By Dr. Amol Bamane , Sexology
If you no longer feel any desire for sexual activities, then it may just signify an underlying problem. Lack of desire is not considered as a very serious condition, so usually it is overlooked. More often than not, lack of desire indicates underlying health issues, such as diabetes. It is best to undergo treatment at the earliest to prevent any serious damage to your body.
The causes why you may be experiencing this problem are:
- Depression: If you are depressed, then your body undergoes certain changes, resulting in low libido.
- Relationship problems: If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, you may have become overfamiliar with your partner and feel a degree of erotic dissatisfaction. This is quite common and can have a negative effect on your sex drive.
- Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol consumption can impair the functioning of the nervous system and may cause an inability to be aroused.
- Hormonal Imbalance: Hormones play a primary role in sexual desire. Therefore, any hormonal imbalance can disrupt your libido levels. Low levels of testosterone and problems if the adrenal glands contribute in the reduction of libido.
- Menopause: Menopause may cause your libido to drop because of low estrogen levels in the body. Dry vagina is a prevalent symptom among menopausal women which causes pain during sexual intercourse.
- Medication: Specific medications which are used in the treatment of high blood pressure and depression may lead to lower libido levels.
- Sleep: If you are not getting the requisite amount of sleep, then it may lead to secretion of high levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body. This hormone is a major libido dampener.
- Self-esteem: If your self-esteem is on the lower side, then you may not be confident about sex. This can lead to a lack of desire to engage in sexual intercourse.
Some signs and symptoms that may indicate a low sex drive include a woman who:
- Has no interest in any type of sexual activity, including self-stimulation
- Doesn’t have sexual fantasies or thoughts, or only seldom has them
- Is bothered by her lack of sexual activity or fantasies
When to see a doctor-
If you are bothered by your low desire for sex, talk to your doctor. The solution could be as simple as changing the type of antidepressant you take.
