Low Sex Drive

Dr. Lisa Lawless, CEO of Holistic Wisdom
Clinical Psychotherapist: Relationship & Sexual Health Expert

Low Sex Drive text, flowers, tea, bedding

Determining The Underlying Cause

Low sex drive can be impacted by physical, emotional, mental, and relationship factors. Frequently it can be multiple factors that influence sexual functioning. This article will review a variety of underlying causes.

If you are unsure of where to start to determine the cause of low sex drive, we always encourage seeing a healthcare provider first to rule out physical issues that may require your attention. Once physical conditions have been ruled out as an underlying cause of low sex drive, you can explore other areas for addressing it.

Low Sex Drive Quiz

The Journal of Sexual Medicine sex drive test may help you determine if you have a low sex drive. Please check all the factors that you may feel may be contributing to your current decrease in sexual desire or interest:

Was your level of sexual desire or interest satisfying in the past?
Has there been a decrease in your level of sexual desire or interest?
Are you bothered by your decreased level of sexual desire or interest?
Would you like your level of sexual desire or interest to increase?
Please check all the factors that you may feel may be contributing to your current decrease in sexual desire or interest:

You have medical conditions such as an surgery, disease, depression, injuries or other.
You take medications, or use drugs or alcohol.
You have recently been pregnant or are perimenopausal or have gone through menopause recently.
You experience pain during sex, decreased arousal or orgasm.
Your partner experiences sexual challenges.
You are dissatisfied with your relationship or partner.
You are experiencing stress or fatigue.

Quiz Results

If you say no to any of the questions in 1-4, you do not qualify for a generalized acquired low sexual function diagnosis.

If you answer yes to questions 1-4 and no to question 5, you may have generalized acquired low sexual desire.

Physical Challenges

Many factors can affect sexual desire. Here are some examples based on gender with links to corresponding articles that delve into more detail.

Female Sexual Dysfunction

Dyspareunia
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD)
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSIAD)
Sexual Aversion Disorder (SAD)
Anorgasmia (Female Orgasmic Disorder or Orgasmic Dysfunction)

These can be impacted by physical issues such as:

Perimenopause & Menopause
Pregnancy
Medications, Drug or Alcohol Use
Smoking Or Vaping
Weight Changes (Obesity Or Extreme Weight Loss)
Illnesses: Kidney Disease, Autoimmune, etc.
Hormonal Imbalances
Cancer Treatments
Surgeries Or Injuries (Pelvic Area, Spinal Cord)
Vaginal Septum
Imperforate Hymen
Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
Vulvodynia
Vaginal Hypoplasia (Hypoplasia Of The Introitus)
MRKH Syndrome
Vaginismus
Vaginal Cysts
Retroverted Uterus
Cervicitis
Candidiasis (Yeast Infections)
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Uterine Prolapse
Urinary Tract Infections
Ectopic Pregnancy
STDs
Sleep Disorders
Low DHEA
Heart Disease
Clogged Blood Vessels (Atherosclerosis)
High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Multiple Sclerosis
Metabolic Syndrome

Male Sexual Dysfunction

These can be impacted by physical issues such as:

Medications, Drug or Alcohol Use
Smoking Or Vaping
Weight Changes (Obesity Or Extreme Weight Loss)
Illnesses: Kidney Disease, Autoimmune, etc.
Hormonal Imbalances: Low Testosterone
Cancer Treatments
Enlarged Prostate
Candidiasis (Yeast Infections)
STDs
Surgeries Or Injuries (Pelvic Area, Spinal Cord)
Sleep Disorders
Heart Disease
Clogged Blood Vessels (Atherosclerosis)
High Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Diabetes
Metabolic Syndrome
Parkinson's Disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Peyronie's Disease

The Importance Of Hormones

Hormones regulate the reproductive cycle, libido, and mood. For example, testosterone helps regulate sex drive while modulating bone and muscle mass and fat distribution. Men have approximately ten times more testosterone than women. However, women produce testosterone as well, and this vital hormone helps regulate sex drive while modulating bone and muscle mass in addition to fat distribution.

If testosterone is too low, there can be a loss of libido but also weight gain and low energy. If testosterone is low in women, you can see diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of infertility that can cause menopause-like symptoms, including irregular periods, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, weight gain, and insulin resistance. If a male has low testosterone, symptoms can include hair loss, fatigue, increased body fat, loss of muscle mass, mood changes, decreased bone mass, decreases in memory, and erectile dysfunction (ED).

Declining estrogen in women often leads to vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, difficulty becoming aroused, and a loss of sexual desire. When males' estrogen levels are low, they can have decreased sex drive, excess fat around the belly, bone loss, and osteoporosis. Learn more about hormones through our guide: Sex Hormones: Keeping Them Balanced.

