Women’s Low Sex Drive: What to Do

Desire naturally changes across life and does not have one correct level. Reduced interest may follow stress, poor sleep, depression, anxiety, relationship strain, pain during sex, vaginal dryness, or a medicine’s effects. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause, and menopause can shift hormone levels. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause can cause dryness and discomfort that make intimacy less appealing. A clinician can also consider thyroid problems and other health changes.

Notice whether the change is new, persistent, distressing, or linked with pain. Low Sex Drive is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and its pattern helps guide the assessment.

Keep a brief record of desire, sleep, mood, cycle stage, pain, dryness, medicines, and alcohol use. Review medicines with a clinician rather than stopping them yourself. Lubricant or moisturiser may improve comfort when dryness contributes. Make time for affection without making intercourse the goal, and discuss pace and expectations with your partner. Regular movement, restorative sleep, and support for stress can also help.

If symptoms began around perimenopause or menopause, ask about suitable options. Testosterone Therapy for Women is not appropriate for everyone and needs an individual discussion about benefits, risks, and monitoring.

Arrange an appointment if low desire lasts, causes distress, follows a medicine change, or comes with pain, bleeding after sex, marked dryness, hot flushes, low mood, or anxiety. Seek prompt help for severe pelvic pain, unexpected heavy bleeding, or thoughts of self-harm. A clinician may ask about symptoms, examine for causes of discomfort, and discuss targeted treatment.

Could a medicine, hormone change, pain, or mood symptom be affecting my desire? What can improve dryness or painful sex? Which tests or examination are useful? What treatment should we try first, and how will we review it?