Reproductive Health

Easy to Remedy

by Staff

Physical Causes of Low Sex Drive

If you’ve noticed a drop in your sex drive lately, don’t despair; sometimes the cause is temporary and easy to remedy. Or, it may be just the natural next phase in your life as a sexually active woman. Read on for information about various physical problems that can affect a woman’s libido.

*Fatigue-If you’re a mother of young kids, working too many hours, or caring for parents in their old age, you may just be too tired to summon sexual desire. Give yourself a break; this is not a permanent state of affairs.

*Surgery-Surgery performed on the genital tract, or on the breasts is bound to affect your sex life in several ways. You may no longer feel good about your body, and your body may not function as you like or expect.

*Drugs and Alcohol-Drugs and alcohol don’t mix with sex. A single glass of wine can’t hurt, but larger amounts act as a depressant on sex drive, ditto for drugs.

*Prescription medications-Certain prescription medications can put a real damper on your ability to enjoy a bedtime romp. Among these drugs are blood pressure medication, chemotherapy drugs, antidepressants, and antihistamines.

*Disease-Any illness can put a crimp in your sex life because you just may not feel well. When you don’t feel terrific, you’re not likely to want to have sex. On the other hand, some illnesses have a more specific effect of lowering libido and these would include neurological diseases, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, infertility, and arthritis.

A Turn Off

*Mechanical issues-Painful sex is a turn off. If you’re experiencing pain, or have trouble coming to orgasm, this could certainly turn you off sex for the duration.

Hormonal changes can also figure large in a woman’s ability to feel lust:

*Pregnancy and lactation-Pregnancy and breast feeding come with many hormonal changes and this can put a temporary damper on your need for sex. Add this to changing body image, fatigue, and the stress of caring for a new baby, all of which may bring about a decrease in sex drive.

*Menopause-Estrogen is the hormone responsible for good sexual health. It keeps your vaginal tissues in tiptop shape and reminds you to be interested in sex. As you approach menopause, there will be a drop in estrogen levels. This drop brings lowered sex drive and vaginal dryness. The lack of natural lubrication can make sex less than pleasurable and the next time around, a woman may associate the idea of sex with vaginal pain. Testosterone also lags at this time, which is the hormone that boosts desire in both men and women. Some women don’t have any resultant lowering of their sex drive, but many others do.

Above all, if you are worried about your lack of sexual desire, do discuss this with your physician since there are techniques and treatments available to help increase your sex drive.

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