What Is Low Libido? Understand Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

Sex drives are like bodies—everyone is different. For some, daily sex may feel like a must to stay satisfied. Others may find that weekly sex is enough to satisfy their needs. Higher-than-average sex drive, lower-than-average sex drive, neither one is good or bad. What’s important to pay attention to is the shifts in sex drive, especially when a shift results in a suddenly low libido. 

What is low libido? Read on to learn all about it. We’ll review its causes, how it affects relationships, how to identify low libido, and what to do about it. 

What Causes Low Libido?

Libido, also known as sex drive, is a person’s desire to have sex.¹ It can include their level of interest in having sex and their motivation to pursue sex. Everyone’s sex drive is different and can fluctuate over time. For some, a high libido is the norm, whereas others may have less overall interest in sex. Both can be perfectly normal and aren’t necessarily a cause for concern. 

Where concerns can arise with libidos is when they suddenly decline. A sudden decrease in a person’s sex drive is known as “low libido.” So, what causes low sex drive or libido? Keep in mind that low libido isn’t a less-than-average interest in sex as compared to a person’s friends, but an interest in sex that is less than their own normal. This condition can be caused by a range of different factors. 

Common Causes of Low Sex Drive in Men and Women

A sudden change in sex drive can be a startling occurrence and may leave a person wondering, what’s going on? What causes low sex drive in men? What causes low sex drive in women? Let’s review some of the most common causes:² 

• Hormonal fluctuations: Your sex drive is closely tied to hormone levels, so it’s natural for libido to fluctuate as they change. For example, during menopause, a drop in estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex, and a decrease in desire. Pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menstrual cycles can also bring hormonal shifts that affect arousal and interest in sex. If menopause is impacting your intimacy, check out our tips for staying connected during menopause.
• Mental health concerns: Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions may cause low libido.  
• New medications: Some medications can cause a decline in libido, especially medications that address mental health or hormonal imbalances.
• Increased stress: During times of high stress, some may find that their libido is affected.
• Aging: As men and women age, they experience hormonal, mental health, and physical changes that may have significant impacts on their libido. 

How Hormones Affect Libido

When it comes to libido, hormone levels play a significant role. Male and female sex hormones are responsible for much of sexual desire and interest and their fluctuations can have huge impacts on libido. These include: 

• Testosterone: While many associate testosterone with men, this hormone has an impact on both men’s and women’s sex drive. As testosterone levels decrease with age, libido can decrease, too. Men may also develop a condition at any age known as low testosterone, in which their testicles don’t produce enough testosterone, leading to low sex drive.
• Estrogen: A decrease in estrogen levels can cause declines in libido as well as vaginal dryness, a condition that can make sex painful and further decrease interest in sex. This is common for menopausal women.
• Progesterone: Too much progesterone can also affect libido, especially when progesterone levels exceed estrogen levels. 

Hormonal fluctuation during puberty, pregnancy, and later stages in life is normal, but typically not at other times. If libido suddenly drops with no explanation, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. 

The Role of Mental Health 

Another key contributor to low libido for many can be mental health concerns. New or worsening mental health issues can bring on sudden changes in sex drive and sexual performance, including: 

• Anxiety: Both men and women may experience low libido from anxiety. It can lead to trouble getting aroused and erectile dysfunction. In some cases, anxiety may also cause painful sex for women. These factors can make low libido worse.
• Depression: Depression can also lead to both low libido and discouraging sexual dysfunction, like difficulty reaching orgasm.
• Low self-esteem: A sudden decline in self-esteem brought on by mental health concerns or other factors can lead to a lower sex drive in men and women.

How Low Libido Affects Relationships

Low libido can have all kinds of unwanted impacts on relationships. Relationships in which one partner is experiencing low libido may lead to: 

• Less intimacy: Couples who derive a lot of their intimacy from sex and physical connection may find that low libido decreases levels of intimacy in their relationship. One partner’s lack of desire to be intimate can greatly impact the other.
• Lower self-esteem: One partner’s change in libido may inadvertently lower self-esteem for both partners. The partner with low libido may feel embarrassed or ashamed of their sudden change, whereas the other partner may feel less attractive or desirable. 
• Communication breakdown: A change in sex drive requires a lot of vulnerable conversation. For partners who aren’t comfortable with this level of vulnerability, it may be hard to communicate or find a resolution.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Libido?

Low libido can manifest in different ways for many. These may include:²

• Less interest in sex and sexual fantasies 
• Less desire to seek sex out or avoidance of sexual activity 
• Difficulty becoming sexually aroused 
• Less pleasure during sex or difficulty reaching orgasm
• Fears and anxieties surrounding a sudden decrease in sexual desire

Differences Between Low Libido and Sexual Dysfunction

Low libido is commonly confused with sexual dysfunction and, while the two share some characteristics, they aren’t the same. Low libido has more to do with the desires and motivations behind sex, whereas sexual dysfunction causes difficulties performing during sex. Low libido may contribute to sexual dysfunction and vice versa, but the terms aren’t interchangeable. 

What You Can Do About Low Libido

Are you suffering from low libido? While it can be a discouraging problem, it isn’t the end of the world. Read on to learn about what you can do about low libido. 

Natural Ways to Enhance Libido

Some may find that the answer to low libido is a good, old-fashioned aphrodisiac. Certain foods, herbs, and spices may have an impact on some people’s sex drive. Here are some ways to increase your libido naturally.

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a neurotransmitter that may be connected to feelings of love and attraction.
• Pomegranates: Pomegranates may be able to boost testosterone levels for both men and women.
• Gingko Bilbao: Gingko may be able to increase blood flow to the genitals and stimulate sexual arousal.
• Maca: Maca may have properties that increase sexual desire.
• Horny Goat Weed: Horny goat weed contains phytoestrogen, a compound that works similarly to estrogen. It may be able to counteract low libido. 

Role of Diet and Exercise in Sexual Health

Diet and exercise also play a significant role in your sexual health. Eating a diet rich in whole foods, proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats can keep your body functioning in tip-top shape, whereas processed foods, unhealthy fats, and sugars can hurt. While a healthy diet alone won’t instantly boost your libido, it supports overall well-being, which can positively impact intimacy. Read our diet tips to learn more.

Therapy and Counseling for Low Libido

What can make a significant impact on your libido is working with a therapist or counselor. If your low libido is caused by mental health conditions, they can help address the underlying concerns contributing to your mental health. A sex therapist may also be able to provide tactics to help improve intimacy and address any sexual dysfunction that may come along with low libido. 

How Couples Can Work Together on Libido Issues

One partner’s low libido can be a major stress on the relationship. If your relationship is feeling strained because of your or your partner’s low libido, it’s important to find ways to work together to improve. 

Communicate openly and honestly about what you’re experiencing. Listen to your partner’s feelings and set realistic expectations about goals you can achieve together. When in doubt, seek professional help. Low libido doesn’t have to mean the end of your relationship. 

References

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18192936/
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15216-low-libido-low-sex-drive