How to Treat Low Sex Drive in Females

by | Nov 10, 2021

4 Ways to Treat Female Low Sex Drive

While it’s healthy and normal for sexual desire to fluctuate, a low sex drive can be uncomfortable to acknowledge. However, if you or someone you care about is experiencing a low sex drive, rest assured that there are solutions to get your libido back on track.

As is the case with any other urological condition, treating a low sex drive in women starts with diagnosing the root of the problem. Many factors can affect sexual desire and once you figure out what is causing your low sex drive to occur, a urologist can determine the best treatment for your individual needs. 

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for female low sex drive.

Symptoms and Causes of Female Low Sex Drive

Low sex drive is characterized by an overall loss of sexual desire — and affects over 40% of all women in the United States. Because everyone’s sex drive is different, it can be difficult to determine what it means to have a “normal” libido.

Some of the most common signs of low sex drive in females include:

  • Being concerned by your lack of sexual activity
  • Little to no interest in any type of sexual activity, including masturbation
  • Disinterest in initiating sex
  • Difficulty getting aroused or feeling pleasure from sex
  • Never or only seldom having sexual fantasies or desires

Sexual desire is complex and there are many factors that can affect it, including your physical and emotional well-being, stressful or traumatic events, lifestyle habits, hormonal changes, and relationship problems. While it is normal for your sex drive to vary over time, seek help from a professional if your low libido is an ongoing issue.

Learn More: 4 Causes of Female Low Sex Drive

Treatment Options for Female Low Sex Drive 

1. Hormone Therapy

Hormones like estrogen and testosterone both play critical roles when it comes to your sexual desire — and fluctuations in these hormones may be contributing to your low libido. However, the use of testosterone to treat female low sex drive has been controversial due to its side effects, including acne, hair loss, facial hair growth, and mood swings. 

Because of this, estrogen is one of the most common hormone therapy treatment options for low sex drive in women. It can be delivered in various forms — such as pills, patches, sprays, and gels — helping you regain your interest in sex and possibly benefiting other areas of your health as well. Be sure to get tested for hormonal imbalances before considering any form of hormone therapy to ensure the treatment will be most effective. 

2. Adjusting Medication

A low sex drive is a common side effect of various medications for depression, seizures, anxiety, and so on. If you are experiencing a low sex drive, it’s possible that a medication may be contributing to the problem. If you suspect this may be the case, speak with your doctor about adjusting your dosage or trying a different medication that may help you regain your sex drive. Your doctor will review the medications you’re currently taking to see if any of them tend to cause sexual side effects. Along with reviewing and adjusting your current medications, your doctor may also prescribe a treatment to boost your libido.

3. Diet and Exercise

A proper diet and exercise routine can benefit your entire body — playing an important role in not only your sex drive, but also your overall health and wellness. Therefore, a lack of physical activity or proper nutrition could be contributing to your low sex drive. Exercising regularly increases blood flow, which positively affects your libido. We recommend exercising at least three times a week to make sure your body is getting enough physical activity and circulation. 

Eating processed, sugary foods can also negatively affect your blood pressure, stamina, and mood. Meanwhile, eating whole grains, getting enough essential fats, and consuming plenty of organic fruits and vegetables has the opposite effect. When your body is healthy and able to function well, you’ll experience an increased sex drive and be able to enjoy it more. It’s a win-win! 

To learn more about how proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can help you achieve and maintain optimal urology health, check out our free Nutrition and Lifestyle Guide

4. Counseling

Counseling can be very beneficial for females experiencing a low sex drive. Speaking with a trained professional can help you uncover some of the reasons you may not want to masturbate or be involved with your partner sexually. If you and your partner are experiencing relationship problems, consider going to couple’s counseling or speaking to a sex therapist to work through your issues together.

In general, counseling can provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for both women and men to express themselves and explore the underlying causes of their low libido. Consider counseling if you’ve ruled out medical, hormonal, and other physical problems that could be causing your female low sex drive.

Treating Female Low Sex Drive With a Urologist

A low sex drive can be stressful on a relationship, hindering to your self-esteem, and detrimental to other areas of your life. When it comes to treating female low sex drive, every case is different and unique to the individual’s situation. Relationship counseling, along with medication or hormone therapy, may be recommended to help treat your low sex drive. 

If you are experiencing low libido, contact one of our Board-Certified urologists to talk about what could be causing your lack of sex drive, as well as what you can do to treat it. Click the button below to schedule an appointment at your nearest USOC location

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This content was originally published in October 2015 and was refreshed in November 2021.