Let's talk low libido

Some hormone medicines that aim to relieve GSM symptoms could help make sex more comfortable. And being more comfortable during sex may boost your desire. These include pills, patches, sprays and gels. Smaller amounts of estrogen are found in vaginal creams and a slow-releasing suppository or ring. Your healthcare professional can help you understand the risks and benefits of each form.

• Engage in weight training to increase testosterone levels, boosting libido.
• Reduce screen time before bed to improve sleep quality and hormonal response.
• Use guided imagery or fantasies to mentally prepare for intimacy.
• Incorporate new activities or positions to keep sex exciting.
• Avoid medications known to reduce libido unless prescribed by a doctor.
• Maintain healthy relationships, as emotional intimacy directly influences desire.
• Focus on self-care and self-love to improve body confidence and libido.

Vaginal estrogen used in small doses is unlikely to raise the risk of breast cancer. But estrogen won't improve sexual functioning related to sexual interest-arousal disorder. This hormone plays a key role in female sexual function, even though testosterone level is much lower in women than in men. In the United States, testosterone isn't approved by the FDA to treat sexual conditions in women. Still, sometimes it's prescribed to help lift a lagging libido. Testosterone that is delivered to the blood through the skin may be helpful in women after menopause. At first, this treatment can be tried for up to six months. If it tadacip 20 mg tablet online helps, it can be continued with close monitoring by a healthcare professional. The use of testosterone in women can cause acne, extra body hair, and mood or personality changes.

• Incorporate foods rich in healthy fats like avocados and nuts for hormonal production.
• Practice positive affirmations to boost confidence and sexual self-esteem.
• Use music or ambient sounds to create a romantic atmosphere.
• Limit exposure to hormonal disruptors like BPA and parabens.
• Schedule intimate moments to prioritize and foster desire intentionally.
• Seek professional help for medical conditions affecting libido.
• Keep a journal to track factors influencing your sexual desire and habits.

This vaginal insert delivers the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone directly to the vagina to help ease painful sex.

7. L-citrulline

"Very good data have shown that in men, weight loss alone improves sexual function. It's probably because fat makes estrogen, which fights testosterone needed for sexual function," Dr. O'Leary says. Other things that can help for both sexes: exercising and smoking cessation, which improve blood flow to the sexual organs; limiting alcohol intake, since large amounts can dampen sexual reflexes and the ability of men to maintain an erection; and eating a healthy diet, which helps maintain a healthy weight. If these approaches aren't helping, your doctor may be able to find a solution — that could involve treating an underlying condition or prescribing medication (for men) or lubricants and low-dose vaginal estrogen products for vaginal dryness and painful sex in women.

What causes low libido?

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. If low sex desire concerns you, talk with your gynecologist or another member of your healthcare team. For some women, low sex drive is part of an ongoing condition called sexual interest-arousal disorder. You use this medicine nightly to ease the symptoms of moderate to serious vaginal dryness linked with GSM. Taken daily, this pill can help ease painful sex symptoms in women with moderate to serious GSM. This medicine isn't approved for women who've had breast cancer or who have a high risk of breast cancer. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you.

If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Please, try again in a couple of minutes Healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your desire for sex: Regular aerobic exercise and strength training are great for you in general.

• Practice Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles, increasing sexual pleasure and desire.
• Stay hydrated; dehydration can lead to fatigue, reducing interest in intimacy.
• Reduce processed foods and sugars, which may disrupt hormonal balance and libido.
• Incorporate aphrodisiac foods like oysters, dark chocolate, and chili peppers into meals.
• Consider acupuncture; some women find it helpful in improving sexual function.
• Address underlying health issues like hypothyroidism or depression that impact libido.
• Use lubricants to enhance comfort and arousal during intimacy.

But they also can increase your stamina, improve your body image, lift your mood and boost your libido. Finding ways to cope with stress tied to work, money and daily hassles can enhance your sex drive. For instance, you could try journaling or meditation. Couples who learn to talk in an open, honest way often keep up a stronger emotional connection. And that can lead to better sex. Sharing your likes and dislikes can set the stage for more intimacy.

Precautions and Considerations

It involves having at least three of the following symptoms, which cause sadness or anxiety: No desire to have any type of sexual activity or to masturbate. Few or no sexual thoughts or fantasies. Not wanting to make the first move in a sexual encounter with a partner. Less or no pleasure during sexual activity. Less or no interest in any sexual or erotic cues from a partner.

