What causes low sex drive in a person?

Have you or your partner ever experienced having lower sex drive? In an episode of “Pinoy MD,” psychiatrist Dr. Joan Mae Rifareal said low or no sex drive at all may always be caused by an “interplay” of factors. 

“Kasama na yung mind — psychological, emotional. Physical also, the body. Another is mga medications na iniinom ng individuals [and] yung quality ng kanilang relationship,” she said.

Two huge factors that determine a person's sex drive are stress and hormones. Look at how they affect each other: When you're stressed, cortisol aka the primary stress hormone increases, which then causes serotonin, or the happy hormones, to go lower.

Lower serotonin levels also affect the dopamine or pleasure chemicals as well as oxytocin aka the love hormone.

When all these are down, expect your sex drive to go down.

“Malaking impact ‘yon sa sexuality kasi pati po yung interes sa pakikipag-siping or pakikipag-talik po or to engage in something intimate with a partner, naaapektuhan ‘cause bagsak lahat,” Rifareal said.

It's normal for both males and females to experience having low libido at times. For women, this usually happens after giving birth; the complete opposite of their very high sex drives during pregnancy, said obstetrician Dr. Christopher Soriano.

“Wala na yung source ng hormone na estrogen specifically," Soriano said. "‘Pag wala na ‘yon, nagsisimula na ang pag-tuyot ng pwerta ng pasyente tapos no’n, magsisimula na rin ang breastfeeding."

Drinking contraceptives, which prevents ovulation, is yet another factor for low sex drives among women.

For men, meanwhile, urologist Dr. Romeo Romero said the most common reason for low libido is having sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction

According to Romero, experts don't recommend drinking health supplements that promise higher libido.

“We don’t give testosterone or libido boosters dahil marami itong kasamang mga medical side effects na hindi rin desirable,” he said.

How to increase sex drive naturally?

According to Rifareal, one’s libido can be boosted through a lifestyle change. Why not try meditating to reduce your cortisol (stress hormones)? Working out is another recommended activity as it can one’s energy or mood and is known to boost serotinin (happy hormones).

She added improving the quality of a relationship by doing little acts of love that does not necessarily involve sexual activity.

“We can be more creative. Hindi naman nasusukat ang relationship sa frequency ng pagtatalik o sexual activity. Nabu-boost po ang oxytocin o love hormone kahit po sa hugging and physical touch,” she said.

Communicating is also important, Rifareal said. It can even be done while partners are being intimate.

“During the act itself po, sa kanilang sexual intimacy, mas maganda na pag-usapan nila kung ano yung makakatulong para pareho silang mag-enjoy at maging pleasurable ang experience sa pareho.”

Partners can also always visit doctors if they ever need professional help. — LA, GMA News