When is low sexual desire a dysfunction?
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is a sexual problem characterised by distress related to loss or a major decline in sexual interest (thinking about it, engaging in it, being receptive to a partner’s initiation, etc.). It is the most common sexual dysfunction among women of all ages and is estimated to affect nearly 1 in 10 women.

 

What are normal fluctuations in sexual desire?

In order to determine what is abnormal or dysfunctional, it is helpful to understand what is normal or functional. Each individual woman will have her own definition of what is normal sexual desire based on her culture, her background, and sexual experiences. In this way, a woman’s sex drive is very much like other aspects of herself as a person––unique to her personal situation and self.

Most women will also have some day-to-day variability in their sexual interest based on stressors or other life-events. While day-to-day variability is not unusual, for many women interest in sex tends to gradually decline over the lifespan. For instance, a woman in her 20s may think that a normal sex drive is wanting sex three to four times a week; when that same woman is in her 30s, her idea of what constitutes normal may be wanting sex once per week. The intensity of sexual desire a woman experiences may also decline as she gets older. Oftentimes, these changes are attributed to increasing demands on a woman’s time (from family, career, etc) as she gets older. These other obligations may distract a woman and limit the time she has to think about and want sex. There is also evidence to suggest that biological factors (hormone levels, changes in the genitalia, etc) may contribute to a declining interest in sex with increasing age.

 

What are some factors that can contribute to low sexual desire?

There are numerous causes for low sexual desire; some are psychological or interpersonal, some are biological, and others may be related to medical conditions or prescriptions (see sidebar). In most cases, there is more than one potential cause. Some of the most common causes are:

 

Psychological/interpersonal

  • Anxiety, stress, depression
  • Relationship problems
  • Memories of a sexual trauma
  • Poor body image

 

Physical causes

  • Hormone imbalance/changes
  • Chronic pain because of illness or injury
  • Medical conditions
  • Aging, menopause and/or childbirth

 

Medications

  • Some blood pressure medications
  • Some antidepressants
  • Some diabetes medications

 

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