What Is Libido?

Libido is the term used to describe sexual appetite or sex drive. Not only does it vary from person to person, but it can also change from day to day. Factors like your emotional state, hormone levels, and physical health can all affect your sex drive.

With that said, there is no such thing as a "normal" libido. Some people have a "high" libido and others have a "low" libido. A high or low libido is only considered a problem if it interferes with a person's sexual function or quality of life.

This article looks at the causes and symptoms of high and low libido and when they might be considered a problem. It also describes treatment options if you either want to increase your libido or curb an excessive sexual appetite.

Understanding Libido

In psychology, libido is often described as a component of "life instinct" or the "instinctive biological drive" for sex. In medicine, libido can be used to assess a person's sexual function, health concerns, or response to medical treatments.

Libido and sexuality often get confused. In many cultures, people who identify as male are expected to have—and often praised for having—a high sex drive. By contrast, people who identify as female can be judged for having the same sexual appetite or drive.

Whether male or female, the same neural and biochemical pathways are involved in a person's sex drive and appetite. This, in turn, can stimulate sexual arousal, which triggers a physiological response (such as an erect penis or the enlargement of the clitoris and lubrication of the labia).

Overly High Libido

When a person's libido is high, they are more likely to desire sexual intimacy and seek it out with a partner or through masturbation.

Psychological factors that are associated with having a satisfying sex life may also be associated with numerous health benefits, including:

• Less stress
• Better mental health
• Better sleep

There's a discernible difference between a robust libido, which can be a good thing, and one that is too high. A sexual appetite that feels out of control and interferes with daily life is cause for concern. This may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance, neurological disorder, or mood disorder such as hypersexuality.

Symptoms of an Overly High Libido

Your libido is potentially overly high if:

• Your sex life begins to impact your life, relationships, health, and work.
• Sexual desire takes over your thoughts and behavior.
• You use sex to cope with emotional challenges such as depression or anxiety. 
• Your relationships are at risk due to your high sexual appetite. 
• You feel empty or unfulfilled after having sex.

What Causes a High Libido?

In some cases, it may be the sign of an underlying medical cause, such as:

• Excessive levels of the mood-regulating neurochemical dopamine
• Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin
• Certain medications, including recreational drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine 
• A condition such as dementia that affects parts of the brain that influence sexual behavior

How an Overly High Libido Is Treated

Once the cause of overly high libido is determined, the treatment can be targeted to manage the problem.

For example, if a medication is to blame, the dosage may be changed or a different drug prescribed. Likewise, treating an underlying brain disorder can help normalize sexual desire.

Other strategies, including psychotherapy and increased physical activity, may also help.

Low Libido

Low libido is more common than overly high libido and has many more potentially treatable causes.

Symptoms of a Low Libido

There are no clinical criteria for diagnosing low libido. What's more, there is a high degree of variation in how libido is experienced since "normal" can vary from one person to the next.

However, commonly cited symptoms of low libido include:

• Loss of desire for a partner
• Disinterest in masturbation
• Few or no sexual fantasies
• Stress or concern about a lack of interest in sex 

What Causes a Low Libido?

The causes of low libido can be broadly described as psychological (relating to the mind), physiological (relating to the body), pharmaceutical (drug-related), or pathological (related to disease).

Hormone Changes

Hormonal shifts are a common cause of low libido. People of all sexes can experience low libido in response to decreases in the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and, in particular, testosterone.

Males are especially influenced by testosterone as it is also involved in the production of sperm, sexual function, and secondary male characteristics such as facial hair and increased muscle mass.

Very low testosterone—defined as below 300 nanograms per deciliter of blood—is called hypogonadism. It is a relatively common condition given that testosterone levels start to decline after age 30. From age 30 to 60, testosterone levels can drop by 30% or more.

Certain medications (such as opiates) or illegal drugs can also cause hypogonadism or low libido.

Females also can experience a decrease in sexual desire as a result of low testosterone. For most, however, declining estrogen levels that come with age are the central issue.

Other Causes

Other potential causes of low libido include:

• Pain during sex
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Chronic fatigue
• Antidepressants
• Anxiety and depression
• Excessive alcohol use
• Low self-esteem and body image issues
• Smoking
• Recreational drug use
• Pregnancy
• Relationship problems
  

Persistently low libido may be an indication of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), a mood disorder characterized by the persistent lack of sexual desire or sexual fantasies that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. To meet the diagnostic criteria for HSDD, it must also occur in the absence of any known medical cause and not be better accounted for by another mental health disorder.

Treating a Low Libido

The key to effectively treating low libido is identifying the cause. In many cases, a combination of approaches may be necessary to enhance sexual drive.

Lifestyle Changes

Certain habits can contribute to low libidos, such as a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Addressing these issues may improve your sexual energy and interest. This may involve:

• Getting more exercise 
• Following a healthy, nutritious diet
• Managing stress
• Quitting smoking, drug use, or excessive alcohol consumption

Behavioral Therapy

A therapist who specializes in sexual issues and couples therapy can help you and your partner identify the emotional sources of low libido. They can also help you improve communication, resolve underlying problems, and find new ways to improve intimacy. 

Medications

There are only a few medications known to be helpful in enhancing low libido.

• For premenopausal females, these include Addyi (flibanserin) and Vyleesi (bremelanotide). These drugs are not used widely due to limited efficacy and safety concerns.
• For males, erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra (sildenafil) may help increase confidence in those with performance anxiety.

Some natural remedies, including maca root (Lepidium meyenii) and horny goat weed (Epimedium grandiflorum), may also help increase libido.

Summary

Libido describes a person's sex drive and sexual appetite. It can be influenced by a person's physical health, mood, brain function, and hormonal function.

Libido differs from one person to the next, and there is no set definition as to what a "normal" sex drive is.

With that said, if high libido or low libido is causing you distress or interfering with relationships or sexual function, speak with your healthcare provider. Depending on whether the cause is psychological, physical, pathological, or pharmaceutical, there may be treatments that can help.