. It’s also normal for your interest not to match your partner’s at times.

However, low libido for a long period of time may cause concern for some people. It can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health condition.

Here are a few potential causes of low libido in men.

Testosterone is an important male hormone. In men, it’s mostly produced in the testicles.

Testosterone is responsible for building muscles and bone mass, and for stimulating sperm production. Your testosterone levels also factor into your sex drive.

When your testosterone levels decrease, your desire for sex also decreases.

Decreasing testosterone is a normal part of aging. However, a drastic drop in testosterone can lead to decreased libido.

Talk to your doctor if you think this might be an issue for you. You may be able to take supplements or gels to increase your testosterone levels.

Taking certain medications can lower testosterone levels, which in turn may lead to low libido.

For example, blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers may prevent ejaculation and erections.

Other medications that can lower testosterone levels include:

chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer
hormones used to treat prostate cancer
corticosteroids
opioid pain relievers, such as morphine (MorphaBond, MS Contin) and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet)
an antifungal medication called ketoconazole
cimetidine (Tagamet), which is used for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
anabolic steroids, which may be used by athletes to increase muscle mass
certain antidepressants

If you’re experiencing the effects of low testosterone, talk to your doctor. They may advise you to switch medications.

In the study, researchers discovered that men who had RLS occurrences at least five times per month were about 50 percent more likely to develop ED than men without RLS.

Also, men who had RLS episodes more frequently were even more likely to become impotent.

Depression changes all parts of a person’s life. People with depression experience a reduced or complete lack of interest in activities they once found pleasurable, including sex.

Low libido is also a side effect of some antidepressants, including:

serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta)
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)

However, the norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NRDI) bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) hasn’t been shown to reduce the libido.

Talk to your doctor if you’re taking antidepressants and you have a low libido. They might address your side effects by adjusting your dose or having you switch to another medication.

When you’re not feeling well due to the effects of a chronic health condition, such as chronic pain, sex is likely low on your list of priorities.

Certain illnesses, such as cancer, can reduce your sperm production counts as well.

Other chronic illnesses that can take a toll on your libido include:

type 2 diabetes
obesity
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
chronic lung, heart, kidney, and liver failure

If you’re experiencing a chronic illness, talk with your partner about ways to be intimate during this time. You may also consider seeing a marriage counselor or sex therapist about your issues.

In the study, researchers found that nearly one-third of the men who had severe sleep apnea also had reduced levels of testosterone.

In another recent study in young, healthy men, testosterone levels were decreased by 10 to 15 percent after a week of sleep restriction to five hours per night.

The researchers found that the effects of restricting sleep on testosterone levels were especially evident between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm the next day.

Testosterone levels, which are linked to libido, are at their highest when men are in their late teens.

In your older years, it may take longer to have orgasms, ejaculate, and become aroused. Your erections may not be as hard, and it may take longer for your penis to become erect.

However, medications are available that can help treat these issues.

One study published in Scientific Research and Essays supported the notion that stress has a direct effect on sexual problems in both men and women.

Another study of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that the stress disorder increased their risk of sexual dysfunction more than threefold.

Stress management techniques, such as breathing exercises, meditation, and talking to a therapist, may help.

In one study, for example, men who were newly diagnosed with ED showed significant improvement in erectile function scores after participating in an 8‐week stress management program.

Self-esteem is defined as the general opinion a person has about their own self. Low self-esteem, low confidence, and poor body image can take a toll on your emotional health and well-being.

If you feel that you’re unattractive, or undesirable, it’ll likely put a damper on sexual encounters. Not liking what you see in the mirror can even make you want to avoid having sex altogether.

Low self-esteem may also cause anxiety about sexual performance, which can lead to issues with ED and reduced sexual desire.

Over time, self-esteem issues can result in larger mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and drug or alcohol abuse — all of which have been linked to low libido.

Too little or too much exercise can also be responsible for low sex drive in men.

Too little exercise (or none at all) can lead to a range of health problems that can affect sexual desire and arousal.

In addition to alcohol, the use of tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs such as opiates has also been connected to a decrease in testosterone production. This can result in a lack of sexual desire.

