Low Sex Drive and Testosterone: What to Know

Desire can change with menopause or perimenopause, vaginal dryness, pain, stress, depression, sleep problems, relationship strain, or medicines. Lower androgen activity may be relevant for some women, but a blood result alone does not explain how you feel. Symptoms, medical history and examination help give the result context.

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause can cause dryness or discomfort that makes sexual activity less appealing. That pattern differs from a general change in desire, although both can occur together. Read about Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and Low Sex Drive for more context.

Track when the change began, whether desire varies with your cycle or menopause symptoms, and whether pain, fatigue or a new medicine is involved. Arrange a clinical review if the change troubles you. Your clinician may review medicines, mood, sleep, thyroid symptoms and vaginal or pelvic symptoms before discussing treatment.

Testosterone Therapy for Women may be discussed in selected situations, but it is not a general answer for every change in desire. Ask what benefit is expected, how treatment would be monitored, and what alternatives could address pain, dryness or another underlying cause.

Seek prompt medical advice for sudden loss of desire with severe pelvic pain, unusual bleeding, a new breast change, or marked mood symptoms. Book a routine appointment when low desire persists, affects your wellbeing, or follows a medicine or hormone change. Urgent help is appropriate if you feel unsafe or have thoughts of harming yourself.

Could a medicine, menopause-related change, pain, sleep problem or thyroid issue be affecting my desire? Do my symptoms suggest dryness or another treatable cause? Would testing change management? If testosterone is considered, what monitoring and stopping plan would we use?