There are a myriad of reasons our libido or sex drive changes throughout our lives. We see changes in sexual desire in both males and females as they age. These may be associated with substance abuse, psychological factors, chronic and major diseases, as well as age-related changes in sex hormones. These affect both sexes equally.
Individuals who have a decrease in sex drive must undergo a total evaluation including a physical exam, history, social/lifestyle history, exercise history, family history, and current medications. Once this is done one can begin to identify the possible causes of the decrease in sexual desire.
Sex Drive and Chronic Disease
Sexual desire changes are common in individuals with chronic and major diseases, whether it be poorly controlled diabetes, cardiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, vascular disease, and obesity to name a few.
Suffering from the symptoms of the disease process or from the side effects of the treatment sexual desire may decrease or be absent.
Substance abuse
Substance abuse takes many different forms, including alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs. These drugs may alter a person’s mental capacity, alter hormones, or one’s physical ability. The substance many times become more important than one’s sex drive. These often become one’s sole purpose of existing.
Psychological causes
Our sexual desire or libido can be affected by simple things like relationship conflicts (more commonly seen in females) and more serious medical conditions like chronic depression, and bipolar disease.
Simple stress from our daily lives at work or home including schedules, work deadlines, and of course money ( (Or lack of it)
Hormone Changes
Hormones play a huge role in sex drive. Hormones in both men and women decrease as we age. Men have a loss of testosterone starting at thirty. The average decrease is in the range of 1.5% a year. By the time a man is in his mid-forties, there is often a significant decrease in his sexual drive and energy.
Women have a more abrupt change in hormone production occurring usually in the mid-forties as perimenopause followed by menopause. Perimenopause is associated with fluctuating hormone levels and can last from one to two years to 5- 10 years. Menopause follows with an abrupt lack of hormone production in estrogen and progesterone. This is associated with thinning of the vaginal walls, dryness which can be associated with sexual discomfort. Testosterone production also decreases in females which leads to a lack of libido as well.
Treatment for Sex Drive
In males, a thorough history and physical is done including blood tests. Â When hormone levels are abnormal and no other problems are identified one can have their hormones replaced to reach optimal levels and improve sex drive. Medications may be changed or stopped if they are no longer needed. If there are psychological causes these must be addressed and counseling started. Any illicit use of medications or drugs must be addressed.
Females require similar evaluations but testosterone is not the only hormone that must be replaced. Bioidentical (progesterone and estrogen)Â are also used to help improve their desire for sexual activity. These changes in females are not as simple as in males. As a woman’s body changes her self-perception changes as well and usually not in a positive way. With the addition of hormones, there is improvement in energy, sleep, personal perception, and thickening of the vaginal wall leading to a more pleasurable experience.
Related articles include, “Testosterone Deficiency” and “Low Estrogen Symptoms“.
