What is decreased libido?
Decreased libido, or low sex drive, refers to a decrease in desire for sexual activity. Both men and women can experience low libido for a variety of reasons, including:
Causes
- Hormonal changes: Low testosterone in men and low estrogen/progesterone in women can lead to decreased libido. Hormone imbalances are a common culprit. The experts at Vitality Health Center can provide advanced hormone testing and customized treatment plans to get hormones back in balance.
- Medications: Antidepressants, blood pressure medications, birth control pills, and other drugs may negatively impact sex drive as a side effect.
- Medical conditions: Chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, and heart disease can get in the way of sexual intimacy. Thyroid disorders also commonly affect libido.
- Psychological issues: Stress, depression, anxiety, past trauma, and relationship problems can dampen sexual desire.
- Lifestyle factors: Lack of sleep, poor diet, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol use can all reduce libido. Lifestyle changes may help.
Symptoms
People with decreased libido may experience:
- Lack of interest in sexual thoughts, activities, or fantasies
- Inability to get aroused or orgasm
- Difficulty maintaining an erection (men)
- Vaginal dryness (women)
- Feeling stressed or disinterested around their partner
Treatments
- Hormone therapy: Testosterone replacement for men and DHEA/estrogen for women can effectively increase sex drive if hormone deficiencies are present. The hormone specialists at Vitality Health Center provide personalized care.
- Medication adjustments: Switching to an alternative medication without sexual side effects can help in some cases.
- Sex therapy: Seeing a sex therapist or counselor to work through psychological barriers can be very beneficial.
- Lifestyle changes: Getting regular exercise, improving diet, reducing alcohol intake, and better managing stress may all support a healthy libido.
- Medical devices: For women, using vaginal estrogen creams or devices like the Mona Lisa Touch laser can address physical causes of low libido.
In summary, low libido is complex but help is available! Reach out to your doctor or a specialist like Vitality Health Center to uncover the root cause and craft a tailored treatment plan. Don't resign yourself to a lackluster sex life - decreased libido can often be improved with the right approach.