“Libido, otherwise known as your sexual ‘drive’ or ‘desire’
varies from woman to woman and there is no right
or wrong level. It is normal for desire to fluctuate…”.1
Umbrella
What may the Sexual Health and Libido Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Decreased Libido
- Decreased Sex/Sexual Desire/Drive/Interest
- Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD)
- Female Sexual Interest-Arousal Disorder (FSIAD) [HSDD + Female Sexual Arousal Disorders]
- Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder/Dysfunction (HSDD)
- Lack of Sexual Desire/Drive/Interest
- Libido
- Low Libido
- Low Sex/Sexual Desire/Drive/Interest
- Sex/Sexual Desire/Drive/Interest
Libido
What is libido?
DotS the definition of libido may vary. The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s (JH) definition is:
Low Libido and HSDD
What are low libido and HSDD?
DotS the definition of low libido may vary. The Australasian Menopause Society’s (AMS) definition is:
“Low libido refers to diminished desire for sex. When clinically a problem it is referred to as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD)”.3
Different Differences
Is libido one-size-fits-all?
In Libido: What Is Libido? the JH elaborate on:
Cause
What may cause low libido in women?
In Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“Desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many things affecting intimacy, including physical and emotional well-being, experiences, beliefs, lifestyle, and your current relationship. If you’re experiencing a problem in any of these areas, it can affect your desire for sex”.5
In Libido the JH note:
It is normal for desire to fluctuate perhaps due to changes in hormone levels, medication, your health, lifestyle changes and what’s happening in your relationship and in your life. If your libido level worries you there are a number of things you can do to improve desire. Finding a solution to the problem involves determining what seems to affect your libido and trying strategies to deal with this”.6
In Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause the AMS explain:
“Hormones are rarely the only factor involved in desire-arousal problems and other factors need to be identified and addressed. These might include relationship issues, psychological factors, side effects of common medications, such as antidepressants, or health issues such as diabetes. Women often say that the physical changes that occur with ageing and/or menopause make them feel more self-conscious about their body, particularly in relation to sex. Other changes in a woman’s life, such as a partner’s midlife issues (including erectile dysfunction), teenagers in the house or leaving home, and parents dying or requiring care will affect sexual function”.7
Common or Not
How common is low libido?
The AMS note:
“Low libido is the most common sexual concern reported by women and is often inseparable from diminished capacity to become aroused”.8
Fluctuations
Can libido fluctuate?
In Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“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”.9
Aging
Is there an association between aging and libido?
In Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Ever since my periods stopped, my desire for sex has decreased. Is this normal? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:

Menopause
Is there an association between menopause and libido?
In Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes: Hormone Changes the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

- Menopause. Estrogen levels drop during the transition to menopause. This can make you less interested in sex and cause dry vaginal tissues, resulting in painful or uncomfortable sex. Although many women still have satisfying sex during menopause and beyond, some experience a lagging libido during this hormonal change”.11
Treatment
How may low libido be treated?
The NAMS explain:
“If lack of interest is related to discomfort with intercourse, estrogen may help. What’s important to remember is that there is a full range of psychological, cultural, personal, interpersonal and biological factors that can contribute to declining sexual interest, so if the decline in desire is bothering you, tell your healthcare provider. A clinical evaluation can identify any underlying medical or psychological causes of low sexual desire, which then can be treated as appropriate”.12
In Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
“Most women benefit from a treatment approach aimed at the many causes behind this condition. Recommendations may include sex education, counseling, and sometimes medication and hormone therapy”.13
Menopausal Hormone Therapy
Is menopausal hormone therapy used to treat low libido?
In Looking After Yourself: Sex and Relationships – Managing Low Libido the JH note:
Testosterone
Is testosterone used to treat low libido?
In Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:
- “Testosterone. The male hormone testosterone plays an important role in female sexual function, even though testosterone occurs in much lower amounts in women. Testosterone isn’t approved by the FDA for sexual dysfunction in women, but sometimes it’s prescribed off-label to help lift a lagging libido. The use of testosterone in women is controversial. Taking it can cause acne, excess body hair, and mood or personality changes”.15
BMS Statement on Testosterone, 02 March 2023
What does the BMS Statement on Testosterone, 02 March 2023, elaborate on about the use of testosterone to treat low libido?
The BMS Statement on Testosterone elaborates on:
Levels of testosterone in women decline between the ages of 20 and 40. By menopause the levels have plateaued out and are stable. Testosterone is produced by the adrenal glands and the ovaries in peri and post-menopausal women. Testosterone is not the third component of HRT and promoting misinformation is creating unrealistic expectations for women, some of whom have challenging social circumstances. Managing women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, necessitates a biopsychosocial approach. It is important to consider contributory factors which include vulvovaginal atrophy and relationship issues”.16
Testosterone Podcasts/Videos
Where may I find Links related to a testosterone podcasts/videos?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Health Care Provider
What if I have low libido?
If you have low libido, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.
In Libido: Managing & Treating Low Libido – Seek Advice the JH elaborate on:
- Treatment for any underlying illness or medical condition
- Lifestyle changes and stress management
- Herbal remedies (see an accredited naturopath)
- Hormone therapy (if appropriate)
- Medication changes
- Antidepressants (certain antidepressants may be more suitable, others can reduce libido)
- Stress management
- Couples counselling
- Counselling with a therapist who specialised in sexual concerns”.17
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Sexual Health and Libido?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Sexual Health and Libido?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.New or Updated
- Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
- BMS Statement on Testosterone
- Causes of Low Libido In Postmenopausal Women [Video]
- Coalition Issues International Consensus on Testosterone Treatment for Women
- Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
- Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences
- FDA Approves New Treatment for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Premenopausal Women [Food and Drug Administration, United States]
- Global Consensus Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women
- How Do I Deal With Vaginal Atrophy? — Ask Dr Jean
- International Consensus on Testosterone Treatment for Women
- International Society for Sexual Medicine: Public
- International Society for Sexual Medicine: Sexual Health Topics
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health Clinical Practice Guideline for the Use of Systemic Testosterone for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder In Women
- International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health: Find A Provider
- Intimate Partner Violence
- Is There An Equivalent of Viagra for Women?
- Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
- Libido
- Libido: Managing & Treating Low Libido
- Libido: The Highs and Lows of Midlife
- Libido: What Affects Your Libido?
- Looking After Yourself
- Loss of Libido (Reduced Sex Drive)
- Loss of Libido (Reduced Sex Drive): Where To Get Help and Advice
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes
- Many Older Women Have Active Sex Lives, But Menopause Can Interfere
- Menopause
- Menopause
- Menopause & Herbs: Low Libido (Sex Drive)
- Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. How can I counteract vaginal dryness during menopause?
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Ever since my periods stopped, my desire for sex has decreased. Is this normal?
- Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
- Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
- Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
- Menopause Ruining Your Sex Life?
- Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
- Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
- Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
- Menopause – Information for Partners – Fact Sheet
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
- Natural Therapies & Supplements
- Navigating Menopause Together: How Partners Can Help
- Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
- Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health
Patty Brisben Foundation for Women’s Sexual Health: Guide To Sexual Health Providers
- Relationships
- Relationships: Relationships & Libido
- Relationships: Relationships & Painful Sex
- Sex & Intimacy After Cancer
- Sex & Sexual Health
- Sex and Menopause: Treatment for Symptoms
- Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause: Testosterone
- Sexual Functioning In 4,418 Postmenopausal Women Participating In UKCTOCS: A Qualitative Free-Text Analysis [United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening]
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Health Conditions
- Sexual Health: Expert Answers – Is loss of sex drive normal as men get older?
- Sexuality: Management & Treatment of Sexual Problems
- Steps Your Partner Can Take
- Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
- Testosterone Explained – BMS TV
- Testosterone Replacement In Menopause: 2. What Is Its Role In Women?
- Testosterone Therapy In Women: Does It Boost Sex Drive?
- Testosterone for Women: Why Use Testosterone?
- The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Testosterone May Significantly Improve Sexual Function and Sexual Wellbeing In Postmenopausal Women
- Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
- Top Tips for Talking To Your Doctor
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Urogenital Problems
- Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
- Vaginal & Vulval Pain: Know the Different Causes and When To Seek Help
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness
- Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
- Video Series-2021: Female Urinary and Bladder Issues At Midlife
- Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
- Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
- Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
- Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Is Testosterone the Answer To Low Libido?
- Violence Prevention: Sexual Violence [+ Video: What Is Sexual Violence?]
- Vulva & Vaginal Irritation: Management & Treatment [+Video]
- Vulvovaginal Health
- Webinars: Previous – Lessons From the Global Consensus on Testosterone for Women
- Webinars: Previous – Sexual Health Issues in Menopause
- “We’re Just Tired”: Influences on Sexual Activity Among Male-Partnered Women In Midlife; A Mixed Method Study
- What Everyone Should Know About Menopause Symptoms
- What Happens If A Woman Takes Viagra?
- What Help Is Available for Low Sex Drive in Women?
- What Is Vulvodynia?
- When Sex Is Painful
- Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
- Women’s Sexual Health: Talking About Your Sexual Needs
- Yes, You Can Have Better Sex In Midlife and In the Years Beyond
- Your Sexual Health
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Libido. Last Updated: 01 September 2022 | Topic Updated: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/libido Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Libido. Last Updated: 01 September 2022 | Topic Updated: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/libido Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause. Content Created March 2021. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/722-sexual-difficulties-in-the-menopause Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Libido: What Is Libido? Last Updated: 01 September 2022 | Topic Updated: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/libido Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 24 February 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sex-drive-in-women/symptoms-causes/syc-20374554 Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Libido. Last Updated: 01 September 2022 | Topic Updated: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/libido Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause. Content Created March 2021. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/722-sexual-difficulties-in-the-menopause Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Sexual Difficulties In the Menopause. Content Created March 2021. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/722-sexual-difficulties-in-the-menopause Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 24 February 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sex-drive-in-women/symptoms-causes/syc-20374554 Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Ever since my periods stopped, my desire for sex has decreased. Is this normal? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Symptoms & Causes – Causes: Hormone Changes. 24 February 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sex-drive-in-women/symptoms-causes/syc-20374554 Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment: Hormone Therapy. 24 February 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sex-drive-in-women/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374561 Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause – Q. Ever since my periods stopped, my desire for sex has decreased. Is this normal? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-your-health-after-menopause Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Looking After Yourself: Sex and Relationships – Managing Low Libido. Last Updated: 02 March 2023 | Topic Updated: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself#sex-and-relationships Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Low Sex Drive In Women: Diagnosis & Treatment – Treatment. 24 February 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/low-sex-drive-in-women/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374561 Accessed: 07 March 2023
- BMS Statement on Testosterone. 01 March 2023. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/2023/03/bms-statement-on-testosterone/ Accessed: 07 March 2023
- Libido: Managing & Treating Low Libido – Seek Advice. Last Updated: 01 September 2022 | Topic Updated: 02 December 2013. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/sex-sexual-health/libido Accessed: 07 March 2023