Treatment Options for Low Libido
Treatment for low libido is tailored to each patient based on the underlying cause of their reduced sex drive. For example, if a specific medication is responsible for their libido problems, they can contact their healthcare professional to request an alternative medication. Restoring libido is possible through different treatment options including psychological counselling, hormone supplements, or lifestyle changes.
Psychological counselling, especially couples therapy, can help patients manage their sex-related anxiety more effectively. Sex therapy is particularly helpful for patients who struggle with arousal. Sex therapists create a safe and relaxed environment for patients to openly discuss their sexual problems. They help them adjust their lifestyle, manage stress, and build more meaningful bonds with their partners.
Men can be eligible to receive testosterone replacement therapy while women may undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to amplify their estrogen levels. These supplements restore the sex hormone levels needed to stimulate sexual desire.
Lifestyle changes towards a healthier body and mind contributes to a better sex life. Reducing consumption of tobacco and alcohol can benefit people experiencing loss of libido. A study found that smoking is a risk factor for decreased libido in middle-aged to elderly men. Exercise and meditation are drug-free tools to manage stress better and restore sex drive.
References:
(1) Mun JK, Choi SJ, Kang MR, Hong SB, Joo EY. Sleep and libido in men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep medicine. 2018 Dec 1;52:158-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2018.07.016
(2) Turna, B., Apaydin, E., Semerci, B. et al. Women with low libido: correlation of decreased androgen levels with female sexual function index. Int J Impot Res 17, 148–153 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901294
(3) Thomas HN, Hamm M, Hess R, Borrero S, Thurston RC. “I want to feel like I used to feel”: a qualitative study of causes of low libido in postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2020 Mar;27(3):289-294. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000001455
(4) Fuat Kizilay, MD, Helena Elizabeth Gali, BA, Ege Can Serefoglu, MD, FECSM, Diabetes and Sexuality, Sexual Medicine Reviews, Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2017, Pages 45–51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.07.002
(5) Areeg Bala, MD, Hoang Minh Tue Nguyen, BA, Wayne J.G. Hellstrom, MD, FACS, Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction: A Literature Review, Sexual Medicine Reviews, Volume 6, Issue 1, January 2018, Pages 29–34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.07.002
(6) Shigehara K, Kato Y, Iijima M, Kawaguchi S, Nohara T, Izumi K, Kadono Y, Namiki M, Mizokami A. Risk Factors Affecting Decreased Libido Among Middle-Aged to Elderly Men; Nocturnal Voiding is an Independent Risk Factor of Decreased Libido. Sex Med. 2021 Oct;9(5):100426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100426.