In the circle of female conversations in the office, I see women, dating, or married lately talking about low quality sex. The complaint of decreased libido is one of the gynecological office’s main criticisms.
Currently, sexual supplements have gained significant advances. Female sexual satisfaction is fundamental to women’s quality of life and their relationships.
The female sexual response is quite complicated and not understood. Sexual dysfunction is the individual’s inability to take part in the relationship with satisfaction. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is the most prevalent dysfunction.
Women’s sexuality is multifactorial and multisystemic. It requires:
- anatomical
- hormonal
- vascular
- nervous integrity,
and is influenced by:
- psychological
- socio-cultural
- family, and
- biological factors.
We don’t know precisely how these factors relate or how they are established in women’s life stages (pregnancy, lactation, puerperium, climacteric, and menopause). Yes, there will be no answers in that column.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
The decreased libido lacks interest or sexual fantasy and activity to become sexually aroused. Scarce or nonexistent. Low erotic interest causes personal anguish and poor quality in marital and personal relationships, low self-esteem, and poor life quality.
Despite being a frequent request, hormonal exams can help very little solving the immensity of this complaint. In most cases, an interdisciplinary team is needed:
- gynecologist
- psychiatrist
- urologist
- psychologist
- physiotherapist
Recent studies suggest vast hormonal participation in sexual function, including:
- estrogen
- progesterone
- testosterone
- dopamine
- norepinephrine
- melanocortin
- oxytocin
- serotonin
Laboratory tests are not practical when dosing all these hormones and respond far below the testosterone level itself.
Despite being quite famous on social media, testosterone replacement without criteria is entirely banned by medical associations for serious adverse effects. It should be done in selected patients, well-monitored, and with caution.
Some medications, such as oral contraceptives, can decrease functioning testosterone and still not reduce libido complaints.
Not a single one of those is a sexual side effect. It’s a myth that antidepressants cause a loss of sex drive. This is a lie that has been used to bash those with ADHD, those with depression, those with ADHD and depression, and those who have been diagnosed with some other psychological disorder.
The female sexual response is not linear. It is not always the spontaneous sexual desire since it depends on a series of emotional, sexual, hormonal stimuli, and satisfaction with you and your partner.
Take With You Before You Go
Addressing decreased libido requires a comprehensive understanding, and in this segment, women share their perspectives on the reasons behind this common concern.
Candid discussions on platforms like Healthline and Psychology Today provide valuable insights into the intricacies of diminished libido. By incorporating the female viewpoint, this blog post aims to foster a holistic comprehension of the factors influencing decreased libido and encourages open conversations surrounding this often sensitive topic.