Smoking has also been found to have a negative impact on sperm production and sperm movement.

Failure to perform due to ED can trigger feelings of depression, self-esteem issues, and poor body image.

Treating low libido often depends on treating the underlying issue.

You can also take steps to boost your libido on your own. The following actions have the potential to increase your libido:

living a healthier lifestyle
getting enough sleep
practicing stress management
eating a healthier diet

A:

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Was this helpful?

Decreased libido in women – description, causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Decreased libido in women is quite common and is not always associated with medical abnormalities. Often these are psychological problems, chronic stress, overwork. Many general and gynecological diseases can affect the deterioration of the quality of intimate relationships, cause a loss of interest in a partner. In order to understand the causes in time and improve the situation, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of reduced libido in women

Many common diseases that affect hormone production, nervous regulation and blood supply to organs affect the level of libido:

Endocrine diseases, such as a pituitary tumor with elevated prolactin levels, decreased thyroid function, congenital or acquired hypogonadism with low testosterone production.
Obesity.
Cardiovascular diseases, hypertension.
Taking medications – hormonal contraceptives, adrenoblockers, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, cytostatics, antidiabetic drugs.
Chronic poisoning of the body with alcohol, severe pathology of the liver, kidneys.
Postpartum depression, period after caesarean section.
Use of psychoactive drugs.

There is no doubt about the role of gynecological diseases in the quality of a woman’s sexual life:

Inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs.
Atrophy of the vaginal mucosa, which appears mainly after menopause and is associated with a decrease in the concentration of estrogen.
Tumors of the external and internal genital organs.
Condition after removal of the ovaries, uterus, anomalies in the development of the female reproductive system.

These diseases cause dryness, discomfort, pain, contact bleeding and discharge of all kinds. All this contributes to the growth of tension, attempts to avoid intimate relationships and unpleasant sensations. With congenital diseases of the female genital organs, the hormonal background differs significantly from the normal one, the structure and size of the organs, too. In this case, you can correct the anomaly during surgery, take hormones.

Quite often the reasons are purely psychological:

Negative experience in the past, self-doubt.
Lack of sex education in the family and the idea of normal relations between a man and a woman.
Accumulated grievances and unresolved interpersonal problems.
Overwork.
Violence, rudeness, aggression that a woman experiences in relation to herself.
Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, infantilism.
Vaginismus – painful spasm of the muscles of the vagina when attempting sexual intercourse.
Fear of unwanted pregnancy.

Professionals of our clinic will help you understand the reasons for the decrease in libido. The sooner it becomes clear what caused the problem, the sooner it will be possible to deal with it. Otherwise, a woman may lose her husband, family, interest in life, her own self-esteem.

Natural causes of decreased sex drive

Sexual desire depends on the level of female sex hormones, mainly estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen is produced more in the first half of the menstrual cycle. Closer to menstruation, the hormone progesterone prevails, which inhibits libido. Throughout pregnancy, progesterone in the body of a woman is maintained at a high level, because the main task in this period is to carry the fetus and give birth to a child.

After childbirth, lactation begins. Prolactin is responsible for this process, which also reduces attraction. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the first 2 – 3 months after the birth of a baby, a woman’s desire drops sharply. Lack of sleep, worries about the child, a change in lifestyle also affect. Many women experience postpartum depression, in which it is advisable to seek help from a psychologist, psychotherapist.

Birth control pills contain female sex hormones in different proportions, so taking these drugs can also lead to a loss of interest in sexual relationships. In this case, the doctor will help you choose another method of contraception that will not affect libido so much.

Libido depends on the emotional and psychological state of a woman. It can increase and decrease. If within six months the desire is noticeably reduced or absent altogether, you need to deal with the cause and change something in your life. The lack of regular contacts weakens the emotional connection within the family, leads to stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs of a woman, is fraught with depression, family breakdown.

Manifestations of decreased libido in women

The main symptom is unwillingness to have sexual relations. The attraction to a sexual partner decreases, and the connection itself does not bring satisfaction, as before. This is accompanied by a host of other psychological symptoms:

depressive mood;
low self-esteem;
emotional lability, resentment;
anxiety.

