Multiple factors upset sexual drive of women
Unlike men’s main sexual complaint, erectile dysfunction, women’s biggest sexual problems are caused by a combination of mental and physical factors, a doctor has analyzed.Dr. Elna Rudolph, a medical doctor and sexologist working exclusively in the field of sexual medicine said that common causes for a loss of sexual desire and drive in women could be interpersonal relationship issues, socio-cultural influences and peer pressure.
Others include partner performance problems, lack of emotional satisfaction with the relationship, the birth of a child and becoming a caregiver for a loved one.“Medical problems such as mental illnesses, depression, or medical conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, and thyroid disorders impact on a woman’s sexual drive both mentally and physically.“Age, medications, certain antidepressants, blood pressure lowering drugs, and oral contraceptives can lower sexual drive,” she said. Dr. Rudolph said that testosterone could also affect sexual drive in both men and women.
Testosterone is a hormone made by the body and helps to stimulate and maintain sexual function, maintain bone strength, among others.“Testosterone levels peak in women’s mid-20s and then steadily decline until menopause, and then drop dramatically,’’ she said. The sexual health expert noted that lower sexual drive sets in when a woman experiences a significant decrease in interest in sex.According to her, sexual desire is more than just an issue of low libido or sex drive.“Sexual drive is the biological component of desire which is reflected as spontaneous sexual interest including sexual thoughts, erotic fantasies, and daydreams.
“It’s about your body signaling that it wants to be sexual.“Whether or not there is any intention to act on it, we all have a certain level of drive.”She explained that a woman carrying financial burdens of the home could also lose interest in sex.“For a growing number of women, declining hormones, job stress, relationship issues, and other problems are taking their toll in the bedroom.
“When a woman goes to work and comes back late, thinks of bills to pay, prepares the children and thinks of the attitude of the husband, such women can never pick interest in sex.’’ Dr. Rudolph also explained that a woman who is ill and probably on medication, could have low sex drive.She stated that relationships between the husband must be cordial for both parties to enjoy sex.
She added that loss of sexual desire, known in medical terms as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), is the most common form of sexual dysfunction among women of all ages.“These are not likely to be cured by merely using a pill.’’ She said that since the loss of sexual desire in women is caused by a combination of factors, it requires more than one approach to fix the problem.She advised that putting the desire back in woman’s sex lives would require putting her on sex therapy and relationship counseling. “Changing medications or altering the dose, addressing underlying medical conditions of the woman and the use of vaginal estrogens, testosterone therapy, could help,” she stated.
