Is Low Sex Drive Normal? Revealing the Complex Causes of Low Libido in Women
This is the persistent or recurrent deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity. It's often referred to as having a low libido and can cause significant distress and relationship problems.
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April’s advice starts with removing performance pressure and getting curious about what’s in the way. “Instead of trying to ‘increase’ your libido, I’d encourage you to try to understand what feels in the way right now,” April says, “alongside making natural changes to things like diet, movement, speaking with your healthcare provider about current medication, and even exploring your relationship with yourself or your partner with a professional.” In other words, “natural” isn’t about chasing a quick fix, it’s about supporting the root cause so desire has the space to come back on its own. Pressure is the thing that quietly kills desire, even when everything else seems fine. “Trying to increase your libido without addressing what's going on for you mentally or physically might create pressure to perform and when life inevitably gets busy or stressful, it can feel like the goalposts keep moving,” says April. That’s why she recommends a softer, more sustainable approach.
What you can do
“Curiosity and compassion tend to be far more supportive than trying to achieve more when it comes to sex.” Libido doesn’t respond well to being treated like a KPI. And if you’ve been stuck in the cultural noise of needing to have more sex, more often, more enthusiastically, April offers a better goal that focuses on exploring having sex that feels good. Start by supporting the fundamentals that make desire possible. These are things like sleep, stress regulation, blood sugar stability, hormone support where needed and physical comfort (including addressing dryness or pain). These aren’t “unsexy” basics, they’re the biological groundwork for pleasure.
What can quickly increase libido?
April also reminds us that libido isn’t just about the body. “While what we eat, how we care for our bodies in terms of sleep, stress and pain management, and even our hormones levels, are all vital for better health and wellbeing even when it comes to sex, it's also important to explore how you feel mentally about sex, how your body is responding to it and even how you think about it within your relationship.” If you ignore the emotional and relational parts, you’re ignoring a big piece of the puzzle. For some women, what helps most is reducing the “always on” lifestyle that keeps their nervous system wired. For others, it’s rebuilding emotional safety with their partner, addressing resentment or disconnection, or redefining intimacy so it isn’t always a fast track to intercourse. For others, it’s checking thyroid function, iron levels, sex hormones or perimenopausal shifts. The desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many things that affect intimacy, including physical and emotional well-being, experiences, beliefs, lifestyle and relationship status. A thorough evaluation of your symptoms and possible causes, along with an individualized treatment plan, may put you in the mood more often. Physical issuesIncreased weight, diabetes, high blood pressure, endocrine disorders and high cholesterol can affect the ability to maintain an erection or decrease sex drive.
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These conditions also can lead to low energy and low self-image which can cause a significant loss of libido.
- Physical activity increases blood flow to genitals.
- Women’s sexual desire may increase with intimacy.
- Vitamin E is believed to support hormonal health.
- Cervical health can influence sexual pleasure.
- Emotional intimacy enhances sexual desire.
- Good communication about boundaries improves sex.
- Chronic fatigue reduces interest in intimacy.
- Mindful breathing can heighten arousal.
- Women should explore personal preferences.
- Maintaining individual identity supports healthy libido.
In many cases, this can be corrected through diet, exercise and medical management.
- Testosterone, though lower in women, affects sexual desire.
- Sexual activity releases endorphins, boosting mood and desire.
- Postpartum hormonal changes may decrease libido temporarily.
- Mind-body therapies can support healthy libido.
- Certain birth control methods influence libido differently.
- Sleep disorders can lead to reduced sexual interest.
- Libido often correlates with overall mental well-being.
- Sensuality and body confidence enhance desire.
- Regular intimacy boosts female libido over time.
- Pelvic floor exercises can increase sexual arousal.
PornographyThis is a big cause for many men.
How Common Is Low Libido Among Women?
Desire often returns when it’s not being demanded. Have an honest conversation about what you actually want. If you’re partnered, talk about needs, boundaries, timing and what feels good now… not what used to work. A coach or therapist can help unpack emotional blocks, relationship dynamics, or past experiences that may be quietly switching desire off. This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners.
5. Medical Treatments for Underlying Conditions
This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf Samantha Nice is a seasoned wellness writer with over a decade of experience crafting content for a diverse range of global brands. A passionate advocate for holistic wellbeing, she brings a particular focus to supplements, women’s health, strength training, and running. Samantha is a proud member of the Healf editorial team, where she merges her love for storytelling with industry insights and science-backed evidence. An avid WHOOP wearer, keen runner (with a sub 1:30 half marathon) hot yoga enthusiast and regular gym goer, Samantha lives and breathes the wellness lifestyle she writes about.
