It doesn’t matter whether it’s stress at work or the period – sometimes we just don’t feel like having sex. However, if you suffer from sexual reluctance over a longer period of time, there can be various factors behind it. We explain the 3 causes of a loss of libido.
Depending on life circumstances, there may be times when we don’t feel like having sex – this is normal and nothing to worry about. However, if the sexual desire does not return over a longer period of time, doctors speak of a loss of libido. Various psychological or physical factors can be responsible for the loss of libido – in some cases it can also occur as a symptom of a medical condition.
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Loss of libido: 3 causes
1. Hormonal changes
A frequent trigger for a lack of desire for sex is hormonal changes, such as those that occur during menopause . Because the ovaries produce less of the female sex hormone estrogen before the menopause, the libido also decreases. Apart from that, low estrogen levels often lead to vaginal dryness and reduced blood flow to the vagina and clitoris, which is why women of this age can take longer to become aroused.
2. Diseases
Likewise, various medical conditions can cause libido to decrease. For example, when the thyroid gland is underactive, the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone, which means that libido and fertility decrease. But other diseases such as depression, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure or high blood pressure can also impair sexual desire. In women, a loss of libido can also be caused by gynecological diseases – these include endometriosis or what is known as dyspareunia, in which sexual intercourse is associated with pain for those affected.
3. Personal or professional stress
“The desire arises in the head,” says the vernacular – and rightly so. Because when our thoughts are elsewhere, we are under pressure professionally or privately or there are conflicts within the partnership, it is difficult for us to let ourselves go. For this reason, private or professional stress is a common cause of sexual reluctance. Talking to your partner about the problems can already help. If the loss of libido persists and no physical cause is responsible for it, psychotherapy can also be useful.
See a doctor if you lose libido
Since physical or mental illnesses can also be responsible for a loss of libido, long-term complaints of this type should always be clarified by a doctor. Especially if there are other symptoms that could indicate a serious underlying disease.
