Libido. You hear that word thrown around a lot, but what exactly is it? And are you one of the 43 percent of women or 31 percent of men suffering from low libido? And if you are, what can you do about it?
We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this article, so read on!
The word libido comes from the Latin word for desire or lust. In its most simple terms, “libido” is your sex drive. Your sex drive is defined by a desire to be sexual, or when you are mentally or physically excited about engaging in sexual activities.
Both men and women have a libido, and both men and women experience changes in their libidos throughout their lifetimes. And although everyone’s libido is different, most people experience a decline in their libido as they age.
How Do You Know if You Have a Low Libido?
Take a moment to consider:
- When was the last time you wanted to have sex of any kind?
- When was the last time you were interested in sex?
- How often have you been fantasizing about sex?
- Have you been concerned about your lack of sexual activity and fantasies?
If you keep coming up with answers that suggest that you have low or no sex drive, then you probably have a low libido. For people who are not interested in having sex, this doesn’t pose much of a problem. On the other hand, if this is negatively affecting your quality of life, then you’re going to need some help.
The Causes of Low Libido
Let’s take a quick look at causes before we jump to solutions. Various internal and external factors can affect your libido. Some may be familiar to you.
- Change in hormone levels
- Poor sleep habits
- Side effects of medications
- Unstable emotional or mental health
- Relationship troubles
- Stress
- Lifestyle choices
- Too much exercise
- Not enough exercise
So what happens if your sex life is still important to you, but you just can’t get your mojo flowing?
No Mojo? Let’s Talk Hormones and Low Libido
If you’re in your late 40s or beyond, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get your hormones tested. That goes for both women and men.
Hormone levels naturally decline as you age, particularly your sex hormones. A decline in testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone can have a considerable impact on your libido. Even though this is a natural process, it doesn’t necessarily mean you want to give up sexual intimacy.
Therefore getting your labs done will give you a good idea of where your hormone levels are and whether or not that’s the cause of your lackluster libido. If this is the case, the solution is simple. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
Approximately 70 percent of cases of low libido in both men and women are down to hormonal imbalance. Since BHRT brings hormones back to their optimal levels, BHRT is an effective way to increase the libido of men and women.
More About Hormones and Women
As women age, so do their ovaries and hormone-producing glands. Although most women know that a decrease in estrogen is the chief culprit for menopause, many don’t realize that a decrease in testosterone has the greatest impact on their loss of interest in sex. Low testosterone can also impact a woman’s ability to have an orgasm. If low libido and limited orgasms weren’t enough, low estrogen levels can also cause vaginal dryness, making sex painful.
This can all be changed with BHRT.
BHRT is the Simplest Solution to Low Libido.
Your hormone levels have dropped. They need to be increased. How do you top off a cup of coffee? You pour more coffee into the cup! The same principle works with hormones. If your estrogen levels are low, then you need to deliver more hormones to your system.
What do I need to put in my system, and how does it get there?
Bioidentical hormones are man-made hormones derived from natural plant-based sources. They’re structurally identical to the hormones produced by your body, so there are little to no side effects such as those you would see with synthetic hormone treatments.
There’s a multitude of ways that you can receive the supply of bioidentical hormones into your body.
1 Creams and gels can deliver estrogen to all the right places if you are struggling with vaginal dryness.
2 Pills are available as a short-term option.
3 Patches are a good option for estrogen delivery, particularly for women who are concerned about ingesting or processing it in their liver.
4 Testosterone injections can be used for both men and women.
5 BHRT pellet therapy is the perfect solution for anyone who needs a customized approach that’s safe, effective, and convenient. Your practitioner delivers a customized amount of bioidentical hormones through a pellet placed under your skin. The pellet releases hormones into the body as the body needs them to achieve a proper hormonal balance. Once they’re inserted, you don’t have to think about them for another 3-6 months!
You Don’t Have To Be Embarrassed About Low Libido
We’ve made a lot of progress when it comes to openly discussing sex, sex drive, sexual needs, and low libido. But the subject can still feel a little taboo, even when talking to a doctor.
However, there’s nothing shameful or selfish about wanting to get your sex drive back. Especially if it’s also causing problems with your relationships or even at work.
In addition, low libido can show up as general fatigue or disinterest in life. No one wants that. If you need another way of looking at the issue of asking for BHRT treatment for low libido, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do you still want to connect with your partner?
- Do you want to rekindle romance?
- How about being able to show up in your relationship fully?
Did you answer yes to one or more?
We Can Help You
No matter your age, a great sex life contributes to your overall wellbeing and quality of life. A good bioidentical hormone doctor understands this and will work closely with you, without judgment, to help you achieve your goals. Contact us for a consultation today!