Home » How To Decrease Libido? 6 Best Ways to Lower Sex Drive

How To Decrease Libido? 6 Best Ways to Lower Sex Drive

How To Decrease Libido

Sexual desire, known as libido, could bring great satisfaction during intimate moments with your partner. However, when your libido is too high, it might get in the way of everyday tasks, leaving you feeling physically and mentally drained.

It's important to understand how you feel about sex. While a high sex drive can enhance relationships, it can also create problems in your everyday lives.

In this article, I will discuss simple ways to decrease your sex drive. I also explain how hormones, emotions, and lifestyle adjustments could be effective in managing an increased sex drive.

This article also explains how you could easily find a balance in your desire for sex and manage

overwhelming feelings.

What Is Sex Drive?

Sex drive, or libido, represents your innate desire for sexual activity rooted in the fundamental biological urge for reproduction. It is a normal feeling experienced by everyone, regardless of your intention to reproduce.

Libido levels could vary, ranging from no desire for sex to a frequent urge for sexual activity. Having a high sex drive is not inherently problematic, but you may feel decreasing it once it starts to interfere with various aspects of your life.

How To Decrease Libido

Factors That Affect Libido Levels

  1. Psychological Factors

    Psychological aspects like self-esteem, mental health conditions, relationship dynamics, and sexual confidence could significantly contribute to fluctuating libido levels.

    Self-esteem indicates how you perceive yourself in intimate situations, impacting your level of sexual desire.

    Mental health conditions like anxiety, trauma, and depression can profoundly affect libido, leading to fluctuations in sexual interest.

    Relationship dynamics, including communication issues, trust, and emotional connection, may either enhance or diminish your sex drive.

    Feelings of sexual confidence and body image could influence your willingness to engage in sexual activities.

  2. Biological Factors

    Testosterone and estrogen hormones may help determine sex drive, and a decline in their level over time could affect your sexual health.

    Alongside these hormones, neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin may also regulate libido.

    Here are three points you should consider regarding the biological factors affecting libido:

    • Hormone Levels: Testosterone and estrogen are the primary hormones influencing libido, with testosterone mainly impacting sexual desire in men and estrogen in women's libido. As you age, these hormones could naturally decrease, potentially leading to changes in sex drive.
    • Neurotransmitter Regulation: Dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin could also help regulate libido by influencing mood, pleasure, and bonding. Medications that alter the levels of these neurotransmitters may impact sexual desire, leading to fluctuations in libido.
    • Medication Influence: Certain medications like antidepressants could directly affect hormone levels or neurotransmitter activity, consequently impacting libido. You may experience changes in your sex drive if you are taking these medications, highlighting the relationship between biological factors and sexual desire.
  3. Social Factors

    Social factors, such as family dynamics and relationship changes, could significantly impact your sex drive.

    Here are three ways in which social factors can affect libido:

    • Family Changes: Events such as welcoming a new family member or dealing with changes in family dynamics could alter the intimate atmosphere within a household. The stress and adjustments that accompany such changes might lead to shifts in sexual desire.
    • Relationship Changes: Transitioning into a new relationship phase, such as moving in together or getting married, might bring fluctuations in sex drive.
    • Cultural Norms: Societal expectations and cultural criteria regarding sexual behavior could influence your perception of your libido. These norms may shape beliefs about what is considered acceptable or desirable in terms of sexual activity, potentially affecting your willingness to engage in intimate encounters.

Signs Of High Libido Levels

Recognizing high libido signs is crucial. It's essential to seek support and intervention when your sex drive starts to impact your health and relationships negatively.

Signs of High Libido Levels
Increased sex drive interferes with your work, school, social life, sleep, or health.
It starts affecting your mental health.
Feeling unsatisfied no matter how much sexual activity you have.
Sex drive consistently affects the quality of your relationships.
Feeling ashamed of your sex drive or sexual activity.
Finding it difficult to reduce sexual activity or desire.
Engaging in dangerous or impulsive sexual activity to satisfy your desires.

Best Ways To Lower Libido Levels

  1. Stop Drug Use

    Drugs like prescription amphetamines, methamphetamine, and cocaine may increase your sex drive. They could heighten your libido and also lower your inhibitions, potentially leading to engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

    Stopping drug or alcohol use may temporarily decrease your sex drive, often as part of post-acute withdrawal syndrome. It may also happen due to certain medications used to manage drug cravings.

    If you are concerned about the impact of stopping drug use on your libido, it is advisable to speak with your doctor or psychiatrist. They can guide managing these changes and any potential side effects.

