More than 40 percent of women admit to experiencing a low sex drive at some point in their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic. Low sex drive is a prolonged lack of interest in sex that causes you and your partner emotional distress. Though desire for sex fluctuates with age, hormones and physical and emotional well-being, feeling little or no desire for sex is frustrating for many women.
Lifestyle Changes
Dr. Glenn D. Braunstein, chair of the department of medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, says a woman’s sex drive is often fueled by how she feels both mentally and physically. Stress or a negative body image can also lead to decreased libido. If you are in a sexual rut, make a few positive lifestyle changes to help dig your way out. Regular exercise can improve strength and stamina. It can also help you become fitter and trimmer, improving the way you see yourself. Another benefit of regular exercise is that it helps manage stress, another libido buster. In addition to exercise, find other ways to relax and reduce stress. Take time from your busy schedule to read, meditate or enjoy a favorite hobby. Although consuming a few alcoholic drinks might help you unwind and even feel a little amorous, too many can hurt your sex drive. The same is true with drugs and cigarettes.
Relationship Changes
Because of the link between sex and emotional intimacy between partners, it’s no wonder sex drive plummets whenever there’s a problem in your relationship. Disagreements in any relationship are not uncommon, but if you and your partner are arguing about your stalled sex life, you run the risk of getting into a cycle of increased fighting, emotional distancing and lack of sex altogether. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stresses the importance of maintaining an open dialogue to address any misunderstanding or expectations regarding your sex life. As unromantic and contrived as it seems, plan for sex. If you and your partner actually schedule sex on the calendar, it will remove the pressure to perform during non-date nights. Add sizzle back into your sex life by trying sex in a new location or in a different position. Incorporate toys and lubricants in your foreplay to increase arousal. If none of these self-help ideas works, consider seeing a sex therapist.
Medical Treatments
Unlike men, who can pop a pill and expect a revved up sex drive, medical interventions for women are often more complicated. For one thing, it’s not always easy to determine why your sex drive is lagging. Though a decreased libido could be the result of an over-packed schedule or relationship conflict, it could also be due to an underlying medical condition or medications you’re taking. For that reason, your health care provider will perform a medical evaluation and make suggestions based on his findings. One option that might be available to you is systemic or local estrogen therapy. Systemic estrogen, taken by pill or patch, travels through the blood stream to increase libido. Local estrogen is available as a vaginal cream or suppository and has the same effect.
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