Low Libido: 11 Common Causes & What You Can Do

Low libido is a decrease in sexual desire that can affect both women and men and may be temporary or long-lasting. Common causes include stress, anxiety, depression, hormonal changes, relationship problems, certain medications, and chronic health conditions.

Low libido can also be related to erectile dysfunction, menopause, low testosterone, pain during sex, emotional trauma, or changes after childbirth. In some cases, more than one physical or emotional factor may contribute to the change in sexual desire.

Treatment for low libido depends on the underlying cause and may include talk therapy, medication adjustments, hormone therapy, treatment for erectile dysfunction, or care for an underlying health condition. A healthcare provider can help identify the cause when low libido affects well-being or quality of life.

The main causes of low libido include:

1. Stress, anxiety, and depression

Stress, anxiety, and depression can directly affect mood, energy levels, and interest in sexual activity. This can lead to a temporary decrease in libido.

What you can do: Consult a mental health professional for an evaluation and diagnosis. Treatment may include talk therapy and/or medication.

Relaxation strategies, such as regular exercise, meditation, or drinking a calming tea, may also help manage stress and anxiety. However, these measures should not replace professional treatment.

2. Emotional trauma

Emotional trauma, especially trauma related to sexual experiences or sexual abuse, can lead to decreased libido.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also cause a person to relive a past traumatic event or experience intense memories of it, which may reduce sexual desire.

What you can do: Treatment for emotional trauma or PTSD should be guided by a mental health professional. Treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or antidepressant medication.

3. Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can occur at any age. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), erectile dysfunction becomes more common with age but is not considered a routine part of aging.

It may be associated with recreational drug use, smoking, stress, or health conditions such as diabetes or chronic kidney disease.

What you can do: Consult a urologist or other healthcare provider to determine the cause of erectile dysfunction. Prescription medications such as sildenafil, tadalafil, or vardenafil may be recommended when appropriate.

A healthcare provider may also recommend counseling or other mental health support if stress, anxiety, fear, or other emotional factors are contributing to the problem.

4. Relationship problems

Relationship problems such as frequent arguments, unresolved conflicts, lack of trust, feeling disconnected from a partner, or communication difficulties can affect emotional well-being and reduce sexual desire.

What you can do: Maintaining open communication and working through conflicts, insecurities, and communication problems can help. In some cases, couples therapy may be recommended to rebuild trust, improve connection, and support healthy and enjoyable intimacy.

5. Use of medications

Some medications, such as antidepressants, diuretics, and blood pressure medications, can reduce libido as a side effect. This may occur because they affect areas of the nervous system involved in sexual desire or influence blood flow to the genital area.

In women, hormonal birth control may also affect sexual desire by changing hormone levels.

In men, certain medications used to treat prostate conditions or hair loss, such as goserelin acetate, bicalutamide, flutamide, finasteride, and dutasteride, can affect testosterone activity or hormone levels and may reduce sexual desire.

What you can do: Talk to the healthcare provider who prescribed the medication. Depending on the situation, the provider may adjust the dose or recommend a different medication with fewer sexual side effects.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without medical guidance.

6. Postpartum period

During the postpartum period and while breastfeeding, normal hormonal changes can reduce sexual desire.

Changes in the body and the physical and emotional demands of caring for a baby can also affect well-being and contribute to low libido.

What you can do: Couples can make time to be alone together and strengthen their emotional and physical connection through affection and touch, without feeling that intimacy has to lead to penetrative sex.

It is important to respect the woman's comfort level and recovery. Affection and supportive communication from a partner may also help strengthen emotional connection and intimacy.

7. Menopause

Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is associated with a significant decrease in estrogen production by the ovaries. These hormonal changes can contribute to decreased libido and less interest in sexual activity.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), decreasing estrogen levels during menopause can cause vaginal dryness and reduced lubrication, which may lead to pain during sex. This discomfort can also contribute to decreased sexual desire.

What you can do: Consult a gynecologist, who can determine whether menopausal hormone therapy is appropriate. Depending on the symptoms, treatment may include systemic hormone therapy or vaginal estrogen in forms such as a cream, vaginal insert, or vaginal ring.

These treatments should only be used under medical supervision because estrogen therapy may not be appropriate for everyone, including some people with certain estrogen-sensitive cancers, unexplained vaginal bleeding, blood clots, or other specific health conditions.

8. Low testosterone levels in men

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone and plays an important role in sexual desire and sperm production. Low testosterone levels can be associated with decreased libido, changes in sexual function, fatigue, and low energy.

Testosterone levels can gradually decrease with age. However, an age-related decline alone does not necessarily mean that a man has a medical testosterone deficiency that requires treatment.

What you can do: Consult a urologist or another qualified healthcare provider. Blood tests may be needed to determine whether testosterone levels are low and whether an underlying medical condition is causing the decrease.

Testosterone replacement therapy may be prescribed for men with confirmed low testosterone caused by certain medical conditions. Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet with nutrients such as zinc and vitamins A and D can also support overall health.

9. Pain during sex

Pain during sex can reduce libido and interest in intimacy because of the discomfort it causes.

In women, possible causes of pain during sex include endometriosis, allergies, hormonal changes, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In men, pain may be associated with conditions such as phimosis or prostate inflammation.

What you can do: Women should consult a gynecologist and men should consult a urologist. Identifying the underlying cause makes it possible to start the most appropriate treatment.

10. Lack of stimulation

In women, low libido may also be related to difficulty becoming aroused or reaching orgasm. This may sometimes be associated with insufficient sexual stimulation from a partner.

Insufficient stimulation can also make natural lubrication more difficult, leading to vaginal dryness, discomfort during sexual activity, and reduced interest in sex.

What to do: Spending more time on foreplay and openly discussing and exploring each partner's preferences may help increase arousal and promote natural vaginal lubrication.

11. Chronic diseases

Chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, coronary artery disease, neurological disorders, and kidney or liver disease can affect libido and reduce sexual desire.

What you can do: Couples can talk openly about the condition, expectations, and feelings and find comfortable ways to maintain intimacy. The underlying condition should also be treated according to the healthcare provider's recommendations.