& Healing Centre
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Sexual Health and Libido.
Sometimes, sexual desire can be impaired or reduced. It also may
be weak or not be present at all, in occurrences such as asexuality. Factors of
reduced libido can be both psychological and physical. Absence of libido may or
may not correlate with infertility or impotence.
Psychological factors
Reduction in libido can occur from psychological causes such as loss of privacy
and/or intimacy, stress, distraction or depression. It may also derive from the
presence of environmental stressors such as prolonged exposure to elevated sound
levels or bright light. Other causes include:
depression
stress or fatigue
childhood sexual abuse, assault, trauma, or neglect
body image issues
sexual performance anxiety
Physical factors
Physical factors that can affect libido include: endocrine issues such as
hypothyroidism, levels of available testosterone in the bloodstream of both
women and men, the effect of certain prescription medications (for example
proscar (a.k.a. finasteride) or minoxidil), various lifestyle factors and the
attractiveness and biological fitness of one's partner. Inborn lack of
sexual desire, often observed in asexual people, can also be considered a
physical factor.
Lifestyle
Being very underweight, severely obese or malnourished can cause a low
libido due to disruptions in normal hormonal levels. There is also evidence to
support that specific foods have an effect on libido.
