Diagnosing Low Libido!

Diagnosing Low Libido

The key to establishing low libido is how you feel about your level of sexual desire If you’re not happy with the level of sexualdesire you’re feeling, talk about it with your doctor. 

There are three areas of your health that could affect libido and that your doctor will explore to diagnose the problem:

Low Libido Factor No. 1:

• Physical Health A physical exam is needed because medical conditions like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic diseases can lead to a decreased libido in men or women One patient with the digestive disorder celiac disease felt discomfort during sexbecause of pressure on her inflamed colon.
• Sex-specific problems, Any vaginal pain during sex is both abnormal and can affect libido, and should be evaluated by your doctor. Female patients will be asked about any vaginal discharge, which could be a sign of infection that may, in turn, cause low libido.
• Antidepressants, birth control pills, and even antihistamines can cause low libido.

sexual dysfunctionLow Libido Factor No. 2:

• Relationship and Emotional Concerns The following can all dampen sex drive:·        
• Relationship problems·        
• Stress — a huge libido-buster·        
• Depression·       
•  Anxiety Body image and self-image can also play a role. 
• Some women with children have a hard time being a mother during the day and a sexual being at night.

Low Libido Factor No. 3:

• Hormone Levels Research has found that men who have higher free testosterone levels (the amount of testosterone that’s circulating in the blood) have a higher sex drive. 
• free testosterone has a significant impact on both sex drive and erectile function.Hormone levels in women, especially when they decline during menopause, are notorious for wreaking havoc on sex drive. 
• Lower estrogen levels after menopause in and of themselves can cause dryness andvaginal pain, which can lead to low libido.  also asks her patients if they’re experiencing hot flashes and sleep problems due to menopause. If so, the resulting chronic fatigue could be the root cause of low libido.
•  blood tests to check a patient’s levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone.

 Assessing Low Libido-

Perhaps the most important point your doctor should know is if you have always had low libido or if it is a new problem. If you’ve always had a low level of sexual desire, you may have a sexual dysfunction called hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Doctors will rule out other causes such as depression, hormone changes, and medical conditions before diagnosing thissexual dysfunction.