Circulatory Issues

Reduced blood flow can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and sexual arousal difficulties in women. The most common causes include obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, and arterial issues. Examples of circulatory issues are below:

Atherosclerosis
The hardening of the arteries.
Heart Attack Or Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Blood supply is cut off from the heart.
Mitral Valve Prolapse
The mitral valve bulges out or prolapses.
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
The mitral valve does not close and causes blood to flow backward and leak.
Mitral Stenosis
Mitral valve is abnormally narrow and reducing blood flow.
Angina Pectoris
Heart is not receiving enough blood.
Arrhythmia & Dysrhythmia
Abnormal heart rates and rhythms.
Cardiac Ischemia
Heart not getting enough oxygen.
High Cholesterol
Layers of cholesterol blocking blood flow.
Heart Failure
The heart is not pumping blood efficiently.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Force of blood flow too high.
Stroke
Blockages from blood clots or bursts.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Narrowing of arteries.
Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
Blood clot(s).
Aortic Aneurysms
Weakened artery which can balloon and burst.

High Blood Pressure

One of the most common circulatory issues is high blood pressure (hypertension) is a well-known risk factor for heart disease and stroke; it can quietly damage your body for years before symptoms develop. If left uncontrolled, you may wind up with a disability, poor quality of life, or even a fatal heart attack. Perhaps less known is that hypertension is also a common cause of sexual dysfunction, such as erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and reduced sexual desire. If your blood pressure is chronically high, lowering it can increase sexual performance and reduce the impact of mild cognitive impairment, which can help prevent dementia.

Ruling Out Physical Issues

As you can see, many physical issues can contribute to low sex drive and diminished sexual performance. Sometimes, sexual issues can be red flags that something else is going on with your health and requires attention. This is why it is vital to start by speaking to a healthcare provider about concerns regarding your sex drive. If you feel concerned about talking with your doctor about sex because it is a sensitive topic, please see our helpful guide for tips on bringing up the subject: How To Talk To Your Doctor About Sex.

Psychological Sexual Dysfunction

Stress, fear, and anxiety are all factors that can dampen sexual desire. The demands of juggling work, family, and many other daily responsibilities can be overwhelming for many people. In addition, emotional-medical issues, such as depression, have also been linked to dampened desire. In addition, many medications that are prescribed to combat depression or anxiety may have a negative impact on sex drive.

Psychological sexual dysfunction is the inability of someone to experience sexual arousal or achieve sexual satisfaction with proper sexual stimulation due to psychological problems or, more rarely, a physical disorder.

Symptoms In Men

Unable To Maintain An Erection
Absent Or Premature Ejaculations
Unable To Be Aroused When Properly Stimulated
Inhibited Sexual Desire

Symptoms in Women

Unable To Be Aroused When Properly Stimulated
Unable To Orgasm
Inhibited Sexual Desire
Pain During Sex
Vaginal Dryness

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse, assault, and rape are a deeply traumatic experiences and may lead to fear and avoidance of sexual experiences later in life. Those who have been victims of past abuse may be afraid to trust a partner; others respond to these negative experiences by losing sexual desire altogether. Counseling can be extremely valuable in helping victims come to terms with the trauma and restore sexual desire. Read more through our helpful guide: Sexual Assault & Rape Resources.

Sex Therapy

If it is determined that you may have psychological sexual dysfunction, you may want to explore sex therapy. To learn more about that, please see our helpful guide: Sex Therapy & Counseling or our Types of Therapy Guide.

Relationship Challenges

It is not uncommon to look over at our partner and feel decreased attraction that was once there in a relationship. We may even find ourselves longing for the days when the relationship was new and exciting, fantasizing about previous relationships and even fantasies of new ones.

When this occurs, it is vital to explore what may help the relationship because while there are tips for spicing things up for couples that we will provide, if there is an emotional strain on the relationship, it should be addressed first. Every successful relationship requires respectful emotional work, and when couples neglect this, they often find themselves distant or arguing.

Revitalizing your relationship by doing things such as leaving love notes, learning a new sexual technique, and taking a romantic getaway or date are all ways to improve it. Simply listening to your partner's needs and then expressing your own can help you and your partner make your relationship what you want it to be. There are no bounds to what you can accomplish with imagination, creativity, love, and desire.

The secret to a long and fulfilling relationship is to stay passionate about your relationship and life. It is through our perceptions that we create our reality. If we numb ourselves with television, social media, alcohol, and other forms of escape while neglecting our lives, we aren't truly living with passion, which carries over to the bedroom. Sexual intimacy requires communication, honesty, compromise, listening, compassion, and understanding.

Here are some guides to help you address underlying issues:

Here are guides to help you spice things up:

In Closing

Sex is a beautiful pleasure that we all can celebrate; it impacts our daily lives through our self-esteem, relationships, and even our health. It can be the most beautiful and loving experience we give ourselves and share with others. That is why your sexual satisfaction is so important to us and why we specialize in only the best sexual products that are body-safe. Learn more about sex toys and how to choose the best ones for your health and pleasure through our helpful Sex Toy Guides.

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