The main factors that reduce sexual desire

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Libido problems: 7 factors that reduce libido — freepik.com

Everyone experiences insufficiently strong sexual desire or lack of satisfaction from sexual contacts from time to time. But when this happens regularly, it’s a reason to think about your health.

Most people are in no hurry to turn to doctors with such questions: some believe that they can cope with problems on their own, others are embarrassed to tell strangers about such delicate problems and hope that the troubles will stop on their own. This approach is fundamentally wrong: a decrease in sexual desire usually has real physiological reasons. Some of them can be eliminated by a person himself, but others require the intervention of specialists.

Today we will talk about the factors influencing sexual activity.

1. Constant nervous tension

Problems with sexual desire are almost always experienced by those who suffer from depression. A gloomy view of the world does not allow them to contact people with pleasure and seek these contacts, including sexual ones.

Libido decreases and those who consider themselves losers are dissatisfied with their appearance or degree of social fulfillment. People with low self-esteem are confident that they are unworthy of the attention of others, and at the same time they are very afraid of being rejected by members of the opposite sex. Such sensations sometimes create obstacles when trying to engage in sexual contact and do not allow you to enjoy it.

Meanwhile, social and professional fulfillment and a high level of income are not always combined with sexual success. The culprit of the problem may be stress: the need to constantly maintain the achieved level and confirm social status does not allow you to relax. The body is forced to maintain high levels of cortisol and adrenaline, which inhibits the activity of the sex glands. As a result, testosterone levels decrease, and with it libido.

2. Dehydration

Dehydration of the body — stock.adobe.com

Water deficiency negatively affects the condition of all organs and systems. In women, the mucous membranes are especially affected. The surface of the vagina becomes too dry, and sexual intercourse becomes painful and unpleasant. In men, dehydration leads to slightly different problems: the blood thickens, the speed of blood flow decreases, and this can cause a weakened erection.

A constant lack of fluid in the body leads to increased blood pressure, headaches, and increased fatigue. In such a situation, a person, as a rule, has no time for sex.

We also recommend reading our article "Proper use of water: misconceptions and myths".

3. Lack of sleep

Regular lack of sleep is a very common problem. The inability to fully rest increases the risk of developing heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other ailments.

In addition to constant fatigue, which does not have the best effect on libido, lack of sleep leads to an increase in cortisol levels and a decrease in the production of sex hormones. It has been clinically proven that men suffering from sleep apnea or night snoring experience erectile dysfunction much more often than their peers who manage to get regular sleep.

We also recommend reading our article "How lack of sleep causes excess weight".

4. Taking medications

A full sexual life is available not only to completely healthy men and women, but also to those who suffer from chronic diseases. However, people who are forced to constantly take medications should be aware that some of them can weaken desire or reduce the quality of sexual intercourse. Such drugs include:

neuroleptics;
antidepressants;
tranquilizers;
sleeping pills (especially those containing barbiturates);
medications used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease;
weight loss products;
anti-tuberculosis drugs;
medicines used to treat tumors;
antihypertensive drugs;
diuretics;
beta-blockers (drugs that improve the condition of the heart muscle);
some antihistamines (for example, diphenhydramine);
anticonvulsants.

Most drugs have a negative effect on the sexual sphere only if taken for a long time. In addition, the reaction to their use is very individual, and for the patient it is usually possible to select a therapy that does not have a similar effect.

5. Use of hormonal contraceptives

Instructions for the use of modern oral contraceptives do not contain information about the negative effect on libido, but in reality such a problem exists. Many women taking hormonal contraceptives complain of a weakened sex drive. This phenomenon is due to the fact that artificial hormones entering the body when taking pills cause changes in hormonal levels. It is especially unpleasant that after stopping the drugs, libido does not recover immediately: in most patients it takes about 3 months, but there are cases where a lack of sexual interest was observed up to a year after women stopped taking oral contraceptives.

The only consolation is that with modern complex remedies the corresponding side effect is not as pronounced as with their predecessors. However, the choice of hormonal contraceptives should remain the prerogative of the doctor and be made taking into account all the characteristics of the individual patient’s condition.

6. Excess weight

The influence of excess weight on sexual life is due to two factors: psychological and physiological.

The first is much more pronounced in women: this is both confidence in one’s own unattractiveness and the inability to liberate during sexual contact, leading to insufficient satisfaction. Representatives of the stronger sex, as a rule, are not too complex because of the shortcomings of their own figures and do not refuse to look for partners, even with very respectable dimensions.

But in a physiological sense, excess weight in a man greatly affects sexual activity. A direct connection has been established between the obesity of a representative of the stronger sex and the concentration of estrogen in his blood. This hormone inhibits the production of testosterone, which is responsible for male sexuality, which is why obesity significantly increases the risk of developing impotence. In women, excess weight often causes congestion in the pelvic area and diseases of the reproductive organs. As a result, hormonal disturbances occur, as well as a decrease in vaginal sensitivity, which in severe cases leads to anorgasmia and frigidity.

For fat men and women, most positions during sexual intercourse are not available, which deprives the sex life of the necessary variety. In addition, obese people often suffer from shortness of breath, heart rhythm disturbances and other ailments, which also do not contribute to satisfaction in sex.

We also recommend reading our article "What are the dangers of being overweight and obese?".

7. Smoking

The combustion products of tobacco, entering the blood, reduce its oxygen saturation. In habitual smokers, blood flow slows down and blood vessels narrow. The result is problems with blood supply to the genital organs, which for men is fraught with difficulties with erection, and for women – a decrease in the sensitivity of the genital organs. Of all the bad habits, smoking most significantly reduces libido and prevents full sexual intercourse.

Of course, all factors that reduce libido act individually. A fat man who smokes can be a very successful sexual partner, but this is just the exception. For a normal sex life, most people need to at least maintain a reasonable daily routine, eat right and not have bad habits. It is equally important to contact specialists in a timely manner if problems arise: self-medication can only worsen the situation.

Source: neboleem.net