While many people consider maintaining a strong sex drive to be an end in and of itself, it’s true that an excessively low sex drive should raise concerns for more reasons than the simple fact that sex is commonly considered to be an integral part of a relationship. The sex drive is a human response that is deeply ingrained in our beings and often offers important insights into an individual’s overall health.
A Lagging Libido
If you feel that your sex drive or the sex drive of your partner is not quite what it should be, you might want to analyze the issue a bit to make certain that there is not a severe health problem that you should be aware of or a potentially severe health problem in the process of developing.
A weak sex drive can be a sign of problems that are not related to a relationship, but to the underlying health of a individual. Sexual problems in a relationship can be almost as severe as financial problems necessitating cash advances online approval or fidelity issues. In fact, a low sex drive is the sign of a variety of different health concerns, and in general a strong sex drive tends to be indicative strong overall health.
Health Conditions Indicated by a Libido Deficiency
Below is a list of health considerations that can be indicated by low sex drive in a patient. However, this is by no means a comprehensive list. There are a variety of other conditions that could be implicated in a case of low libido in a patient.
- An underactive thyroid- in addition to causing an overall reduction in sex drive, an underactive thyroid can give rise to a variety of complications. These include hair loss, hormonal imbalances, and slow metabolism. The chances of developing an underactive thyroid increase as one ages, so it is important to have levels tested at regular doctor checkups as one grows older.
- Diabetes- Diabetes can cause women in particular very cumbersome sexual issues. Having diabetes can make it more difficult for a woman to become aroused, lubricated, and reach orgasm during sexual encounters. An inability to reach orgasm causes many women with diabetes to lose interest in sex or to become embarrassed about their libido issues.
- Depression- Not only can suffering from depression reduce sex drive, but also a common side effect of many medications that fight depression is a reduction in libido. Those who are being treated for depression who develop decreased interest in sex should consider having their prescription changed to a medication with less severe side effects.
- Low testosterone levels- In both men and women, testosterone levels incite sex drive. If the testosterone levels are low in either a man or a woman, he or she will suffer from a lack of libido. While the lack of libido might simply cause relationship complications, low testosterone levels could be a sign of an underlying condition and could give rise to health conditions if left unchecked. In men, low testosterone could be related to heart disease and diabetes.
- Heart disease- A study recently conducted in Australia showed a clear link between heart disease and erectile dysfunction. According to the study, erectile dysfunction could be an indicator of underlying heart problems even in men from families without a history of cardiovascular issues. The scope of the issues was even proven to be related in this study. While men with mild erectile dysfunction tended to show minor cardiovascular issues, those with severe trouble in achieving and maintaining an erection tended to have a 60 percent increased risk of coronary artery disease.
- Obesity- Being overweight has drastic consequences on a variety of different health factors, and sex life is one of the major factors that can be strongly impacted in a negative way by obesity. Of course, just the fact that an overweight individual might have trouble feeling or appearing attractive to others in certain circumstances can hinder sexual activity for the obese. In addition, obesity often contributes to the development of diabetes- a health condition described above as hampering libido- and causes arteries in the penis to shut down, increasing the chances of developing erectile dysfunction.
Dealing with Libido/Health Issues
Optimal overall health is demonstrated by an overall vigor in all pursuits and activities. Sex is no exception. If you are as healthy as you could be, you are likely to have a strong, robust libido and considerable energy reserves that make it so that you frequently experience sexual urges.
Sexual stamina, performance, and endurance are all improved by strong overall health, and simply getting in shape can do wonders for a lagging sex life. Having a satisfying sex life is frequently important in maintaining a strong relationship with your partner, and it’s important to realize that no matter how long you’ve been together with a partner or spouse, your sex life should never falter if both of you remain healthy.