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Low
Sex Drive In
Women:
Potential Causes
Menopause
The
time in a woman's life when she no longer has menstrual periods
can have an effect on sexual desire in several ways:
- As a woman
ages, it may take longer for her to become sexually aroused,
and that arousal may be less intense than it was in her earlier
years.
- During
menopause, a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormone
estrogen. This can lead to vaginal
dryness, which can make intercourse uncomfortable.
- Lack of
estrogen also can thin the walls of the vagina, leading to soreness
during and after intercourse.
Dryness or
discomfort can be relieved with hormone replacement therapy, which
replaces the estrogen her body no longer is producing, or with
the use of a vaginal lubricant, which is available over-the-counter
at pharmacies and grocery stores.
Pregnancy
When a woman
is pregnant, her entire body is affected. Changes in hormone
levels can affect her physically and emotionally. As a result,
her desire for sex may temporarily change.
During pregnancy,
some women will experience a stronger sex drive. This may be because
of the effects of hormones and because an
increased blood flow to the vagina makes intercourse more pleasurable.
Others find they have no desire for intercourse, either because
it is uncomfortable or because they are worried about their unborn
baby.
Within weeks
after the child is born, most doctors agree that a woman can return
to a normal sex life if she feels comfortable. As her body returns
to its pre-pregnancy shape, sexual feelings should return as well.
Sexual
interest may vary throughout the stages of pregnancy.
- Some women
report lowered desire during the first three months, when morning
sickness can be unpleasant and even debilitating.
- Many say
their desire increased in the second three months (second trimester),
as morning sickness diminished.
- Some say
their desire decreased again the final trimester, when the abdomen's
new bulk made sex awkward or uncomfortable.
Good
To Note-
Tubal
ligation (a sterilization procedure in which a woman's
fallopian tubes are closed off so that eggs cannot pass through)
or other sterilization procedures should not interfere with sex
drive unless the woman or her partner was opposed to the procedure.
In fact, many couples report an increase in desire once the worry
over using birth control is removed.
Pain
During Intercourse
If intercourse
is uncomfortable or painful, a woman may tense up in anticipation
of pain from sex, or she may avoid sex altogether. Painful intercourse
may result from the following:
- Dyspareunia,
which is abnormal pain that a woman experiences when her partner's
penis enters her vagina. It may result from:
- A
lack of estrogen, which is needed for vaginal lubrication
- Pelvic
infection
- A
tumor or cyst
- Endometriosis,
a condition in which tissue from the uterus adheres to other
areas throughout a woman's internal pelvic region, causing
pain and other symptoms
- Vaginismus,
which is a spasm of the muscles of the lower vagina and results
in painful or even impossible penetration. It can be a psychologically
driven condition, related to an extremely distressing past experience
such as a rape or sexual abuse.
Vaginismus
may also stem from a medical problem, such as an infection
or vaginal irritation. If the vaginismus is not caused by
an identifiable medical problem, treatment usually involves
seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist.
- Vaginal
infections, such as a yeast or bacterial infection within
the vagina that can irritate its sensitive tissues. Vaginal
infections can be easily treated with oral medication or
creams that are inserted inside the vagina.
Illness
Sickness frequently
decreases desire, whether it's a mild illness such as a head cold
or a more chronic or serious illness. When you don't feel well
physically, it's often difficult to even think about having intercourse.
Several diseases
have been found to directly reduce sex drive:
- Addison's
disease, in which the adrenal glands (glands located above the
kidneys that produce many of the body's hormones) fail
- Cushing's
syndrome, a condition caused by high levels of a hormone called
cortisol in the body over a long period of time
- Diseases
of the pituitary gland, a gland located near the brain that
produces many important hormones
In many cases,
it is not the disease itself, but rather the medications used
to treat the disease, that reduces a woman's sex drive. This is
particularly true of high blood pressure medications and some
diuretics.
It's important
to report any illness-related changes in sex drive to a physician
or therapist.
Other conditions
that may affect sexual function include:
Obesity
Or Anorexia
Women come
in all shapes and sizes, and in most cases, weight is irrelevant
to sex drive. However, those who are medically obese may:
- Be physically
unfit and lethargic, which could result in a lack of physical
activity and possibly a lack of sexual interest as well
- Be deficient
in certain sex hormones that can influence desire
- Feel less
sexually attractive and may therefore avoid intimate contact
On the opposite
end of the weight scale, women who suffer from anorexia nervosa
or who are severely underweight may also experience a lack of
sexual interest, in addition to other serious health problems.
An overly thin woman may feel sexually undesirable, and this can
affect her sex drive.
Drugs
And Alcohol
Many prescription
medications may interfere with arousal and the ability to achieve
orgasm. These include:
- Antidepressants
to treat anxiety or depression
- Antipsychotic
drugs to treat severe mental disorders
- Antihypertensive
agents to treat high blood pressure
Many people
think that alcohol reduces inhibition and therefore is an effective
treatment for low sex drive. This is not true. A small amount
of alcohol may lower sexual inhibitions when anxiety or tension
is the primary cause for low sex drive, but research has proven
that alcohol consumption does not improve either sex drive or
performance.
Many women report
that drinking before sex has a "numbing" effect on them and actually
results in diminished desire.
Psychological
Factors
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. Bills may pile up and cause
financial worries, and this distress can lead to low sex drive.
Anxiousness
and fear over an ability to perform in bed or to satisfy a partner
may sometimes lead to "spectatoring,"
in which individuals are so concerned about monitoring the experience
that they are unable to enjoy it.
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.
Relationship
Issues
The quality
of a relationship often strongly influences the couple's sexual
satisfaction. In many cases, a lack of communication is at the
heart of the problem. The problem may lie both inside and outside
the bedroom. For example, the woman may feel that her partner
is not responsive or listening to her concerns, likes, and dislikes
in her daily life. The communication problem may transfer to the
bedroom or it may start there.
Many women
are too shy or embarrassed to discuss their sexual desires and
needs frankly with their partner. Yet it is crucial to communicate
openly. Bottling up emotions, or failing to tell your partner
what pleases you, may lead to sexual frustration and unhappiness,
and could even bring your sex life to a grinding halt.
Remember,
few men have an innate knowledge of what pleases a woman. But
in a healthy relationship, most are willing and eager to learn
how to please their partners. Many men may need to be taught where
to touch and how to stimulate their partner to the point of arousal.
Sexual
Abuse
Sexual abuse
is a deeply traumatic experience and may lead to fear and avoidance
of sexual experiences later in life. Some women who have been
victims of past abuse are afraid to trust a man; others respond
to these negative experiences by losing sexual desire altogether.
Counseling can be extremely valuable in helping women come to
terms with the trauma and restore sexual desire.
See
our Female Sexual Dysfuntion Articles-
Sexual
Dysfunction Article One
Sexual
Dysfunction Article Two
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