  2. Try Talking Therapy

    Talking therapy, psychotherapy, or counseling offers a safe and confidential space for you to discuss concerns related to your libido with a trained professional. It could help you identify underlying factors contributing to their high sex drive, such as past experiences, relationship dynamics, or mental health issues.

    Through open and honest conversations with a therapist, you can gain a better understanding of your sexual desires and explore healthy ways to address any challenges you may be facing.

    Talking therapy might assist you in setting realistic goals for managing your libido and enhancing overall health.

  3. Dietary Changes

    Aphrodisiacs may increase libido, while anaphrodisiacs could help lower sex drive. Consuming alcohol could interfere with brain-genital communication, causing a decrease in sex drive over time. Certain foods such as licorice, soy, red meat, fried foods, coffee, and chocolate could potentially decrease libido. However, their impact on sex drive could vary.

  4. Stop Watching Porn

    Research suggests that prolonged and excessive porn consumption can lead to issues like porn-induced erectile dysfunction, which can significantly affect your libido.

    Setting boundaries around porn use, such as limiting the type and frequency, may help you understand the impact it has on your sex drive.

  5. Consider Couples Sex Therapy

    • Open Communication: Couples sex therapy may provide a safe space for partners to discuss their sexual desires, concerns, and values openly. Through guided conversations, couples could better understand each other's perspectives to improve their intimacy and connection.
    • Exploration of Intimacy: Sex therapy may allow couples to explore various aspects of intimacy beyond physical satisfaction. It may help create emotional connection, trust-building, and overall relationship satisfaction. Couples could promote a deeper bond and mutual understanding by addressing both sexual and emotional problems simultaneously.
    • Collaborative Goal Setting: Couples sex therapy involves setting collaborative goals that focus on mutual pleasure and satisfaction. Therapists may help couples identify areas of improvement, establish realistic objectives, and develop strategies to enhance sexual compatibility.
  6. Define Your Goals

    Deciding on specific goals will help you measure your progress. Talk to your partner about limiting the frequency of sexual activity, reducing the time spent on sexual behaviors, and achieving a certain number of days without engaging in activities that increase libido.

Tips For Healthy Sex Drive

  • Engage in a Relaxing Activity Before Sex
  • Communicate Your Desires
  • Discuss Boundaries
  • Ask Questions
  • Consult a Sex Therapist

When to Seek Professional Help?

  • If changes in your sex drive are creating distress or discomfort in your life.
  • Engaging in compulsive sexual behaviors that disrupt your daily life or relationships.
  • If managing sex drive through self-help methods has been inadequate.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can High Libido Be a Symptom of a Medical Condition?
    High libido could indeed be a symptom of various medical conditions, including hormonal imbalances, hyperthyroidism, bipolar disorder, or certain medications. Consulting a sexual health specialist for proper evaluation is essential for addressing underlying health concerns.
  • How Do Cultural Norms Impact Anyone's Libido Levels?
    Cultural norms help in shaping libido levels by influencing attitudes towards sex, relationships, and societal expectations. Understanding these norms is essential in comprehending variations in sexual desire among different cultural groups and people.
  • Can Hormonal Contraceptives Affect Libido in Women?
    Hormonal contraceptives might impact women's libido due to hormonal changes they cause. Estrogen and progestin levels in contraceptives could affect sexual desire differently. Consulting a healthcare provider for personalized advice is recommended while taking contraceptives.
  • Is There a Connection Between Sleep Patterns and Sex Drive?
    Sleep patterns could influence sex drive. Adequate rest may support hormonal balance and energy levels, impacting libido. Disrupted sleep might lead to a decreased desire for sex due to fatigue and hormonal imbalances. Thus, maintaining healthy sleep habits is essential for a robust sex drive.
  • What Role Does Self-Esteem Play in Determining Libido Levels?
    Self-esteem may influence libido levels by shaping one's self-perception, confidence, and comfort with intimacy. Positive self-esteem often correlates with higher sexual desire, while low self-esteem may hinder arousal and sexual satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of self-worth in sexual experiences.

Conclusion

Having a higher appetite for sexual intimacy is normal as long as it does not affect your daily routine and other aspects of life.

When managing libido levels, addressing both biological and psychological factors impacting your sexual desire is crucial.

Seeking guidance from healthcare experts, engaging in stress-reducing activities, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and considering therapeutic approaches could all contribute to decreasing libido effectively.

Talking to a sexologist may help you tackle the difficulties you are facing with your partner due to heightened levels of libido. They may assist you with your thoughts and feelings to promote a healthy, intimate life.

You can also seek therapy to learn effective techniques for managing sexual urges, develop coping strategies, and improve communication within intimate relationships.

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This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).