It is completely normal for a woman’s libido, or sex drive, to fluctuate throughout her life. Everything from hormonal changes — think IVF, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause — to stressors and significant life changes can affect your desire for sexual intercourse. 

While low libido is not a cause for worry in most cases, you may want to speak to your healthcare provider if it is something that bothers you or is persistent. Now, let’s look at some symptoms of low sex drive and treatment options together.

What is libido?

Libido refers to your sex drive, which includes your desire to have sex, as well as your sexual fantasies, thoughts, and pleasures.

Low libido, or a low sex drive, is just one kind of sexual dysfunction that affects women — and it affects a lot of women. For many women with low libido, the struggle can go beyond simply not getting aroused. It might result in trouble staying aroused, reaching orgasm, and even enjoying sex.

What causes low libido?

Low libido can be caused by more than a few things.

“There may be multiple causes as to why women may experience low libido,” explains Dr. Dorothy Bestoyong, DO. “It’s important to take a look at medications, supplements as well as lifestyle factors like stress, interpersonal conflicts, anxiety, etc. that can be contributory.” 

In broad terms, hormonal, physical, psychological, and interpersonal factors can all affect your libido.

Hormonal

• Hormone-related conditions: This can include medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and decreased testosterone levels. 
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Both of these cause intense and rapid shifts in estrogen and progesterone levels, which can cause you to feel less interested in sex. Additionally, the stress and poor sleep that often come with having a newborn can also factor into a low libido. 
• Menopause: For many women, their libido decreases with age, particularly as they enter perimenopausal phases. This is a result of dropped estrogen levels.

Physical

• Pain during sex: Women might experience pain during sex for a number of reasons: STIs, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, yeast infections, and vaginal dryness. Discomfort or pain during vaginal intercourse can, understandably, cause a drop in your libido.
• Medications: As Dr. Bestoyong said, taking a look at medications, supplements, and lifestyle choices is one place to start when it comes to low libido. Some medications that list low libido as a potential side effect are blood pressure medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-seizure medications.

Psychological

Some women might experience a bothersome low sex drive because of the difficult task of separating the mind from the body. In other words, psychological symptoms might distract you or dampen your mood when trying to engage in sex or sexual activities.

• Stress: Stress from a sudden life change or ongoing situations can increase your levels of cortisol, which, in turn, lowers your testosterone levels and results in a decreased libido. Chronic stress can make you feel distracted or too tired when it comes to having sex. 
• Anxiety: Anxiety is also associated with higher levels of cortisol. If you suffer from generalized anxiety disorders, you might also worry more about your performance rather than enjoying sexual activities. 
• Depression: If you suffer from depression, you might get less enjoyment out of things that once brought you pleasure. This goes for sexual intercourse and activities, as well.
• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD): Some women suffer from this chronic disorder. “HSDD is characterized by a persistent or recurrent absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity that causes significant personal distress or interpersonal difficulties,” explains Dr. Bestoyong. “The prevalence of HSDD in the US is anywhere between 12-19%.”

Interpersonal conflicts

For many women, having a strong emotional connection with their partner is important for a flourishing sex life. If you are having relationship issues outside of the bedroom, then your sex drive might drop, following suit. Some interpersonal issues that might negatively impact your sex drive are a lack of emotional intimacy, fear of getting pregnant, distrust, negative self-image, and worries about sexual performance.

How can you increase your libido?

When it comes to low libido, there are several options to try and increase it — especially if it is something that causes you distress and affects you and your relationship.

“Again, doing an inventory on what medications/supplements and stressors that may be contributory is important,” says Dr. Bestoyong. “There are also non-pharmacologic interventions such as CBT, sex therapy/counseling, couples therapy, etc.”

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Some at-home lifestyle changes and remedies you can try on your own include: 

• Using a vaginal lubricant
• Adding more foreplay, toys, and/or different positions
• Using the bathroom before sexual activity
• Doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor
• Setting the mood before having sex. This can be a warm bath, candles, scent, music, etc.

There are also pharmacologic options out there for women, such as hormone therapies for appropriate candidates. Hormone therapies can be administered via vaginal cream, pills, rings, skin patches, and gels. 

A non-hormonal option for women is Vyleesi. Vyleesi is the first and only FDA-approved on-demand, as-needed prescription medicine used to treat hypoactive (low) sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women who have not gone through menopause, who have not had problems with low sexual desire in the past, and who have low sexual desire no matter the type of sexual activity, the situation, or the sexual partner. Women with HSDD have low sexual desire that is troubling to them. Their low sexual desire is not due to a medical or mental health problem, problems in the relationship, or medicine or other drug use.

Vyleesi starts working quickly, too. Take it just 30-45 minutes before your anticipated sexual activity to increase your drive, and it will last 8 to 10 hours. Also, there are no alcohol restrictions for women who opt to take Vyleesi.  

Between an inventory of your lifestyle choices and medications that might be affecting your low libido and non-hormonal, self-administered options like Vyleesi, there really is hope out there for you to, once again, enjoy your sex life!

Vyleesi is an FDA-approved prescription option. Visit Vyleesi.com for important safety information.

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Brighid Flynn is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia where she lives with her husband and puppy. She is just beginning her journey toward motherhood.