Women who have a low libido is one of the most common sexual health problems. Some women have never felt much of an interest in sex, whilst others feel that their libido has changed over a period of time. The root can be in psychological wellbeing, physiological wellness, or, indeed, both, and it can put a great deal of strain on a relationship and cause stress for both partners.
Hormones can be at fault in many cases. Women have strong hormonal changes that occur during important times such as puberty, menopause and around the birth of a baby. Hormonal fluctuations also happen at other times. Testosterone, which is most frequently thought of in association with male sex drive, is present in women and is vital for libido, so a deficit can lead to very little interest in sex.
Some medical conditions can also cause a lack of sex drive. These include obesity, cancer, hypertension, neurological and cardiovascular conditions. Those who lead a sedentary lifestyle are more likely to succumb to these conditions, and that sedentary lifestyle can also have a libido-lowering effect.
Some medications can also lower libido, especially anti-depressants or anti-anxiety pills. On top of this, contraceptives (such as the oral birth control pills) often affect libido as they trick your body into not ovulating, which results in the sex hormones that tell your body to mate (to fertilise the egg) do not peak in the same way.
There can also be psychological factors at play. Depression is a classic example of this. Drugs and alcohol can also play a part, as whilst they enhance your mood, they can remove your libido. Anxiety and post-traumatic stress also have a negative effect on libido.
Life can also get in the way of regular sex, as it can feel like something that does not need to be prioritised. Fatigue and a feeling of being overwhelmed by daily life can also contribute to a lack of sex.