When it comes to sexual desire, the most influential hormone is testosterone which influences the sex drive both in men and women.
Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are hormones that affect a woman’s sexual desire and functioning.
Though testosterone is often considered a male hormone, testosterone — like estrogen– is present in both men and women, though the proportions differ between the sexes.
In women, testosterone is produced through the operation of the adrenals glands — two small glands near the kidneys — and the ovaries.
Who moved my hormones?
Hormonal changes don’t necessarily indicate that there’s a problem. Menstrual and menopausal changes, for example, are a normal part of development.
However, if a hormonal change leads to a drop in desire or sexual pleasure, and you feel dissatisfied with this, a woman may want to explore options such as changing her method of birth control or changing/altering her medications.
If you feel discouraged, frustrated, or even embarrassed by your lack of interest in sex, you’re not alone. Around 43% of women and 31% of men have reported sexual dysfunction problems, such as low sex drive. Young or old, male or female, no one is safe from low sex drive. Fortunately, it’s treatable.
At our clinic, we specialize in treating sexual dysfunctions of all kinds, especially low sex drive. We can get to the bottom of your lack of interest in sex and guide you toward a treatment plan that will restore the passion in your life.
Overview of low libido
Your sex drive, also called your libido, is mainly controlled by hormones. The prominent sex hormones for women are estrogen and progesterone, though women do produce a low level of testosterone as well. The prominent sex hormone for men is testosterone.
No matter the gender, though, testosterone is the driving force behind sexual desire in both men and women, and hormonal changes can have a huge impact on your interest in sex.
Changes in libido can affect both men and women in similar and different ways. Understanding the underlying cause of your low libido can help us better treat you and get you back to a more pleasurable lifestyle.
Libido changes in women
Because women have much lower levels of testosterone, they’re much less likely to want to have sex in the first place. However, there are lots of other reasons you might not be in the mood, including:
You’re stressed out
If you’re stressed out, sex may be the last thing on your mind. For men, sex can often be a stress reducer, but this isn’t always the case for women. Try writing down what’s stressing you or seek other ways to cope with stress so you can find time for intimacy.
You’re taking birth control
We mentioned that women have a small amount of testosterone, the hormone that drives sex. If you’re taking a hormonal contraceptive, you reduce the amount of testosterone in your body.
The pill also gets rids of the ovulation part of the menstrual cycle, which is when women normally feel most in the mood for sex. Pregnancy can also be a cause of low libido in women.
You’re feeling pain
Sometimes sex just doesn’t feel good, and that’s what’s causing you to cringe at the mention of it. Don’t ignore pain with sex. You could just be dry and in need of lubrication, or you could have an STD or endometriosis.
Libido changes in men
If you’re a man and have a low sex drive, this could be due to a few reasons, including:
Your testosterone levels are low
Low testosterone is the leading cause of low libido in men. There are lots of reasons you could be experiencing low testosterone levels, including injury to your testicles, hormonal disorders, testicular cancer, infections, or other chronic illness. Low testosterone is typically easy to treat by replacing lost testosterone through hormone replacement therapy.
You’re exercising too little
If you’ve been stuck on the couch for a long time with little to no physical activity, you may have developed health problems, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes, all of which can affect your sex drive.
You’re getting older
As you age, your testosterone levels drop off. Your testosterone is highest when you’re a teenager and then starts to dissipate when you reach adulthood.
Libido changes in both men and women
The cause of low libido isn’t always due to hormone fluctuations. If you’re simply tired or not feeling your best emotionally or physically, you might not want to be intimate. Alcohol and drugs can also affect your interest in intimacy. And, if you’re in a long-term relationship, your passion may have dwindled.
Whatever is causing your lack of interest in sex, you’re never far away from returning to a life of passion. Our highly trained experts can check for hormone deficiencies, psychological factors, and underlying medical conditions and encourage lifestyle changes to treat your libido issues. Contact us today to get your consultation for free!