Why is my libido so low?
With a solid black book of trusted contacts (including some of the industry’s leading experts) she’s committed to creating accessible, well-informed content that empowers and inspires Healf readers. What drives libido in women and why sex drive isn’t always the right phrase Desire vs arousal: Why low libido can feel confusing but totally normal The biology of libido in women: hormones, brain chemistry and stress What actually helps increase sex drive in women Supplements for female libido: what’s worth it and what’s mostly marketing How to actually increase libido in women: Expert top tips It may feel uncomfortable to talk about low libido with your partner and your health care team. Unfortunately, it's a common problem that affects adults everywhere, yet many people have never been asked about their sexual health by their health care teams. Although it may be difficult to discuss, sexual health is important and factors that are causing low libido should be addressed. Many primary care, psychology and OB-GYN professionals are trained to care for and treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD. Pornography permeates many committed relationships and can change how men view sexuality. For some, it causes pseudo-low libido, which is when a person is still interested in sex but not in a healthy way.
Why do Older Women Have a Reduced Libido?
Low libido in women is often a sign that your body is under strain. The goal isn’t to make yourself want sex, it’s to create the conditions where desire can return naturally. Here are some practical and tangible places to start: Protect your sleep like it’s part of your libido plan. Aim for consistent bed and wake times, and prioritise wind-down time so cenforce tablets your nervous system actually gets the message it’s safe to rest. Protect your sleep like it’s part of your libido plan.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Lower your stress load in small, real ways. Think short walks, breathwork, a phone-free ten minutes, or anything that brings you out of “on” mode. Stabilise blood sugar to support energy and mood. Build meals around protein, fibre and healthy fats, and avoid running on caffeine and chaos (tempting, but not libido-friendly). Check in on hormones if things feel noticeably different.
You’re approaching or in menopause
If you’re experiencing symptoms alongside low desire (like fatigue, cycle changes, mood shifts, vaginal dryness) speak to a healthcare provider about hormone and thyroid support. Don’t ignore pain or discomfort during sex. Pain isn’t something to push through. If sex feels uncomfortable, address the cause first (it’s one of the fastest ways to rebuild safety in the body). Take “sex” off the table sometimes and focus on connection, touch and closeness without a goal. This often leads to unrealistic expectations of body image, confusion about what an intimate encounter is and, in some cases, negative sexual behavior.
| Culture | Attitudes Toward Female Libido | Impact on Women's Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Western Societies | Open discussion, female empowerment | Greater acceptance and awareness |
| Traditional Societies | Modest or restrictive views | Possible stigma or suppression |
| Modern Media | Often sexualized portrayal | Influences self-image, expectations |
| Religious Beliefs | Varying views on sexuality | May inhibit or encourage openness |
Often, people who are committed to changing their behaviors are referred to sexual addiction counseling to manage this effectively.
Treat vaginal discomfort
The goal is the same though… create the conditions where desire can return, instead of demanding it. Search best supplements for female libido and, like with most things, you’ll find a lot of confident claims. April says to start with what your body actually needs. “I would focus more on stress management, checking your hormone levels with your doctor and exploring your nutrition to better support your overall health and wellbeing,” she says. Supplements can help, but the best results come when they’re supporting a clear need, not a vague hope.
Medication for Low Libido
If libido changes are paired with fatigue, cycle changes, sleep disruption, anxiety, low mood, or perimenopausal symptoms, she recommends starting with proper support. “Speaking with a healthcare provider about checking your overall health can be a reassuring place to start, especially if stress, a hormonal imbalance, thyroid, perimenopause or menopause are contributing to a lower interest in sex,” she says. That’s how you make supplements evidence-led rather than marketing-led… you don’t guess, you investigate. One of the fastest ways to tank libido is comparing your sex life to what you think it should look like. “I wish more women knew that if your sex life doesn’t look like what we see on TV and in films, that’s completely normal,” says April.
Issues in your romantic relationship
“What we’re shown is entertainment, not a realistic reflection of how desire actually works in real life.” Real desire is shaped by real life, not a scriptwriter’s fantasy. “There is no normal amount of sex you should be having, and your libido will look different to everyone else.” That matters, because so many women label themselves broken when their libido fluctuates. “I speak with women all the time who constantly refer to their bodies as ‘broken’ if they don’t want sex as much as their partner or if their libido fluctuates from month to month or even feels like it's non-existent,” April says. But libido is context-dependent, not character-defining. “Desire is far more complex and context-dependent than most of us were ever taught; it’s shaped by stress, hormones, relationships, and how safe and connected we feel in our bodies.” If your libido has gone quiet, you don’t need to panic or perform.