Low Libido Symptoms
Low libido (sex drive) is a decrease in sexual desire. This could mean you have little to no interest in sexual activity. It could also mean you have a hard time getting sexually aroused or having an orgasm.
Many women grow up believing they “should” want sex spontaneously. But many women don’t experience this. Instead, they may enjoy sex when they have it, but they don’t often feel like having sex at random times. This is normal.
When to See a Doctor for Low Sex Drive
It’s normal for your sex drive to change over time. However, you should see your health care provider if your symptoms bother you or negatively affect your sex life.
What Causes Low Libido in Women?
Many complex factors can cause low libido in women:
- History of sexual trauma
- Hormonal changes such as perimenopause or menopause
- Medical conditions
- Medications
- Mental health conditions like depression or anxiety
- Poor health habits
- Social causes such as religious beliefs, cultural influences, or relationship problems
- Stress
Birth Control & Low Libido
Birth control such as the pill, patch, vaginal ring, and some IUDs stabilize your hormones, which can affect your sex drive. For example, women typically experience estrogen increases just before they ovulate. Estrogen raises your libido. However, you may not experience that surge of estrogen when you’re on birth control because birth control stabilizes your hormone levels.
Menopause & Low Libido
You experience significant hormonal changes leading up to and during menopause. You typically produce inconsistent levels of estrogen. Often, these varying estrogen levels lead to vaginal dryness. This dryness can make intercourse painful, which decreases your interest in sex.
Many people also experience weight changes during menopause. These changes can affect your self-confidence and libido.
It’s also common for long-term relationships to evolve in midlife. Relationship changes can impact your sexual desire. Your symptoms and medical history may mean specialized menopause treatment can help. If so, your provider will recommend an appointment with our Midlife Women’s Health and Menopause program.
How Is Low Libido Diagnosed in Women?
Your provider asks about your symptoms and health history to determine your diagnosis. They also get a full medication list. They may order blood tests to check for thyroid function and low testosterone levels.
Treatment for Low Libido in Females
We will tailor your treatment based on the cause of your low libido. Your provider may recommend multiple treatments:
- Adopting healthy habits, such as a well-balanced diet and regular exercise
- Changing your birth control method
- Managing underlying health conditions with the help of your primary care provider or other specialist
- Using a lubricant to treat vaginal dryness
- Working with a sex therapist or couples counselor
Medications for Low Libido in Women
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications to treat low libido in women before menopause:
- Դdzپ—You give yourself a medication injection about an hour before sexual activity.
- Բ—You take a pill daily to increase your sexual desire. We recommend you take the medicine for three months to decide if it’s right for you.
Hormone Therapy for Low Libido
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help treat menopause symptoms such as vaginal dryness. You may take estrogen in a pill, patch, spray, or gel. You may also take it in a vaginal insert (suppository).
We may also prescribe testosterone as off-label treatment. Low testosterone is one of the causes of low libido. We will check your testosterone levels first to ensure you have low testosterone. We will prescribe you a daily testosterone cream to bring your blood levels back into the normal range.
We also prescribe a microdose of testosterone cream for women who don't have low testosterone. You will apply the cream to your clitoris and genitalia twice a week to help improve your arousal and ability to achieve an orgasm.
Why Choose 㽶Ƶ of Utah Health?
Our women’s health providers and other primary care providers treat women of all ages who experience low libido. We stay current on the latest research to offer you advanced, evidence-based treatments. We’re committed to helping you achieve your best health, both now and in the years to come.
Make an Appointment
Call 801-213-2995 to schedule an appointment with your gynecologist, women’s health provider, or other primary care provider. We don’t require referrals, but some insurance plans do. We recommend checking with your insurance provider before making an appointment.
Hear From Our Specialists
Am I Normal: There's Pain During Sex
Nearly every woman experiences pain during sex at least once. While the first time is usually painful, some women continue to experience a little bit of pain every now and then. Is it just because sex hurts? Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about the different types of pain during intercourse and what they mean for you.