The female libido is often referred to as the female sex drive or the ability to become sexually aroused. For most people, the sex drive is a normal, healthy part of everyday life. There are several factors that can affect the female libido. For example, depression can lead to a loss of sex drive. Drugs can also have an effect on libido because they can desensitize the skin. Aging is another factor. The libido is not considered a physical part of the body, but many physical issues can affect the libido.
Healthy Weight
Healthy bodies contribute to healthy libidos. Not only does being overweight affect the physical body in ways that makes it tired and less efficient (such as having high blood pressure), it affects one's mental image of oneself. When women feel good about how they look, their libidos tend to be stronger.
Aging
Women typically go through the process of menopause as they age. This process can result in hormonal imbalances that result in the loss of the sex drive. Other women, however, report that once the risk of becoming pregnant goes away after menopause, their sex drives increase.
Menopause
At the average age of 51, women undergo menopause, which is the occurrence of the last menstrual period. When a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, she is considered post-menopausal. Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone have fluctuating levels that do not follow the same patterns for women who have experienced menopause. These fluctuating hormone levels can affect the sex drive by causing a variety of symptoms such as hot flashes and headaches.
Mood
Studies have shown that prolonged periods of stress can affect moods and increase irritability more than hormonal imbalances. These periods of stress can affect a woman's ability to become sexually aroused, which lowers the libido.
Hormonal Therapy
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of hormonal therapy to treat the symptoms of aging and menopause. Studies have indicated that testosterone increases the female libido. Consult with a physician to discuss the latest medical evidence of testosterone treatment for low libidos.
