Key takeaways:
Low libido (low sex drive) is common in both men and women.
Many things can cause low libido, including mental and physical health problems, stress, relationship challenges, hormones, and medications.
If you’re dealing with low libido — and it bothers you — treatment can help. Options include lifestyle changes, medications, therapy, and more.
It’s normal for your sex drive to change over time. But if your interest in sex has dropped — and it’s bothering you — you may be dealing with low libido.
Let’s take a closer look at what it means to have a low sex drive, what causes it, and what types of treatments can help.
What is low libido?
Simply put, low libido means having little to no interest in sex.
Some people naturally have a low sex drive, and that’s perfectly fine. After all, there’s no such thing as a “normal” sex drive. It’s also OK to have a different libido from your partner. That in itself doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
Low libido is only considered a problem if it bothers you. For some people, having a low libido leaves them feeling stressed or unhappy. It’s a common sexual problem for many people, especially older adults.
What causes low libido?
Low libido is often caused by a combination of things. This is because your sex drive is affected by many different physical, emotional, and relationship factors.
Causes of low libido can include:
Emotional and mental health challenges (like stress, depression, or anxiety)
Relationship factors (including past sexual experiences or past trauma)
Low self-esteem and body image
Chronic health conditions or hormonal changes
Lifestyle factors (like alcohol use, lack of exercise, or poor sleep)
What hormone deficiencies are linked to low libido?
Your hormones play a big role in your sexual health. Hormonal changes are a common cause of low libido, especially during certain life stages and transitions, like menopause.
Conditions that may be linked to a lower sex drive include:
Low testosterone
What are the signs of low libido?
Low libido can look different from person to person. Here are some things you might notice:
You have little (or no) interest in any type of sexual activity.
You don’t have many sexual thoughts or fantasies.
You have a hard time getting “turned on” during sex.
You feel frustrated or unhappy about your lack of sexual desire.
You’re having problems in your relationship because of your low sex drive.
You try to avoid having sex, or only have sex to make your partner happy.
Again, remember that low libido is only considered a problem if it bothers you. It’s normal for different people to have different sex drives, including having little to no sex drive.
Quiz: Am I Asexual?
What can you do about low libido?
The best way to start treating low libido is to understand what’s causing it. Here are some of the options available, depending on the cause.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can improve your physical health and give your libido a boost, too. Strategies include:
Getting regular exercise
Getting enough good-quality sleep at night
Keeping your stress under control
Cutting down on alcohol
Maintaining a healthy weight
Eating nutritious foods
Making changes in your sex life
Therapy
Therapy can also help with low libido. It’s a good way to understand and manage your feelings about sex. It can also help you learn to communicate well with your sexual partner(s).
Options for therapy for low libido include:
Mindfulness-based therapy
Physical therapy
Pelvic floor physical therapy may also be helpful for both men and women with low libido. This is a special type of physical therapy that can relieve pain and improve functioning. This can potentially help treat many types of sexual problems, including a low sex drive.
Making changes to your medications
If a medication is causing your low libido, making a change can go a long way. Your prescriber can help you decide on the best next step. This might include:
Adjusting the dose of your medication
Switching to a different medication
Adding another medication to help boost your libido
Medications for women
Medications are an option for some people, but they’re not the right fit for everyone. There are a few medications available for women with low libido, including:
Flibanserin (Addyi): Addyi is an FDA-approved pill for premenopausal and postmenopausal women under 65 with low libido. Keep in mind that it can be risky to combine with alcohol, since this can lead to severe low blood pressure and fainting.
Bremelanotide (Vyleesi): Vyleesi is an FDA-approved injection for premenopausal women with low libido.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin): Bupropion is an antidepressant that’s used off-label to boost sexual desire. It’s also sometimes used to help manage the sexual side effects of antidepressants, like SSRIs and SNRIs.
Vaginal estrogen: This is a type of menopausal hormone therapy for women. It doesn’t directly treat low libido, but it can reduce vaginal dryness and pain during sex. And this can potentially make sex more pleasurable and appealing.
Testosterone: Testosterone is sometimes used off-label in postmenopausal women with low sexual desire.
