Low libido in women or Assigned Females at Birth (AFAB) is when they have less sex drive and desire.
If the lack of sexual desire continues, it is often known as arousal disorder.
Low libido symptoms often include a lack of sexual ideas and fantasies and a lack of desire to have sex or even to masturbate.
People often ask what causes low libido in women.
The causes of low libido in women or AFAB always vary for everyone.
These causes include psychological, physical, medicinal causes, and lifestyle factors.
Some people might also observe effects on their libido due to their lifestyle factors.
Although low libido is a matter of concern, there are several treatments available for the condition.
This article will discuss the causes and available treatments for low libido in women.
What causes low libido in women
Several factors can cause low libido in women or AFAB.
These factors include physical, psychological, and medicinal reasons. The factors might vary for each individual.
The physical causes include pregnancy, hormonal disbalance, or Menopause.
One can notice a decrease in their libido due to psychological conditions like Anxiety, stress, and Depression.
In some cases, using certain medicines can reduce an individual’s libido.
This section will discuss the causes of low sexual libido in women or AFAB.
Psychological causes
Women or AFAB might notice low sex drive due to psychological causes.
According to research, some major causes of decreased libido are stress, Anxiety, and Depression.
When an individual is under stress or Anxiety, the brain releases the stress hormone Cortisol.
According to a study, high Cortisol levels reduce Dopamine (the feel-good hormone).
Dopamine contributes to increasing sexual desire in women, and low Dopamine levels can cause low libido.
Depression can reduce interest in sex in women and lower one’s energy, causing low libido.
An individual might also notice a low libido due to body-image issues and low self-esteem.
Individuals with a negative sexual experience might also have difficulty having sufficient sexual desire.
Physical causes
The physical causes of low libido in women or AFAB can range from medical diseases to sexual problems.
A person unable to reach an orgasm or who has pain during intercourse might also face low libido.
A study states that several medical diseases like Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, and neurological disorders can cause low libido in women.
A woman with hypothyroidism may notice that a low thyroid level slows down several body processes.
Low thyroid levels can cause fatigue and reduce the sexual drive in women.
High blood sugar (Diabetes) can cause damage to blood vessels in the vaginal region.
The damage may reduce the sensitivity and make sex less pleasurable in women.
Hence, study shows that women with Diabetes are likelier to experience low libido and other sexual dysfunctions.
According to another study, intense fatigue can also lower the libido in women or AFAB.
Additionally, a woman might observe a drop in Estrogen levels during Menopause.
It can cause vaginal dryness, which might induce pain during sexual intercourse.
Painful intercourse reduces concentration and can reduce the sexual desire of an individual.
Research states that pregnant women might also notice a change in their sex drive.
Medicinal causes
Women or AFAB might experience low libido when they use certain antidepressants.
According to research, about 40% of women or AFAB who take these antidepressants notice a problem in their sexual desire and arousal.
Antidepressants like Paroxetine and Fluoxetine are some of the antidepressants that might lower the libido.
These antidepressants increase the secretion of Serotonin (happiness hormone) which interferes with Dopamine production.
Since Dopamine increases sexual desire, low hormone levels can cause low libido in women.
Lifestyle habits
Women who lack sleep or have poor sleep quality might notice a gradual decline in their sexual libido.
According to research, the tiredness one might experience from poor sleep interferes with intimacy.
This tiredness leads to sexual difficulties and causes low libido in women.
A study states that excessive alcohol use might also cause sexual dysfunction.
Excessive alcohol use can reduce one’s ability to feel sexual stimulation properly.
The lack of ability to feel sexual stimulation makes the sexual experience less pleasurable and results in low libido.
Another study states that women who do not perform physical activities experience lower libido.
Women who do not engage in physical activities have poor cardiovascular function.
Poor cardiovascular function may decrease pleasure, arousal, and orgasm. This results in lower libido in women.
How can one treat low libido in women
There are several ways to treat low libido in women. These include exercises, supplements, and using medications.
Performing regular aerobic exercises and body strength training can boost libido.
These exercises can increase blood flow in the vaginal region and maintain hormonal balance.
The increase in blood flow and proper hormonal secretion can boost libido in women.
A study shows that ashwagandha root extract can help to improve sexual functioning in women.
Other supplements that might increase libido in women are ginseng, ginkgo, and saffron.
Although exercises and supplements can increase a woman’s libido, they might not be effective for everyone.
In these cases, libido pills for women might be effective.
Doctors in the U.S. prescribe medicines containing Flibanserin and Bremelanotide to boost female sexual drive.
Medicines like Fliban contain Flibanserin which helps in treating low libido in women.
These are FDA-approved medicines to improve sexual function in women.
These medicines help balance the chemical levels in one’s body which is responsible for maintaining the libido.
Doctors might also suggest medication containing Sildenafil (Viagra) off-label for women’s sexual dysfunctions.
Since Sildenafil is not an FDA-approved medicine for treating low libido in women, it is known as off-label when doctors prescribe it.
Research states that Sildenafil might help post-menopausal women increase their libido.
These medications are Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors which increase blood flow.
The increase in blood flow enhances the sensitivity in the vaginal region, making sex more pleasurable.
Lovegra is one of the medications that contains Sildenafil Citrate as its main component. It is the female variant of Viagra.
Thus, doctors often prescribe these PDE-5 inhibitors to improve the libido in women or AFAB.
If you are experiencing low libido, you should consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
To learn more if Sildenafil is suitable for women, read our article Sildenafil for Women: Understanding in Detail.
Conclusion
Low libido in women or AFAB might get in the way of a healthy sexual life.
The causes of low libido in women may vary for each individual.
These causes are usually psychological, physical, medicinal, and lifestyle factors.
A person with Depression, stress, poor body-image issues, and Anxiety might experience a decreased sex drive.
Women with medical conditions like high blood pressure, Arthritis, and neurological disease might also have a low libido.
Fatigue and pregnancy are other physical causes of low libido in women.
Intake of certain antidepressants might reduce the sex drive in an individual.
In some cases, physically inactive women or those who overuse alcohol can notice a loss in their sexual desires.
One can perform aerobic exercises or try supplements like ginseng and saffron to increase their libido.
However, medicines might be a more effective and faster approach in these cases.
Doctors might suggest FDA-approved medications like Flibanserin and Bremelanotide to boost libido in women.
One may use medicine like Fliban since it consists of Flibanserin.
They might also prescribe Viagra and other Sildenafil-containing medications like Lovegra off-label.
Always make sure to consult your doctor before taking any medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pills cause low libido?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) or antidepressants might cause low libido in women or AFAB. These SSRIs include Paroxetine (Paxil) and Fluoxetine (Prozac). One can observe low libido in men due to anti-seizure and high blood pressure medications
What vitamin deficiency causes low libido in women?
Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12 deficiency might cause low libido in women. Lack of Vitamin D decreases the Estrogen levels in women, which can lower the sexual drive. Lack of Vitamin B-12 can reduce pleasure during climax and cause fatigue which might result in a woman losing interest in sex.
What are some lifestyle factors that can cause low libido in women?
There are several lifestyle factors that can cause low libido in women. These include lack of sleep, overuse of alcohol, and lack of exercise.
Are there treatments available for low libido in women?
There are several treatment options available for low libido in women. One may perform aerobic exercises or use supplements like ginseng, saffron, and ginkgo to boost sex drive. Doctors might prescribe FDA-approved medicines like Flibanserin and Bremelanotide to enhance libido in women. In some cases, they may suggest Viagra off-label.
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