According to the experts, up to 1 in every 3 women between the age groups of 30 and 59 experience a lack of sexual desire at some point in their lives. Sexual desire is also termed libido. Problems of decreased libido can occur at any stage. Women usually experience these changes after pregnancy or during breastfeeding. There can be numerous factors responsible for low sex desire and proper guidance toward the resolution of the same is essential and can go a very long way.
What Exactly Is libido?
Libido can be described as a sexual drive or a desire for sexual activity. A healthy sex drive is an indication of healthy sexual function. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that sexual health is a state of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being about sexuality. Sexual health is one of the essential elements of overall health and well-being.
Sex drive is a common trait of reproduction and therefore, women experience fluctuations in their sexual responsiveness during the estrous cycle which is a period of the sexual cycle of females. Women remain sexually receptive in the physiological sense throughout the menstrual cycle, with cyclical variations.
Women’s libido can go up and down several times in their lives. This can happen for a short duration in events such as after giving birth, relationship strains, and stressful periods.
In addition, some other factors including hormonal imbalance, menopause, and depression can also lead to a reduction in your desire to have sex.
Low libido can also result in relationship conflicts especially when one partner desires more sexual intimacy than the other. It is known by the term desire discrepancy and can lead to challenging situations.
On the other hand, a high sex drive is not an issue unless you become obsessed with the thoughts of intimacy which can affect your normal day-to-day activities. High libido is often considered healthy and sometimes it suddenly gets boosted due to several factors such as hormonal changes, adolescent period, aging, intense workout or exercise, healthy sexual relationship, alteration of medication, or if you are in a relaxed state.
Know Your Desire Type
Some sexologist states that there are two different kinds of sexual desire comprising spontaneous and responsive. The spontaneous sexual desire just shows up instantly, with or without stimulation. In this case, an urge for sexual intimacy hits you out of nowhere. It happens when the mental interest in indulging in sexual activity arises. According to research, about 75% of men and 15% of women have spontaneous desire.
On the contrary, responsive desires arise when you feel physically ready for sexual activity before you even feel the mental desire. It is a growing interest in physical intimacy that occurs as a result of sexual stimuli. It gets usually sparked by touch, physical proximity, or sexual contact. The mental interest in sex followed after the external stimulus. The whole point is, you will already be engaged in some sort of physically stimulating activity, then start engaging mentally in taking things to the next level.
Research state that, about 5% of men and 30% of women have responsive desire. The remaining 20% of men and 55% of women experience a combination of both spontaneous and responsive desire.
Lifestyle Changes For Increasing Female Libido
Stick To Your Workout Plan
Regular exercise boosts the oxygen content in the body and keeps protected against multitudes of health conditions. It also prevents obesity by helping to burn calories. Some simple aerobic exercises such as walking, running, skipping, swimming, and cycling can be beneficial for improving your sexual function and they can be very helpful in boosting your libido as well. These exercises improve mood, promote better sleep, and increase stamina.
Additionally, Kegels and yoga boost the blood supply to the reproductive organs and also, and it activates the sympathetic nervous system that ultimately boosts sexual arousal in women.
Eat Right
A nutritious diet is necessary for overall well-being and it is beneficial for maintaining a healthy sex drive. A healthy libido can make you feel emotionally satisfied in your day-to-day life. On the contrary, a low sex drive can cause lethargy, low energy levels, and even stress. However, there are several ways women can naturally boost their libido, including following a healthy diet and taking sexual health boosters. Let us have a look at some foods that you need to include in your diet:
- Nuts
Nuts contain the amino acid L-arginine which is proven to boost the production of nitric oxide and instigate blood flow to reproductive organs, naturally stimulating your body for sex. Such as peanuts, walnuts, and pistachios are great for increasing libido in both men and women.
- Pumpkin Seeds
It contains antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and zinc to help improve your libido.
- Fruits
Add more fruits to your diet comprising avocado, strawberry, banana, and watermelon.
- Chocolate
It is a known aphrodisiac which helps boost serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, making you feel happy and satisfied.
- Cinnamon
It is a spice that can be beneficial for boosting blood flow to the sexual organs. You can drink cinnamon tea for increasing your sex drive.
- Spinach
Rich in magnesium, spinach can help boost blood flow by reducing blood vessel inflammation.
- Ginseng
It is an ancient herb that is well known for its immunity and health-boosting benefits. It can also help boost sex drive and improve sexual performance for both men and women.
- Garlic
Include more garlic in your diet as it helps promote blood flow to the sexual organs and boost libido.
Talk To Your Partner
If you are in a relationship, chances are you have your fair share of struggles. It is okay to have a clash as it is completely normal between couples. But the key to a lasting relationship is to work towards building a stronger emotional bond.
Couples who engage in an open and honest conversation usually maintain a stronger intimate connection that can lead to better sexual experiences. Communicating about sex is also important. Addressing your issues together can set the stage for greater sexual intimacy.
Bring In More Passion
You may come across some pleasant moments in your life when you indulge in frequent sexual activity and moments when you have very low or no sexual activity at all. This could be a result due to low libido. No matter what, you need to infuse more passion into your sexual journey by scheduling time for intimacy. By doing so you are prioritizing intimacy that can help your sex drive back on track.
Refrain From Bad Habits
Excessive smoking, drinking, and substance abuse can lead to physical, social, and emotional harm that can ultimately affect your sexual health. Avoiding these bad habits may help give a boost to your sex drive.
Consult A Therapist
Talking to an expert or a therapist skilled in addressing sexual concerns can help with low sex drive. Take note of all your sexual desire problems, including when and how often you usually experience them.
To Conclude
A therapist may help you in gaining insights into sexual response and techniques for increasing feelings of intimacy and desire. Alongside, it is necessary to make some effective lifestyle choices such as exercising, following a healthy diet, avoiding bad habits, etc. that can prove beneficial in increasing your interest in sex.
