What Causes Low Libido in Women?

There are plenty of tropes and stereotypes about women having a lower sex drive than men. While multiple studies have shown that sex drive doesn’t vary that much by gender, several potential causes could make you feel like your libido isn’t where it should be.

Low libido in women is more common than you might think. It’s estimated that low libido impacts anywhere from 40-70% of women, and there’s a wide variety of potential reasons.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few of the most common causes of low libido in women and what you can do to give your sex drive a boost if needed.

Physical Issues

If you struggle with a low sex drive, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure you don’t have any physical or underlying health issues causing a problem. Long-term conditions like heart disease and even thyroid issues can contribute to a low sex drive. Getting those conditions properly diagnosed and treated will help with a variety of symptoms.

If you’re on certain medications, talk to your doctor about how they might be impacting your libido. They may have side effects that directly impact your sex drive.

If you experience pain during sex, vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections, or yeast infections, they could also impact your libido and make sex something at the bottom of your list of desires. Taking care of underlying health issues can sometimes be all it takes to give your sex drive a boost.

Psychological Issues

If physical health issues aren’t causing the problem, it might be time to look within. Psychological issues can have a direct impact on your sex drive and desire. Things like stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma can all play a part in libido issues.

Even self-esteem or body image issues can play a role. If you don’t feel comfortable in your own skin, it can make even the idea of sex feel incredibly stressful, leading to a lot of unwanted personal pressure and potential anxiety.

Relationship Issues

Sex isn’t the most important part of a relationship. But it’s a way to foster intimacy and share your desires with your partner. If your relationship is struggling in other areas, those challenges might show up in your sex life or your willingness to participate.

A lack of emotional connection can make a big difference in your relationship. Sex is so much more than just a physical action. It’s an opportunity to be vulnerable with each other. If your emotional connection is suffering, your physical one is likely to struggle, too.

Communication issues can also cause problems. You might have unresolved problems with your partner because you haven’t been able to talk things through. Or, maybe you struggle with expressing your true needs and wants when it comes to sex. Communication struggles can make you feel disconnected, and your sex drive is likely to suffer.

What Can You Do?

Again, one of the best places to start if you’re dealing with a low libido is to talk to your doctor. Everything from hormonal changes to health issues could be causing problems.

But, if you feel like the problem is more psychological, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. There’s no reason why sex in a healthy relationship should cause extra anxiety or stress. If your relationship is struggling, anxiety therapy can help you find out why and offer actionable solutions. Therapy is also a great way to better understand potential mental health struggles so you can start to overcome them.

Don’t be too harsh with yourself if your sex drive is sluggish. Understanding what causes low libido in women can be the first step you need when it comes to finding a solution, and you don’t have to do it on your own. Feel free to contact me for a consultation soon.