7. Discuss Contraception and Sexual Life with a Healthcare Professional

Few or no physical sensations during sexual activity in most sexual encounters. You don't have to fit this definition to reach out for help. Your healthcare professional can look for reasons that your sex drive isn't as high as you'd like. During your appointment, your healthcare professional asks you questions about your medical and sexual history. This checks for signs of physical changes that sometimes play a role in low sexual desire. But making the extra effort to be intimate can help put your sex drive back on track. Add a little spice to your sex life. Try a different sexual position, a different time of day or a different location for sex. Ask your partner to spend more time on foreplay. If you and your partner are open to new ideas, sex toys and fantasy can help spark your sexual desire.

• Regular exercise boosts blood flow and energy, enhancing female libido naturally.
• Maintain a balanced diet rich in omega-3s, zinc, and vitamins to support hormonal health.
• Manage stress through meditation or yoga to prevent libido decline caused by anxiety.
• Prioritize sleep to regulate hormones like testosterone and estrogen, essential for desire.
• Communicate openly with partner to improve intimacy and emotional connection.
• Limit alcohol intake, as excessive drinking can decrease sexual desire.
• Herbal supplements such as maca or ginseng are believed to boost libido in women.

If you have genitourinary syndrome of menopause, these products may ease certain symptoms, such as vaginal dryness. With regular use, they might work about as well as estrogen therapy.

Smoking, using illegal drugs and drinking too much alcohol can dampen your sex drive.

Understanding How Female Libido Works

The review is done to see if any of the medicines tend to cause sexual side effects. For example, SSRI antidepressants such as paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine (Prozac) may lower sex drive. If your antidepressant might be the cause of your low sex drive, your healthcare professional may recommend that you: Wait to see if your sex drive improves. Lower the amount of medicine you take, called the dose. Take a break from use of the antidepressant.

6. Sleep

Switching to a different type of antidepressant may lead to fewer sexual side effects. Your healthcare professional may recommend medicines such as: If you take an SSRI, your healthcare professional might add bupropion to your treatment. Along with recommending counseling, your healthcare professional may prescribe a medicine to boost your libido. Options for women who have not yet reached menopause include: This is a pill that you take once a day at bedtime. Side effects include low blood pressure, drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach and fatigue. Stopping these habits may help give your sex drive a boost. It can improve your overall health too. Talking about low sex drive with a healthcare professional can be hard for some people.

Medications for Low Libido in Women

These changes can include certain skin diseases of the vulva, thinning of the vaginal tissues, vaginal dryness or pain-triggering spots. They also can look for thyroid problems, diabetes, high cholesterol and liver disorders. A counselor or sex therapist can help check for emotional and relationship factors that can cause low sex drive. Most women benefit from a treatment approach aimed at the many causes behind this condition. Recommendations may include sex education, counseling, and sometimes medicine and hormone therapy.

7. Supplement wisely

Talking with a sex therapist or counselor skilled in addressing sexual concerns can help with low sex drive. Therapy often includes education about sexual response and techniques. Your therapist or counselor likely will offer recommendations for reading material or couples' exercises. Couples counseling that addresses relationship issues also may help boost feelings of intimacy and desire. Your healthcare professional reviews any medicines you take. So some people decide to try herbal supplements available without a prescription.

Libido Gummies and Supplements for Women

Drinking alcohol can make these side effects worse. So can taking a common medicine to treat vaginal yeast infections, called fluconazole (Diflucan). You give yourself this shot just under the skin in the belly or thigh before sexual activity. Some women get an upset stomach after taking the medicine. This is more common after the first shot.

2. Emotional health

This side effect tends to get better with the second shot. Other side effects include vomiting, flushing, headache and a skin reaction at the site of the injection. In the United States, these medicines aren't approved for use after menopause. Dryness or shrinking of the vagina is one of the hallmark symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). This condition might make sex not comfortable and, in turn, reduce your desire. Herbal supplements can have side effects or change how other medicines work. Always talk with a healthcare professional before using them. One herbal supplement blend is called Avlimil. This product has estrogen-like effects on the body. While estrogen may boost your sex drive, it also may fuel the growth of certain breast cancers. Another product called Zestra is a plant-based massage oil. One small study found that Zestra increased arousal and pleasure when compared with a placebo oil. But some participants in the study said they had mild burning in the genital area. Low sex drive can be challenging for you and your partner. It's natural to feel frustrated or sad if you aren't able to be as sexy and romantic as you want or used to be. At the same time, low sex drive can make your partner feel rejected. That can lead to conflicts and strife.

And this type of relationship stress can lessen the desire for sex even more. It may help to remember that changes in sex drive are typical. They're part of every relationship and every stage of life.

Try not to focus all of your attention on sex. Instead, spend some time nurturing yourself and your relationship.