The term “libido” is of Latin origin and literally translates as “desire”, “desire”, in a broader sense – “instinct”, “attraction”, “lust”.
Currently, almost the entire entertainment industry is built on stimulus and attention to intimacy, no matter in what form it is presented (movies, books, pop music, and more). At the same time, sexologists and family planners express concerns that more and more men and women are complaining about a lack of sexual desire (libido).
Interest in sex may be lost from time to time, and libido levels change throughout life.
It is also normal that sometimes your interests do not coincide with your partner’s interests.
However, low libido can be a concern for some people over a long period. How does cbd increase libido and when to see a doctor? Is it possible to treat yourself with medication?
Absence and decreased libido
Lack or decrease in sexual desire is equally common in both women and men, and there is a wide range of reasons for this. The variety of attraction varies differently: someone feels the daily need for intimacy. For some, it is enough times a week or month. Depending on age, stressful and external circumstances, hormonal disruptions in the body, all this may be within normal limits.
Symptoms of loss and decreased libido
When the lack of sexual desire lasts six months or more, this condition can be attributed to this medical problem, one of the forms of sexual dysfunction.
Loss of libido is the highest form of loss of sexual desire. If a decrease in sexual function, fantasies, and so on remain but are less expressed, the person with a lack of libido does not lead a sexual life. Visit trt clinic to get get Best testing service in cheap price.
Causes of loss and decreased libido
Loss and decrease in libido are more common than increase, so the causes of this condition are better studied.
Hormonal causes:
- testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism);
- increased prolactin (hyperprolactinemia);
- hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism).
- Side effects of medications
- Numerous studies have shown that most drugs cause sexual desire disorders (libido).
First of all, these are well-known antihypertensive drugs. The disease itself (hypertension) leads to erectile dysfunction and taking antihypertensive drugs – to reduce desire (libido), a vicious circle. Since this group includes many drugs with different mechanisms of action, the side effects of sexual desire will be different, and some groups are completely absent.
ACE inhibitors, possible development of erectile dysfunction. Some studies have shown that they can even increase erectile function in various cases.
Alpha-1 receptor blockers. Do not cause desire disorders, can prolong erections, cause priapism.
Beta-blockers. Cause a decrease in libido, up to its complete absence, and erectile dysfunction reduced testosterone.
Calcium antagonists. Prolonged use leads to an impotence increase in the amount of prolactin.
Klein. In some cases – decreased libido erectile dysfunction.
Diuretics can lead to erectile dysfunction.
Almost all groups of antidepressants affect sexual function.
Antiepileptic, narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics, cytostatics, antidiabetic drugs, H2-receptor antagonists directly negatively affect libido. The insidiousness of this side effect is that the symptoms develop gradually, unlike other side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, and more.
Various chronic diseases:
- infectious;
- gynecological;
- heart failure;
- Renal failure.
- Mental causes:
- depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders;
- stress;
- feelings of inferiority;
- fear of sexual contact (for example, children’s mental trauma;
- often sexual disorders cause a desire disorder (for example, men with erectile dysfunction develop self-protection to prevent embarrassment, which is usually perceived as humiliating);
- Partnership conflicts. Most often, partner conflicts that lead to loss of libido develop unconsciously;
- Existential longing.
Increased libido
This is a type of sexual dysfunction, opposite to the one described above – continuous sexual desire. It is studied in more detail by sexologists, psychotherapists, and clinical psychologists.
There are the following forms of increasing libido:
- male satire and nymphomania in women;
- increase in libido associated with taking certain drugs;
- increased libido associated with certain mental disorders;
- increased libido not associated with organic disorders.
Symptoms of increased libido
- Constant sexual desire.
- Feelings of dissatisfaction after sexual intercourse.
- Frequent masturbation.
- Dependence on pornographic materials.
- Sexually obsessive behavior even with strangers.
- Deterioration of social contacts.
- Narrowing the range of interests.
- Feelings of anxiety and stress during sexual abstinence.
- Causes of increased libido
- Hormonal disorders.
- Hereditary factors.
- Mental disorders (childhood trauma, schizophrenia, psychosis, epilepsy).
- A woman may perceive a certain increase in sexual desire in postmenopause as a pathology.
Treatment of libido disorders
Treatment will depend on the cause of the disease. This can be drug replacement therapy, psychotherapeutic counseling, or treatment of a disease that directly caused a violation of libido. Of course, the treatment is purely individual.
The main methods of treatment of libido disorders include:
- psychotherapy: correction of self-esteem and evaluation, attitude to others,
- sex therapy (“refreshment” of the couple’s feelings, erotic massages, etc.);
- pharmacological agents, such as antiandrogens and neuroleptics, increase libido.
- If the cause of impaired libido was a functional or organic disease, all therapy aims to eliminate the root cause.
