It is perfectly normal to temporarily lose interest in sex after a major life event such as the birth of a child or surgery affecting the reproductive system. Marla Ahlgrimm asserts that many women also lose their desire due to exhaustion and fatigue from caring for young children. Lifestyle habits, such as excessive alcohol intake and smoking, can spoil a sex drive as can certain antidepressants and other prescription medications.
For some women, an inability to achieve orgasm can hamper their sexual desire. Arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease are also known to reduce a woman’s amorous feelings. A lackadaisical libido may be the result of psychological causes including stress, low self-esteem, prior negative sexual experiences, or depression. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that women with relationship issues that include poor communication or prior infidelity may also experience a decreased sexual appetite.
Marla Ahlgrimm reports that many women experience a lower sex drive close to menopause. During menopause, it is not uncommon for women to have issues maintaining the right moisture levels to engage in sexual activity. This may be resolved naturally over time or with the use of hormone therapies and over-the-counter lubricants. Other sexual desire issues should be addressed with both the woman’s partner and primary health care provider.
Women often suffer in silence, as sex is frequently considered a taboo subject in polite society. However, a prolonged lack of intimacy can create problems for a woman’s relationship with her partner and lead to even more stress, which will do nothing but perpetuate and compound the problem. Marla Ahlgrimm assures women that there is nothing to be ashamed of and that a satisfactory sex life is one important factor in living a healthy and active life, regardless of age.
