Is a Low Sex Drive Normal?

January 3, 2007

Question

I am a 34 year old female and I was wondering if it is normal to have a very low sex drive. More specifically, I am almost never turned on and would be very content with nothing romantically happening between my boyfriend and I for months. Is this normal?

Answer

A one word answer to your question "is a low sex drive normal"? is No. A low sex drive is called low libido but as we do not know anything about you, your lifestyle, stresses/anxieties, whether you experience this with your present boyfriend only, ect, it is not possible to provide you with a suitable answer. What we can do is help you understand more about this condition.
 

There are so many causes of low libido. Some of these include stress, anxiety, depression, hormonal imbalance and relationship conflicts. Common causes is women are: Anxieties or severe stress · Fatigue · Lack of trust and conflicts within a relationship · Medications - .antidepressants, tranquillizers, blood pressure pills · Sexual Disorder · Body image · Sexual abuse as a child or adolescent · Excess alcohol or illicit drugs ex. Heroin, cocaine, marijuana · Childbirth · Menopause · Hysterectomy · Hypothyroidism.
 

Low sex drive can be caused by a range of factors, which vary from one individual to the next. Fatigue, the daily responsibilities and multiple roles women often assume, and many possible psychological causes can impact a woman's sexual appetite. It is also known that certain health conditions and medications can affect a woman's sexual desire. Depression and anxiety disorders can interfere with sexual desire, but so can some of the drugs used to treat these conditions. Many antidepressants, in particular Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, also called SSRIs (e.g.., Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft), have side effects that have a negative impact on women's libidos. Wellbutrin SR is a possible alternative, as it does not seem to cause sexual problems. Serzone, Remeron and Luvox may not cause problems with sexual desire either. In addition, birth control pills, mood stabilizers, tranquilizers and other medications have been shown to decrease libido. If you notice a drop in your sexual desire around the time you start a new medication, talk to you doctor to see if there is a connection. Do not stop taking any medication without talking to your doctor first.
 

After reading this information you may possibly know yourself what the cause of your own problem is. If it is something which personal counseling can assist you with you would be wise to consult such a professional. Perhaps you can be guided to the appropriate assistance via your own doctor. The links below may be helpful to you in learning more about your problem, the last link allows you to search for a counselor in your own area.
 

This may be of further interest to you: A study shows that deficiencies in male or female sex hormones do not account for a loss of sexual drive in women. However, counseling showed a link between lack of libido and low income, depression, minor illness and sexual problems in the partner (all the women were in a stable heterosexual relationship). The study suggests that where a woman suffers from lack of desire, the psychological approach may be more useful than looking to hormone treatment.
 

Related Links

Sex Problems in Women
Loss of libido in women NOT linked to hormone status
Stress management
Find an area therapist, counselor or educator by clicking on a state