There are two components of a woman’s sexuality that must work together for her to have a satisfying sex life. These are the libido and arousal.
Libido is sexual desire. It is the sex drive, a baseline interest in or appetite for sex.
Think of libido as the ability to be interested in sex or feel lust, and you won’t be far off the mark.
Arousal on the other hand, is the physical response with the libido has been engaged. Arousal is most easily recognized in increased sensitivity, particularly of the woman’s sexual organs, and the presence of lubrication.
Having a low libido or a low sex drive is a common problem among women; in fact, nearly half of women will struggle with a low libido, some of them as young as their 20s and 30s.
While our interest in sex naturally waxes and wanes, if yours has been waning for too long, there are a number of causes you can consider. These include
- lower than level normal of hormones including testosterone and thyroid hormones
- depression
- relationship issues
- too much stress
- certain medications including blood pressure and antidepressant medications
- overall poor health
These causes can be treated. You can receive counseling for depression and relationship issues. Hormone levels can be checked and medication can be prescribed; medication that is causing a problem can usually be changed to a product with fewer sexual side effects. Overall poor health can be improved.
The issue most in need of addressing here may be stress. Working mothers are particularly subjected to a great deal of stress. When you feel stressed, your libido lessens. When your libido lessens, you cannot enjoy sex and become more stressed.
Stress and a lack of sexual intimacy can cause depression and relationship issues. The problems feed one another until they become a self-sustaining, vicious cycle.
If you are having problems with stress or any of these other causes of a lowered libido, talk with your health care provider. A normal, active sex life is an important part of life, one every woman deserves. You are not alone.
