How Do I Know If I Have a Low Libido as a Woman?

Do you feel like your sex drive just isn't what it used to be? Have you noticed a decrease in your desire for sexual activity? If so, you may be dealing with low libido.

Low libido is more common in women than you might think. In fact, research shows that up to 43% of women experience low libido at some point in their lives.

But how do you know for sure if you have low libido? What are the signs and symptoms? And what causes low sex drive in females in the first place?

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about recognizing and dealing with low female libido. Read on to learn more about what low libido looks like, what causes it, and what you can do about it.

What Does Low Libido Mean?

Libido refers to your level of sexual desire or sex drive. Low libido simply means you have decreased interest in sexual activity.

Libido fluctuates over time and is different for every woman. While some experience persistent low libido, for others it comes and goes depending on things like stress, their relationship, and hormone levels.

Having an occasional dip in your sex drive is normal, but persistently low libido may indicate an underlying issue.

Signs and Symptoms of Low Libido in Females

Wondering if your libido is lower than it should be? Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of low libido in women:

• Lack of interest in sex
• Rarely or never initiating sex
• Not enjoying sex as much as you used to
• Less arousal during sex
• Trouble getting aroused or reaching orgasm
• Thinking of sex feels like a chore
• Fantasizing about sex less often

You may also experience physical signs like vaginal dryness or pain during intercourse.

If you don’t have interest in any type of sexual activity, whether with a partner or solo, and this lasts for weeks or months, low libido may be an issue for you.

What Causes Low Libido in Females?

Now that you know what low libido looks like, what causes low sex drive for women in the first place? There are actually many potential causes.

Hormonal Causes

Hormonal imbalances and changes often affect libido. Causes related to hormones include:

• Menopause - Declining estrogen levels during perimenopause and menopause can lead to vaginal dryness and decreased libido.
• Postpartum period - The drastic drop in progesterone and estrogen levels after giving birth is a huge libido killer.
• Breastfeeding - Estrogen levels are lower when breastfeeding, which can depress sex drive.
• Birth control pills - The hormones in oral contraceptives, especially those with low progesterone, can decrease libido.
• Thyroid issues - Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism affect hormone levels and cause low libido.

Medical and Lifestyle Causes

Medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors that affect female libido include:

• Depression and anxiety - Mental health issues are strongly linked to low libido. Certain medications used to treat these conditions can also lower desire.
• Chronic illness - Ongoing health issues like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders impact libido.
• Medications - Antidepressants, blood pressure meds, and opioids can depress sex drive as a side effect.
• Low testosterone - Although thought of as the "male" hormone, women also need testosterone for optimal libido.
• Fatigue and stress - Being overworked, not getting enough sleep, and constant stress tanks libido.
• Relationship issues - Relationship problems like conflict with your partner and lack of emotional intimacy contribute to low desire for women.
• Body image issues - Struggling with low self-esteem and negative body image severely impacts female sex drive.

Is My Libido Too Low?

There’s no “normal” level of libido that applies to all women. Sex drive varies greatly among individuals based on factors like age, hormones, stress levels, health status, relationship satisfaction, and more.

While it’s difficult to define low libido with a specific threshold, you likely have an issue with low desire if:

• You’ve noticed a persistent decrease in your level of sexual desire/activity.
• You rarely or never want to engage in sexual activity.
• You view sex as a chore instead of something pleasurable.
• Your lack of libido is distressing to you and/or your partner.

If you relate to any of the above, then yes, your libido may be lower than what’s healthy for you. The next step is identifying why it has decreased and what to do about it.

Can Low Libido Be Cured?

The good news is that in many cases, low libido is treatable! Depending on the underlying cause, there are several ways women can increase libido and regain their passion for sex.

Medical Treatments

If hormone imbalance, illness, or medications are causing low sex drive, treating the underlying condition may resolve it. Your doctor may recommend:

• Hormone therapy - Estrogen therapy or testosterone therapy can improve libido when hormone levels are low.
• Thyroid medication - Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism or medication for hyperthyroidism can get thyroid levels back to normal.
• Changing medications - Switching to a medication with fewer sexual side effects can help in some cases.
• Treating mental health issues - Managing depression, anxiety, and stress with medication, therapy, or other healthy coping techniques goes a long way in boosting libido.

Lifestyle Changes

Natural remedies and healthy lifestyle habits also enhance desire and arousal in women. Try:

• Reducing stress through yoga, meditation, massage, better time management, saying no, and fun hobbies.
• Getting enough sleep so you have more energy for sex. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.
• Eating libido-boosting foods like oysters, tribulus, maca, and chocolate.
• Cutting back on alcohol which decreases sexual arousal.
• Exercising to improve body confidence and increase blood flow to the genitals.
• Improving intimacy in your relationship through more communication, date nights, and quality one-on-one time.
• Focusing on foreplay to increase arousal before sex. Spend at least 15 minutes in foreplay before intercourse.
• Trying sexual lubricants to make sex more comfortable.

When to See a Doctor

If lifestyle changes aren’t providing sufficient improvement, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can determine if an underlying physical or mental health issue needs treatment, identify any medications negatively impacting you, and discuss other solutions tailored to your unique situation.

See your doctor if:

• Your low libido does not improve over 2-3 months of lifestyle modifications.
• Your low desire is disrupting your relationships and quality of life.
• You suspect hormones, thyroid problems, or other medical conditions are causing your low libido.

Summary

Decreased female libido is quite common, and you’re certainly not alone if you’re dealing with it. Low sex drive can result from varied factors like hormone changes, health conditions, stress, and relationship problems.

The most important thing is identifying why your libido is low so you can find the right solutions. Relief for low female libido is possible through medical treatments, lifestyle changes, and working with a knowledgeable doctor.

If you continually have no interest in sex, can’t get aroused, or sex feels like a chore, don’t just accept a lackluster sex life as the norm. There are various ways to get your mojo back with a little effort.

Remember, you deserve to feel desire and enjoy a fun, fulfilling sex life. Don’t write off low libido as something you have to live with forever. Take steps to determine the cause and implement a treatment plan so you can reclaim your passion, joy for sex, and satisfaction in the bedroom!