PROBLEMS OF DESIRE

Males' or women's sexual desires naturally fluctuate over the years. Highs and lows commonly coincide with the beginning or end of a relationship or with major life changes, such as pregnancy, menopause, or illness. Some medications used for mood disorders also can cause low sex drive in women.

If your lack of interest in sex continues or returns and causes personal distress, you may have a condition called hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

But you don't have to meet this medical definition to seek help. If you're bothered by a low sex drive or decreased sex drive, there are lifestyle changes and sexual techniques that may put you in the mood more often. Some medications may offer promise as well.

Symptoms

If you want to have sex less often than your partner does, neither one of you is necessarily outside the norm for people at your stage in life — although your differences may cause distress.

Similarly, even if your sex drive is weaker than it once was, your relationship may be stronger than ever. Bottom line: There is no magic number to define low sex drive. It varies between women.

Symptoms of low sex drive in women include:

• Having no interest in any type of sexual activity, including masturbation
• Never or only seldom having sexual fantasies or thoughts
• Being concerned by your lack of sexual activity or fantasies

If you're concerned by your low desire for sex, talk to us and fix an appointment with a doctor.

The solution could be as simple as changing a medication you are taking, and improving any chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes.