A low sex drive is a form of sexual dysfunction, that affects both sexes and there are several factors that can lead to this problem. They can be categorised as physical and psychological causes.
If you are worried that you’ve not been feeling sexually up to par lately, then it’s time for you to get to the bottom of it because you may just be experiencing sexual dysfunction. Your inability to perform may lead to anxiety, which compounds the problem. Most people are concerned about their inability to please their partners.
Low libido, or hypoactive sexual drive disorder, is a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity. This is considered a disorder if it causes problems for the patient or problems in the patient’s relationships. Lack of libido occurs more in women than in men. However, men who have erectile dysfunction do not necessarily have low libido.
How often does low sexual drive occur?
The statistics for Nigeria is still unknown, however, the American Medical Association has estimated that several million US women suffer from what doctors in America call ‘female sexual arousal disorder’ (FSAD). In the UK, family planning clinics and related clinics see quite large numbers of women who complain of low libido. Going by these estimates we can assume that hundreds of thousands of women in Nigeria are also suffering from the lack of sex drive.
Low libido in men is far less common than erectile dysfunction. One study showed that for every fifteen men who reported having erectile dysfunction, only one of them had a low sexual desire. Most men with lack of libido can still achieve erections but have lost only the desire to have sex.
What are the causes of low libido?
The causes can be divided into physical and psychological concerns.
Physical causes include:
- Anaemia. This more commonly affects women because of iron loss during periods
- Alcoholism
- Drug abuse
- Major diseases such as diabetes
- Obesity
- Post-partum. This is the loss of libido that often starts after childbirth. It is almost certainly linked to hormonal changes that occur at this time. The general stress and trauma of childbirth also play a part.
- Prescribed drugs, particularly tranquillizers
- Other hormone abnormalities
- Low testosterone level – contrary to what many people think, this is rare
- Hyperprolactinaemia. This is a rare disorder where the pituitary gland produces too much of the hormone prolactin.
Psychological causes include:
- Depression
- Stress and overwork
- Anxiety
- Hang-ups from childhood
- Past sexual abuse or rape
- Latent homosexuality
- Serious relationship problems with the partner
- Difficult living conditions
Steps to help overcome low sex drive.
- Avoid stress as much as possible. Do not take your work stress home with you. Time at home should be spent resting and relaxing.
- Avoid smoking, drinking, and using drugs. Not only will it benefit your sex life, but it’ll also improve your overall health.
- Relax before engaging in sexual activities
- Family counselling help for couples undergoing serious relationship problems.
Consult your doctor if natural interventions fail. They are more qualified to give you prescriptions or safe suggestions on what to do in this regard.