Against such a background, conflicts often arise, and the feeling of psychological comfort among all family members is lost. To restore harmony, you need to maintain tact, respect for each other and, of course, be examined by a doctor.

Diagnosis

The doctor talks to the woman, finds out how long ago and after what the problems started. With what she herself associates a decrease in libido, is everything normal with a partner from a medical and mental point of view. It is important to understand whether attraction is always absent or only under certain conditions. Do women have dreams of erotic content. A woman is consulted by a sexologist, a psychotherapist. The doctor checks the general level of anxiety, depression, asthenia. To do this, the patient fills in special tables-questionnaires.

To identify the organic causes of a decrease in libido, an examination of the body is carried out:

The level of pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone hormones is determined. If necessary, ultrasound of the ovaries and other endocrine organs, MRI of the Turkish saddle are done.
A gynecologist checks for diseases of the female genital organs. During a gynecological examination, the condition of the mucous membranes is determined: are there signs of inflammation, dryness, formations that could prevent sexual contact. To identify pathogenic flora, smears are taken for research.
In case of complaints from the genitourinary system, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, electromyography of the muscles of the perineum, radiography of the pelvic organs are prescribed.

Treatment of decreased libido

The type of therapy directly depends on the causes that will be revealed during the examination:

If medications adversely affect libido, they are replaced by others or doses are reduced.
When endocrine abnormalities are detected, appropriate hormonal treatment is selected. So, bromocriptine is prescribed for elevated levels of prolactin in the blood. If the cause of hypersecretion is a tumor of the endocrine gland, it is removed.
A gynecologist treats inflammatory diseases of the female genital area. Preparations containing estrogens help to cope with atrophic changes. To do this, use topical estrogen – cream, tablets, rings, which are inserted directly into the vagina. The whole body can be affected by taking pills or using a patch (transdermal method of use). Progesterone is often given along with estrogen to reduce the risk of developing uterine cancer. Regular use of estrogen, progesterone, and their combination after menopause can improve mood, reduce discomfort from the female genital organs, and restore libido.
Antidepressants are prescribed for high levels of anxiety.

Most of the work involves restoring trust and emotional intimacy between partners. Sexual desire, especially in women, strongly depends on this. The couple must learn to discuss problems of an intimate nature, to hear each other’s wishes. It usually helps to revive feelings and libido:

Creating a romantic atmosphere, using candles, aromatherapy, pleasant music, a beautifully laid table, elegant clothes.
More attention should be paid to foreplay before sex. Haste and a quick transition directly to sexual intercourse have a bad effect on a woman’s satisfaction and the emergence of libido later. Touching different erogenous zones, kisses are important. Sometimes videos of an erotic nature, products from sex shops, erotic massages are appropriate. It is important that the woman likes the actions, and for this she must be able to convey her most secret desires to her partner.
Lubricants are recommended to improve glide.
It is important to awaken sensuality, develop imagination, learn to love your body, cope with stiffness, shyness.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps to learn how to focus on internal sensations, achieve orgasm. In different cases, individual psychotherapy, work with a couple, with groups is used. The general level of health is also of great importance. Useful sports, good nutrition, timely solution of psychological problems.

A combination of measures to combat a decrease in libido usually gives good results. A woman’s health and emotional mood improve, sexual life improves.

One of the experimental directions in the treatment of lack of sexual desire in women is testosterone therapy. The drug is prescribed for postmenopausal women or patients who receive estrogen treatment. For example, with the syndrome of premature ovarian failure, against the background of diseases of the endocrine organs, after chemotherapy. Replacement therapy is prescribed if the concentration of testosterone in the blood is below 20 ng/dl. The medicine is taken orally or in the form of patches glued to the skin.

Treatment must always be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, since testosterone in women with prolonged use can lead to side effects:

Periodically check for hirsutism – the type of hair changes.
Determine the level of free testosterone in the blood.
Get a mammogram to check for breast cancer.
Check the level of lipids, glucose in the blood.

This allows you to cancel the hormone in time so that the treatment does not lead to complications.

