Causes Of A Lack Of Sexual Activity

If you're no longer interested in sex it may be due to a host of mental and physical factors.

When you are feeling lackluster about or just flat out disinterested in sex there are numerous factors at work. Women are more likely than men to experience loss of libido, but it happens to men as well, particularly as they get older.

Women

When women are lacking a sex drive, also known as lack of libido, it may be due to a condition called female arousal disorder or FSAD, notes Dr. David Delvin, a general practitioner and family planning specialist. When a woman has this disorder she doesn't have orgasms easily, she is not aroused by the thought of making love and she doesn't have any desire to be sexually active. This can be a temporary condition or can last longer.

Other Culprits

Factors that can contribute to libido loss in women include having just given birth; anemia, which can result if you lose too much blood and iron during a menstrual period; taking tranquilizers; alcoholism; hormonal abnormalities that cause a woman to lose testosterone, which is the male hormone, or not enough lutenizing hormones, which can lead to indifference or total lack of sexual desire. When a woman has a condition called hyperprolactinaemia her pituitary gland is overactive and can lead to loss of libido. Other factors that can lead to lack of sexual desire include depression, anxiety, stress and past sexual abuse. Many women report losing their sexual appetite when they become menopausal. Indifference or ill feelings toward your sexual partner can also lead to loss of libido. If a woman is seriously ill she is not likely to be interested in sex.

Men

When a man loses sexual desire it can be due to andropause, or male menopause, when testosterone levels dip perilously low. It can also be the outcome of anxiety because the man has experienced erectile dysfunction or impotence in the past and fears another episode. Erectile dysfunction (ED) can increase with age. It can also increase if the man is drinking too much or doing drugs.

Men can suffer from performance anxiety and also worry about climaxing too quickly, which is premature ejaculation. When a man is anxious he may decide to forgo sex altogether rather than be a disappointment in bed.

Stress and Fatigue

When men and women are under enormous stress this does not lead to a wonderful sex life. If a man, especially, feels he is failing at work, he can become numb sexually because he has lost his self-worth, notes Esther Perel, a couples therapist and author of "Mating in Captivity." Women are often multitasking and taking care of the home, their children and working outside the home. This can lead to enormous stress as well as fatigue. Many women would rather sleep than have sex.

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Lack of sexual desire causes distress for some people whereas others don't care. When you have hypoactive sexual desire disorder this means that you're either recurrently uninterested in sex or persistently uninterested, notes the Mayo Clinic. If this situation is distressing you should talk to your doctor about it.

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