The female libido can be called the sex drive or the ability to become sexually aroused for a woman. The male libido is the equivalent sex drive of a man. While drug use, aging, depression and other psychological factors can affect the libido of both men and women, it is women who experience menopause. Menopause can lower the female libido because of its effects on female hormone levels. However, other physical issues can also affect the female libido.
History
There have been claims about aphrodisiacs for centuries. An aphrodisiac is something that will cause sexual arousal. The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty. From chocolate to anchovies, there have been many claims that such foods can increase the sexual appetite, but there is little scientific evidence to support those claims. But in a U. S. Food and Drug Administration article, according to John Renner, who founded the Consumer Health Information Research Institute (CHIRI), when someone eats something that is purported to be an aphrodisiac, the hope of a response can lead to an additional sexual reaction.
Time Frame
As women age, they go through the process of menopause, which is the time of the last menstrual period. According to The National Institute on Aging, the average age of women who undergo menopause is 51. When a woman goes through twelve months without a menstrual period, she is considered post-menopausal. Although some women can have an increased libido after menopause because of the loss of the risk of pregnancy, other women can have a decreased libido. The decrease in the female libido after menopause can have levels of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that follow atypical patterns. These hormone swings can cause hot flashes and headaches and can decrease the female libido.
Solution
According to the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, a good diet and a regular exercise program are a more dependable path to better sex than are aphrodisiacs. A good mental state is equally important. The best way to enhance the libido is the erotic stimulation of one's own imagination. To quote renowned sex expert "Dr. Ruth" Westheimer, Ed.D.: "The most important sex organ lies between the ears." There are, however, studies such as the one published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information that indicate post-menopausal women who take testosterone treatments, can experience significantly higher sessions of satisfying sexual experiences.
Warning
The long-term effects of testosterone treatment are unclear. Physicians should be consulted when considering any drug treatment. Also, over-the-counter libido enhancement drugs can be advertised with false claims. According to Joel Aronson, who is the director of the Food and Drug Administration's division of nontraditional drugs, the administration has sent out warning letters to companies, but these companies typically just close up rather than face potential litigation.
Considerations
There are other advantages to having a healthier body other than a stronger libido. Improved health leads to lower medical costs. It also can have an effect on mood and relationships because improved health results in more self-confidence. Maintaining a health weight can also lesson mood swings and reduce irritability.