Prevention of decreased libido in women

To avoid problems in intimate life, and after the end of treatment, it is useful to adhere to the principles of a healthy lifestyle:

Physical activity during the day – walks, warm-ups.
Diverse food. Inclusion in the diet of aphrodisiac products: dark chocolate, seafood, hot and spicy spices, celery. You can drink extracts of ginseng, eleutherococcus, aloe juice. The diet should have enough vitamins A, C, E, B. It is useful to eat fish, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, vegetable oils, lean meats.
Refusal of alcohol, strong coffee at night, restriction of sugar, trans fats, fast food.
If you are overweight, you need to reduce the intake of fats and calories from food.

It is equally important to be able to communicate with a partner about sex, not to withdraw into oneself and not blame anyone for complicating relationships.

Why visit the clinic?

If you ignore the problem or try to solve it without the help of specialists, there is a risk of further aggravation of the situation. Unsuccessful attempts to talk about an intimate topic with a partner will lead to a fear of raising these issues and discussing your desires in the future. In the clinic, work is carried out with both partners, effective recommendations are given, and the effect of treatment methods is monitored. All this provides a good result with complete anonymity.

In the clinic you can get advice from a gynecologist, psychologist, psychotherapist, sexologist, endocrinologist. We have our own laboratory, CT, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray. Specialists provide conservative and surgical care to patients, apply methods of psychotherapy. Extensive experience in solving sexual problems will help each couple to establish an intimate life, restore freshness, sharpness of feelings and novelty to relationships.

Author

Radlevich Natalya Vadimovna

obstetrician-gynecologist, ultrasound diagnostics

Doctor of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences

Experience 26 years

+7 (495) 032-15-21

Lack of libido – symptoms, causes, stages

Decreased libido or a violation of sexual desire is a disorder of sexual function, which is characterized by a lack of sexual desire.

The disorder occurs in 1 in 10 women and 1 in 8 men. The prevalence of the disorder ranges from 30% among women to 52% among menopausal women.

Disease definition

Loss of sexual desire can be associated with various diseases of the body, disorders of the nervous system, disruption of the endocrine system. Also, the disease in some cases develops against the background of drug abuse, prolonged abstinence, or it may be a congenital pathology. The problem can seriously affect health, lead to disruption of regular sexual life, congestion in the pelvic organs, depression and the development of other psychological problems.

Reduced sexual desire depends on several factors, such as mood, physical condition, emotional background. Some people are characterized by a decrease in libido at certain times of the year.

In ICD-10, lack of libido is listed under F52.0 Lack or loss of sexual desire. According to WHO, sexual health is a combination of psycho-emotional, physical and social well-being in relation to sexual life. Sexual desire is a sensitive marker of the general condition of the body. Therefore, with complaints, people suffering from this disorder turn to various highly specialized specialists. So, the lack of libido in men forces them to turn to urologists with complaints of erection or ejaculation. Among the physiological causes of the disorder in men, the most common is a decrease in testosterone levels. According to statistics, up to 10% of men aged 40 suffer from reduced sexual desire. In other cases, the problem is associated with an increased level of estradiol (for example, with obesity).

The lack of libido in women is often associated with psychological problems, such as dislike for the opposite sex or coldness towards a partner, fear of contracting sexually transmitted diseases or getting pregnant, strict sex education in the family, experienced violence in the past. That is why women suffering from frigidity often turn not only to a gynecologist, but to a psychologist or sexologist.

Signs of frigidity

Among the main signs of a lack of libido:

Lack of desire for sex, including self-gratification.
Rejection of the very process of sexual intercourse.
Decreased mood against the background of dissatisfaction with sexual life.
Lack of erotic thoughts and fantasies.
Lack of desire to talk about sexual topics.
No sexual arousal even when erogenous zones are stimulated.
Feeling of relief after intercourse.

In men, the symptoms of a lack of libido may be accompanied by a change in the timbre of the voice from low to high, lack of hair, deposition of fat on the buttocks and thighs. In some cases, a low concentration of male hormones provokes sexual attraction to members of the same sex.

