Many women today feel like they are pulled in so many directions that they forget how to enjoy themselves or their relationship. They put their work or families first and feel so tired at the end of a long day that sex is the last thing on their mind. In fact, one-third of adult women claim that low sexual desire is a constant problem that affects their quality of life.
Having a low sex drive can make you feel guilty, especially if your partner wants it more than you. It might even start to affect your relationship. But sex isn’t something that should feel like work. There are many things you can do to take care of yourself and naturally improve your libido without much effort. Here are the top six ways to increase sex drive in women.
What Causes Low Sex Drive In Women?
A woman’s sexual desire may fluctuate throughout her life depending on her relationship status and other social or personal factors, but chronic low sex drive that results in personal distress is known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It occurs when a woman has a persistent lack of desire for sex, including self-stimulation and sexual fantasies or thoughts. While there is no magic number to determine how much sex is normal, women may feel distressed if their sex drive is weaker than it once was.
When it comes to a woman’s sex drive, some research indicates that both physical and emotional factors might be responsible. The end of a relationship or other significant life changes may cause a woman’s sexual desire to drop. Others may suffer from a low sex drive due to their medications. For example, some antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs are known for causing low libido.
Even some hormonal contraceptives may dampen a woman’s sexual desire. According to a poll conducted by Woman’s Magazine, approximately 36 percent of women feel that the pill, the vaginal ring, and the patch reduce their sexual desire.
Additionally, some medical diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis, diabetes and neurological disorders are known to affect sexual desire.
Some sexual problems may be a result of hormonal changes that naturally occur with the aging process. Menopause happens when a woman’s estrogen levels drop. Side effects may include a decreased interest in sex and vaginal dryness, which can make sex painful. Pregnant or breastfeeding women may also experience hormonal changes that affect their sexual desire. A new baby often makes a woman feel stressed and fatigued, which dampens her desire for sex.
Other common causes of loss of sex drive in women may include work or relationship stress, being underweight or overweight, inflammation, and psychological issues, such as low self-esteem, depression, poor body image, or having a history of negative sexual experiences. Even certain diets and food choices may cause a change in sex drive. Research shows there is a link between eating too many processed foods and a lack of sexual desire in both women and men. This is likely due to the alteration of hormones, such as the appetite-controlling hormone leptin and “the fountain of youth” hormone HGH. Sugar also makes you feel tired and increases stress and anxiety, which may kill your sex drive.
Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life
Increasing your sex drive might seem like the last thing on your mind. But it’s important to remember that sex is a healthy part of any romantic relationship and you deserve to feel good about it. Having sex and reaching an orgasm increases your levels of the “love hormone” oxytocin, which helps you feel more connected to your partner and have a better emotional connection with them. Oxytocin has even been shown to improve certain health conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and childbirth.
Sex is also physically good for you. Studies show that sex has the same effect on your body as exercise. It boosts your heart health and immune system and lowers blood pressure. It has also been shown to help you sleep better, improve your self-esteem, provide pain relief, and reduce your stress levels. Having sex regularly can even help you look younger and refine your analytical thinking. Plus, research shows that the more you have sex, the more you’ll crave it. Like any healthy habit, it might take awhile to incorporate sex back into your routine, but doing so is more than worth it!
How To Increase Sex Drive In Women
Research shows that one in ten women are affected by HSDD, but most of them don’t even know they have it. It’s the most common sexual dysfunction in women. If you have been diagnosed with HSDD, there might not be much your doctor can do for you regarding conventional treatment. Lucky, there are plenty of natural remedies you can use to increase your sex drive, and they come with additional benefits that may enhance other areas of your life, too!
1. Exercise
You might not feel sexy when you’re exercising, but exercise is one of the best things you can do to get your mojo back. Studies show that women who exercise frequently become aroused quicker and are more likely to have an orgasm faster. Plus, their orgasms tend to be more intense than women who are sedentary. You can even see the benefits in the bedroom after a single 20-minute exercise session, which proves that you don’t need to do much to get fit.
There are a few physical reasons why exercise helps put you in the mood. First, it gives you better muscle strength, endurance, and flexibility, which makes sex easier and also enhances your body image. If you feel better about how you look, then you’ll probably feel better about having sex. Additionally, sex increases blood flow to your genital area, which helps you feel better during the act. Be cautious though as too much exercise can have the opposite effect on your sex drive. The key is to focus on moderate intensity most days of the week.
