Libido is a concept that defines sex drive, i.e. a natural motivation stimulus, thanks to which a person feels the desire to satisfy his sexual needs. Some people experience a decrease in libido, which is considered sexual dysfunction. Libido disorders can vary in severity and usually occur as an isolated symptom. What are the most common causes of lack of libido and how to fight this problem?
Libido - what is it?
Sex drive is a natural feeling of every human being, and the desire to satisfy it is one of the basic needs. The level of libido is variable and depends on many different factors, both biological and psychological. It is directly related to the body’s hormonal balance, so it can change in the daily and monthly cycle. Other factors also influence the libido, e.g. partnerships or the length of the relationship.
Loss of libido as sexual dysfunction
A decrease or lack of libido is seen as sexual dysfunction. This term defines a disorder of the course of sexual reactions both before, during and after intercourse, and more precisely, these are disorders related to the physiology of sexual responses.
However, the definition of sexual dysfunction is not unambiguous. In 1998, Angst, in a study conducted on a Swiss population of almost 600 people aged 20-35, singled out libido disorders from the set of sexual dysfunctions, because he noticed that in terms of dependence, this phenomenon clearly stands out from the rest of sexual dysfunctions. In his work, he defined libido disorders, sexual dysfunctions and emotional problems under the collective term “sexual problems”. During the observation, he noticed that libido disorders quite often occur as an isolated symptom/ailment, and other sexual dysfunctions and emotional problems are usually associated with libido disorders.
Historically, Sigmund Freud, Wilhelm Reich, and Alfred Kinsey made the greatest contributions to the understanding and knowledge of sexual dysfunction, including the libido disorders discussed here.
Decreased libido - what could be the reasons for this?
The etiology of sexual dysfunction, including a decrease in libido, is multifactorial in most cases and is associated with biological, psychological and socio-cultural causes. Biological factors that may reduce libido and cause related problems include:
- somatic diseases,
- addictions (alcohol, tobacco, drugs),
- meno- and andropause,
- mental disorders (e.g. depression),
- hormonal causes (e.g. hyperprolactinaemia, testosterone deficiency),
- taking certain medications.
In medical practice, a division into organic and psychogenic causes of a decrease in libido is often used. Organic dysfunctions are considered to be the presence of lesions constituting a physical barrier limiting intercourse and reducing sexual desire, while psychogenic dysfunctions include disorders that are not associated with any somatic disease or organic disorders. However, the coexistence of both types of dysfunction in a patient cannot be ruled out in advance.
Natural ways to increase libido
In the first place, natural methods can be used to fight low libido. Even if they don’t help and don’t make you want to have sex, they certainly won’t hurt either. It’s about changing your lifestyle to a healthier one and eliminating bad habits.
Recommended ways to fight low libido include:
- using a healthy, nutritious and properly balanced diet that provides ingredients that affect the drive,
- regular physical activity,
- getting enough sleep (a daily sleep of at least 6-8 hours is recommended),
- reaching for natural aphrodisiacs,
- taking care of the relationship with the partner and improving the situation in the relationship.
I don't feel like having sex - what should I do?
If home remedies to increase libido do not bring improvement, and your sex drive is still low or you do not feel it at all, then do not underestimate your condition. Perhaps the cause of your bed problems is much more serious than you think. Therefore, do not wait for a decrease in libido to worsen your relationship with your partner, just seek help and start fighting the disorder.
The right place to which you should apply is a psychological and sexological clinic, where specialists providing professional psychological and sexological assistance work. In the case of a permanent decrease in libido, a sexologist will help you, who will try to find the causes of the long-term decrease in sex drive and direct the therapy in such a way as to eliminate them and increase libido.
Lack of libido and complete loss of desire for sex is a problem that does not need to be ashamed. In most cases, with the help of a sexologist, it can be effectively solved, thus improving your sex life and relationship situation.
Bibliography:
1. Wróbel M., Mosiołek A., Dysfunkcje seksualne w przebiegu zaburzeń depresyjnych, Via Medica, tom 15, nr 1, 39–44.