Medications for men
In specific situations, medications can help men with low sexual desire, too. These include:
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT): TRT may help improve sex drive in men who’ve been diagnosed with low testosterone by a doctor.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) medication: Though ED medications don’t directly boost your libido, they can increase your confidence — and reduce your anxiety — around sex.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin): Just like how it's used for women, bupropion can sometimes be used off-label in men to help increase sex drive or to manage sexual side effects from antidepressants.
When should you talk to a doctor about low libido?
It’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional if you’re bothered by low libido and:
You’ve been dealing with a low sex drive for longer than 6 months.
Your low libido is causing problems in your personal life or in your relationships.
You suspect that your low libido might be a medication side effect or a hormone problem.
You have other symptoms, like mood changes, low energy, or erection problems.
You have other mental or physical health conditions that could be affecting your sex life, like depression, diabetes, or heart disease.
If you feel shy about bringing up your sex life to their doctor, remember, your sexual health is part of your overall health. Low libido is very common, and healthcare professionals are used to talking about it. Your doctor can help you figure out what’s causing your low libido and put together a treatment plan that’s a good fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no single “quick fix” for a low libido. That’s why it’s important to check in with a healthcare professional and figure out what might be the cause. This can help you get started with the right treatment, and take the first steps toward getting your libido back on track.
It’s possible for birth control to impact libido, but it doesn’t happen to everyone. There’s some evidence that hormonal birth control (like the pill, patch, or ring) might lower sexual desire in some women.
If you think birth control might be affecting your libido, talk to your prescriber. They may suggest switching you to a different pill or to a non-hormonal method (like a copper IUD).
Yes, low libido is a well-known side effect of many antidepressants, including SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications can also cause other sexual problems, like erectile dysfunction or trouble with orgasm.
There’s no single “quick fix” for a low libido. That’s why it’s important to check in with a healthcare professional and figure out what might be the cause. This can help you get started with the right treatment, and take the first steps toward getting your libido back on track.
It’s possible for birth control to impact libido, but it doesn’t happen to everyone. There’s some evidence that hormonal birth control (like the pill, patch, or ring) might lower sexual desire in some women.
If you think birth control might be affecting your libido, talk to your prescriber. They may suggest switching you to a different pill or to a non-hormonal method (like a copper IUD).
Yes, low libido is a well-known side effect of many antidepressants, including SSRIs and SNRIs. These medications can also cause other sexual problems, like erectile dysfunction or trouble with orgasm.
The bottom line
Low libido is very common, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It can be caused by many different factors, including stress, mental and physical health problems, hormone changes, and more. The good news is that if your low libido feels like a problem, treatment can help. There are a range of options, including lifestyle changes, therapy, medications, and hormone treatments.
If low libido is bothering you, talk to a healthcare professional to learn more. They can help you understand what’s causing your low sexual desire and help you put together a plan for making your sex life feel more authentic and satisfying again.
Why trust our experts?
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Practice Bulletins—Gynecology. (2019). ACOG practice bulletin no. 213: Female sexual dysfunction. Obstetrics and Gynecology.
David, K., et al. (2024). Impact of hyperprolactinemia on sexual function. The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Gabrielson, A. T., et al. (2018). The impact of thyroid disease on sexual dysfunction in men and women. Sexual Medicine Reviews.
Hasenmajer, V., et al. (2024). Exploring sexual function in adrenal insufficiency: Findings from the Dual RElease hydrocortisone versus conventionAl glucocorticoid replaceMent therapy in hypocortisolism (DREAM) trial. Andrology.
Jorge, C. H., et al. (2024). Pelvic floor muscle training as treatment for female sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Montejo, A. L., et al. (2019). Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: A clinical approach. Journal of Clinical Medicine.
National Council on Aging. (2024). Why do older adults lose their libido?
National Health Service. (2022). Low sex drive (loss of libido).
Planned Parenthood. (2025). I'm on the pill, and I've noticed a drop in my sex drive. What should I do?
Sahin, E., et al. (2025). Pelvic physical therapy for male sexual disorders: A narrative review. International Journal of Impotence Research.
The Menopause Society. (2026). Menopause and sexual function.
