Having a low sex drive is more common than you think. In fact, about 30% of women complain of low libido as do 15% of men. A decrease in libido can happen at any time and for a number of reasons, but of course it does also naturally decrease with age.
Why does it happen?
In men, testosterone levels naturally decrease with each year of age, from around 30, causing a gradual decline in libido. Women’s levels also start to decrease from as young as mid-20s all the way through to menopause, where testosterone levels drop even further – and with it, sex drive.
But aging isn’t the only reason why a man or a woman might be experiencing a lack of desire. Certain medications can impact libido such as medication for depression or birth control. Depression itself also has a negative effect when it comes to intimacy, as can anxiety and stress. Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can lead to very low testosterone levels. Being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, drug use and not doing enough exercise all contribute towards low libido. For women, there are sometimes additional emotional factors such as not feeling connected with their partner and other relationship issues. Thyroid problems can also impact libido in a woman.
5 ways to boost libido yourself
The good news is that you can take matters into your own hands. There are many things you can do to give your libido a boost through a few simple lifestyle changes.
- Boost your self confidence
To be sexy, you have to feel sexy. If you’re not feeling confident with your body you might be less inclined to feel positive towards sex and intimacy. Do what you need to do in order to feel more confident with your own body. Many find that exercise really helps improve self-esteem, both due to the mental and physical effects it has, and it’s really a great way to feel good about yourself. You may also want to try yoga, dancing or another hobby or activity that gives you self confidence. The best thing you can do is shift your focus from your body to actually enjoying sex and your partner.
- Make sex a priority
Our lives are so busy with work, family, stress, bills and more. But if you want to improve your sex life, you need to actually make room in your life for sex. It might not sound like the most romantic thing in the world, but setting aside a specific time to have sex with your partner is one of the best ways of assuring that it will actually happen. It’s so much easier to binge in front of the TV and relax after a long day, but try to have sex at the first possible moment when you’re both home before doing anything else. Make it a priority. The more sex you have, the more you’ll want.
- Get enough sleep
It’s hard to get it on if you’re feeling completely exhausted. Try to get earlier nights, fit in a nap and eat a healthier diet to give your body the extra energy it needs for love. High protein, low carbs and low sugar will work best.
- Exercise
Exercise is important for so many reasons from a health point of view. But you might be more inspired to make the effort if you know it will help your sex drive too. Exercise gives us self-confidence and helps us to keep in touch with our bodies. Exercise also does wonders for energy levels and will help build stamina which is a great thing to have in the bedroom.
- Eat clean
A lot of people will advise eating avocados, broccoli, iron-rich foods, etc. While these might be good for your diet, don’t expect them to work as an instant aphrodisiac. It will probably have little, if any, effect. Chocolate can be pleasurable to eat and so might work better depending on your taste. In any case, eating healthier foods will give your body extra energy and keep you away from health issues. Stay away from fried foods, high-sodium foods, processed foods, sugar, caffeine and alcohol. These foods can affect sexual performance.
Do you have any tips that have helped you boost your sex drive? Let us know in the comments below!