Libido can be fragile for many women as their sex drive can go up and down. There are numerous things that affect the female sex drive. Some are obvious; others are not. Here are ten common reasons behind a decrease in sex drive.
#1: Anxiety & Stress
It's hard to feel sexy when you're worried about paying the mortgage. When experiencing stress, fear or anxiety, sex is usually the last thing on the brain. Problems with work, relationships, family and money can decrease libido:
#2 Aging & Menopause
Age is responsible for many changes including loss of bone mass, susceptibility to illness, painful joints, incontinence, sleep disorder, and decreased sexual desire. About 50 percent of women report reduced sex drive around menopause. Symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and pain during sex, may make sex uncomfortable and lessen drive too.
#3 Body Image
To have good feelings about sex, you need to have good feelings about yourself. Bad self-image is the worst offender and weight issues top the list.
#4: Life & Parenting
Between work, kids, school, work, and life in general, there just doesn't seem to be time for sex. When parents focus most of their attention on the children, they often forgo sex.
#5 Not Enough Sleep
If you have a busy lifestyle or sleep disorders, the result can be a lacking libido. Quite simply, too little sleep creates fatigue. Fatigue drains sex drive.
#6 Relationship Problems
These are some of the most common killers of libido. Unresolved conflict, poor communication, betrayal of trust, and others can dramatically damage one’s sex drive.
#7 Medication
Many common medications adversely affect the level of sexual desire. Mood stabilizers, tranquilizers, high blood pressure pills and others have been shown to decrease levels of sex drive. Changing medication or the dose may solve the problem, so talk with your doctor.
#8 Depression
Waning sex drive can be a sign of depression. See a doctor. Clinical depression is serious, but treatable.
#9 Alcohol
Alcohol may make you feel less inhibited about sex but it can also reduce your desire for it. Consumed regularly, it and recreational drugs can numb your sex drive.
#10 Medical Dysfunction
This doesn’t just mean female sexual desire disorder. Loss of libido can be related to a thyroid condition, a hormone deficiency, or a metabolic disorder such as an accident, eating disorder, illness or trauma.
Generally a decrease in sex drive is not permanent. If you can determine the problem, you can remedy it.
Sources:
WebMD.com
ThirdAge.com
AskMen.com
MedicalDaily.com