The causes of frigidity in men can also be hidden in the wrong sex education. In this case, he can place all responsibility for his reduced libido on the woman, thus creating a psychological problem for her. A decrease in libido leads to a reduction in sexual contacts, which is fraught with congestion in the urogenital region, a secondary decrease in hormone production, the addition of secondary depression and irritability.

Other reasons for lack of libido in both sexes include:

Elevated prolactin levels.
Disruption of thyroid hormones. High or low levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones in the blood reduces the level of androgens, which are responsible for libido and disrupt the functioning of the androgen-sensitive receptor apparatus.
Lack of endorphins.

Somatogenic causes of decreased sexual desire:

Painful act in women (may occur with diseases of the genital area, vaginismus).
Diseases of the cardiovascular system, lungs and kidneys, atherosclerosis, hypertension, oncology. Any other decompensated diseases that deplete the body, casting libido into the background.
Intoxication with the abuse of alcohol, narcotic and other psychotropic substances.
Taking certain medications:

antidepressants increase the level of serotonin in the brain, while reducing the level of dopamine, which has an exciting effect;
diuretics, as well as COCs (combined oral contraceptives) can suppress the production of testosterone;
analgesics affect the numeral receptors, dulling sensations and reducing libido;

Deficiency of vitamins and nutrients, in particular vitamin D, involved in biochemical reactions, as well as the synthesis of hormones of both sexes.

Their lack significantly reduces libido.

Often, frigidity manifests itself against the background of depressive, anxiety, asthenic and hypochondriacal disorders. At the same time, the patient’s eating behavior also changes, sleep is disturbed, mental, motor and speech ability decreases. Sexual desire can be expressed in different ways: in some cases, a person may not experience it at all. The degree of changes in libido depends on the course of the underlying mental disorder.

The pathogenesis of frigidity

The pathogenesis of decreased libido is not fully understood. On the one hand, the mechanism of its formation does not fit into the framework of any isolated mental disorder or sexual dysfunction. On the other hand, it cannot decrease only against the background of general health. Sexual function is associated with a variety of neurotransmitters that transmit a signal to the central and peripheral nerve cells. To a large extent, testosterone plays a role in the formation of libido in both sexes.

Among the main hypotheses of the pathogenesis of frigidity is a decrease in excitatory and an increase in inhibitory activity. The fact is that sexual desire is controlled by the brain and maintains a balance between inhibitory and excitatory factors, for which the hormones dopamine, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are responsible in women. The hormones serotonin, prolactin and endorphin, on the contrary, suppress libido. A decrease in excitatory activity, therefore, leads to a decrease in human sexual activity.

Types of frigidity

Lack of libido is diagnosed if it is the underlying problem and not a concomitant disease of a sexual disorder, such as lack of erection or dyspareunia.

There are the following types of frigidity:

Constitutional. A rather rare type, in which the lack of sexual desire is caused by congenital functional deficiency in the psychosexual sphere.
Symptomatic. It occurs as a result of various diseases, underdevelopment of the genital organs, stretching of the vagina after childbirth, drug and alcohol addictions.
Retardation. Occurs against the background of belated manifestations of sexual feelings. At the same time, a woman experiences attraction only some time after the start of a regular sexual life.
Withdrawal. It develops against the background of prolonged abstinence. Prolonged absence of sexual contact reduces the conditioned reflexes that are developed during regular sexual contact.
Psychogenic type caused by psychological disharmony between partners. This may be a rude attitude, cruelty, ridicule, bullying and other actions of a man that may cause rejection in a partner.

In addition, there are primary (for example, constitutional hypolibidemia) and secondary (for example, psychogenic) types of reduced libido, as well as true and imaginary frigidity. An example of an imaginary type of frigidity is sexual coldness during pregnancy or post-infectious asthenia.

Among the main consequences of frigidity:

Impotence.
Discord in family life.
Infertility due to infrequent sexual contact.
Psychological and mental disorders.
Desocialization.
Gynecological disorders in women: uterine fibroids, polycystic ovaries, the appearance of a malignant tumor.

It is worth contacting an experienced sex therapist in the absence of sexual desire for a partner, irregular or painful sexual intercourse.