If you’re new to the exercise scene or haven’t been to the gym for awhile, start back slowly. You don’t want to burn out, or you’ll be less motivated to continue. If the gym isn’t your thing, try exercising at home or even incorporating exercise into your daily routine. Try wearing a device that counts your steps and aim for 2,000 steps a day to start. If you can get outdoors for your workout, then you’ll reap the benefits of vitamin D and sunshine, which can really help get those endorphins going. Don’t forget to incorporate weight-bearing exercise into your routine a few times a week to build muscle strength, which helps you burn calories all day long.
2. Change Your Diet
The foods you eat could be responsible for your lack of sexual desire. Research shows that eating too many processed foods that contain sugar may throw your hormones out of whack and cause a disruption in your sexual desire. Not to mention, eating lots of junk food will increase your waistline, which may be the reason why you don’t feel like having sex anymore. One study found that eating sugar significantly reduced the amount of free testosterone that circulates in the blood. And that’s not just a man’s problem. Low testosterone levels are linked to a decreased sex drive in women, too.
When it comes to fueling your sexual desire, your best bet is to focus on lots of fresh fruits and vegetables as they contain unique plant chemicals that help make you feel good. On the other hand, processed and fried foods contribute to weight gain, brain fog, and inflammation. Focus on eliminating these foods from your diet and replacing them with lots of berries, green leafy vegetables, unrefined grains, and lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, and wild-caught fish. Also be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day to flush toxins and keep the digestive tract working properly, which houses about 90 percent of your serotonin levels.
When you eat is just as important as what you eat if the goal is to improve your sex life. Eating a heavy meal late at night before sex could cause gastrointestinal upset, which isn’t exactly a mood booster. It might seem silly to plan for sex, but it could help you get in the mood. If you are planning a romantic evening with your significant other, then you might want to skip the heavy dishes and aim for a lighter meal with lean protein and vegetables. Enjoying a glass of red wine at dinner could help you relax, but drinking more than that could have the opposite effect on your sex drive by making you tired and affecting your ability to achieve an orgasm.
3. Experiment with Herbal Supplements
The key to making supplements work for you is to take them as part of a healthy diet. Lots of people give up on taking supplements because they don’t change their diet, and there is no point in taking them when the rest of your body is a toxic environment. Panax ginseng or Asian ginseng is an herb that has been shown to increase sex drive in women. One study found that women who were going through menopause saw improvements in their sexual desire after taking one gram of Panax ginseng every day for two weeks. Other studies indicate that you can take 900 mg to 1,000 mg up to three times a day to help you get in the mood.
Maca root is another herb that has been shown to increase sex drive in women. One study found that 14 postmenopausal women who were given either a placebo or 3500 mg per day of maca root for six weeks reduced their menopause symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, and boosted their sexual function. Yohimbine has been shown to improve orgasm dysfunction when taken in the amount of 15 to 30 mg daily while the stress-reducing herb ashwagandha helps treat female sexual distress when a 500 mg capsule is taken once or twice daily.
It’s a good idea to check with your doctor before taking an herbal supplement, especially if you are on medications as this may cause a contraindication. If you’re on a drug that might affect your libido, ask your doctor if there is any way to switch prescriptions. He or she might have an option that you haven’t considered yet. Even a dosage change might help restore your sexual desire.
4. Don’t Smoke
Smoking could be one of the reasons why you’re not in the mood anymore. One study found that smoking not only decreases sexual satisfaction and desire, but it also affects your fertility. If you’re a heavy smoker, then your doctor may prescribe a medication to help you quit. But keep in mind that these may have side effects that affect your psychological health.
5. Try Essential Oils
Certain scents might be able to help you get in the mood. Sandalwood is considered a natural aphrodisiac, which is why it’s found in many candles, colognes, and perfumes. Cinnamon oil is another excellent essential oil as it has been shown to increase blood flow through the body. You can apply a few drops to a warm bath or diffuse the oils in your bedroom at night to get in the mood.
6. Become More Connected to Your Partner
If you’re feeling disconnected from your partner or the two of you are having trouble in your relationship, then it might affect your desire for sex. Getting to know your partner again might take some time, but it can make things better for you in the bedroom. Try spending time together just the two of you. Go on dates, drink coffee together, see a movie or talk about each other’s days. It’s easy to let the fire sizzle out of a long relationship, but being reminded of the love you share can help heat things up in the bedroom again.