Lack of libido diagnosis

A sexologist makes a diagnosis based on anamnesis. The main task of the specialist is to identify the circumstances of the patient’s sexual life: relationships with current and former partners, sexual education received in the family, the complexity of professional activity, the presence of stress factors, sexual problems, the regularity of sexual contact, the degree of satisfaction with sexual life, taking certain drugs.

A prerequisite is the determination of the patient’s sexual temperament, on which the level of sexual needs depends. For evaluation, a scale of vector determination of the sexual constitution is used.

Important indicators for men in the diagnosis are the age of awakening of sexual desire and the first ejaculation, the trochanter index, the degree of hairiness of the pubic region, and the maximum kurtosis. When diagnosing a woman’s lack of libido, among other things, much attention is paid to menstrual and reproductive functions, and the degree to which she reaches orgasm.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe an examination of other highly specialized specialists: a urologist-andrologist, a gynecologist, an endocrinologist.

Other diagnostic methods include:

Laboratory tests to determine hormone levels. Thyroid, adrenal and reproductive hormones.
Analyzes for the presence of inflammatory processes in the body, anemia.
Analyzes to check metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism.
Analyzes for deficiency of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements.

Instrumental diagnostics includes ultrasound of the thyroid gland, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate in men and transvaginal in women, MRI of the pituitary gland and MSCT of the adrenal glands.

The average indicators of reduced testosterone in the body are less than 11 nmol / l and free testosterone below 0.255 nmol / l.

Treatment of frigidity

Treatment depends on the causes and symptoms of decreased libido. For effective therapy, it is important that the patient understands his body, listens to it and promptly reports problems to the doctor.

Treatment of lack of libido requires a comprehensive approach that involves both medical and emotional aspects.

Non-drug treatment includes:

Communication with a partner, mutual trust.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Joint appeal to a psychologist or psychotherapist.
Use of lubricants during sexual intercourse.
The use of devices to stimulate the erogenous zones of women.

Drug therapy in the presence of hormonal disorders includes estrogen therapy. It is prescribed to improve vaginal tone and elasticity, increase vaginal blood flow, enhance lubrication. Only the attending physician can decide on the appointment of estrogen, whether alone or in combination with a progestin. Treatment options differ depending on age, the presence of concomitant problems, diseases of the heart and circulatory systems.

For the treatment of lack of sexual desire, the following drugs are also used:

Ospemyfin. Prevents thinning of the vaginal lining caused by menopause. It reduces pain and discomfort during intercourse.
androgen therapy. Testosterone preparations are used.
Flibanserin. Helps to restore the balance between the excitatory and inhibitory systems of the brain, returning sexual desire.

Reduced libido in men is usually much easier to treat. Many physiological cycles in the male body that control sexuality depend on the concentration of testosterone in the blood, so improving the parameters of its metabolism leads to good results.

Drug therapy in men is carried out using the drugs Androgel and Nebido. Among the side effects is infertility due to the suppression of the production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones, which stimulate the production of the male hormone. Therefore, it must be prescribed strictly under the supervision of an experienced attending physician.

An important condition for effective treatment is the elimination of negative emotional and social factors. The success of treatment depends on identifying the true cause of the decrease in libido and adherence to the treatment regimen.

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Prevention of frigidity

Many couples, having lived together for a long time, lose sexual interest in each other due to its monotony and household burdens. You can bring new colors and vivid emotions to your sexual life by changing the usual order of things. For example, change the situation in the bedroom, choose new rhythms and poses, pay special attention to foreplay.

It is important that a decrease in libido does not affect a person’s ability to express their emotions physically. Watching relevant films and literature, joint hygiene procedures will help to cope with reduced sexual desire. Equally important is the emotional connection between partners, the psychological situation in the family, the absence of stress, a healthy lifestyle.

In the presence of chronic diseases, long-term use of hormonal drugs and / or antidepressants, regularly depressed state, low mood and depression, it is important to immediately consult a doctor. If an atmosphere of hostility reigns in the family, and quarrels become a daily ritual, then it is best to visit a specialist together with a partner.

Prevention of lack of libido also includes compliance with the regime of work and rest, and a balanced diet.

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