Sexual desires and libidos naturally fluctuate over time. The highs and lows of your sex drive may coincide with various milestones in your life, such as the beginning of a relationship, the end of a relationship, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, aging, mental health conditions, career changes, and much more. That’s because your libido can be affected by numerous factors. Everything you do and feel leads to hormonal changes within your body, which can regulate your sex drive.
Your libido may fluctuate because of natural lifestyle changes. But you may also have a low sex drive because of certain medications, underlying health conditions, mental health factors, and the stresses of daily life. If you and your partner have mismatched libidos because of your low sex drive, you should ideally communicate with your partner. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a low sex drive, and it doesn’t necessarily mean your relationship is weaker.
This article describes how you can deal with a low sex drive or boost your libido.
1. Experiment with dietary and nutritional changes
You need a healthy blood flow in your genitals to feel sexually energized. Certain libido-boosting foods, such as figs, avocados, and bananas, can improve blood circulation and enhance the level of essential vitamins and minerals in your body. If you’re suffering from low libido, you can increase your intake of aphrodisiacs to see if your sex drive improves. The effect of aphrodisiacs on sex drive isn’t widely studied, but there’s absolutely no harm in eating delicious and healthy fruits.
2. Luxuriate in chocolates to boost your sex drive
Throughout history, chocolate has been viewed as incredibly sensual. Not only are they delicious, but they’re also said to improve sex drive. Chocolate encourages your body to release serotonin and phenethylamine — these hormones instantly boost your mood and make you feel better. And when you feel better, you’re more excited about sex. While there’s no direct link between chocolates and sex drive, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that eating chocolate can enhance your libido.
3. Work on your self-esteem and confidence
A low sex drive is often symptomatic of low self-esteem and confidence. If you don’t feel sexy from the inside or are unhappy with the appearance of your body, you might not feel like engaging in sex. You may also suffer from poor self-esteem because of an unhealthy diet and insufficient exercise. If you have low self-esteem, find a therapist, understand the root cause of your body image issues, and learn to love and appreciate yourself. Your sex drive will follow.
4. Alleviate stress and meditate regularly
Stress is one of the biggest contributors to a loss of libido. Periods of low sex drive are often accompanied by massive changes in your life, such as career changes, moving homes, financial problems, etc. If stress contributes to your low sex drive, you should focus on stress relief activities. You can try meditating to alleviate stress. Or you can also try other activities you enjoy, such as playing sports, yoga, tai chi, etc.
5. Include lots of herbs in your meals
You should ideally include lots of fresh herbs in your meals, such as basil and garlic. The smell of fresh herbaceous dishes can stimulate your senses, alleviate stress, and improve your libido. Garlic also contains a high concentration of allicin, which can dramatically improve blood circulation in your genitals. Ginkgo biloba, an herb derived from the Chinese ginkgo tree, can also alleviate sexual dysfunction issues and improve your libido.
6. Reduce your alcohol and wine consumption
One glass of wine can help you relax and alleviate your anxieties. But if you drink more than one glass of wine or take other forms of alcohol, your ability to orgasm might be compromised. Excess alcohol can lead to erection problems, excitation problems, and other sexual problems. It can also kill your desire for sex and lead to other mental health concerns. If you find yourself reaching for more than one glass of wine per day, it might be time to cut back.
7. Get at least eight hours of sleep per night
Sleep is essential for sexual, mental, and physical health and wellness. Individuals who lead busy lifestyles often fail to find enough time for sleep. And even when they sleep, notifications from messages and other interruptions may prevent them from falling into a deep sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, you will definitely suffer from low libido. To boost your sex drive and general wellness, you should get at least eight hours of sleep per night.
8. Talk to your partner about your libido issues
You might feel concerned about talking to your partner about your low sex drive. What if they take it personally? What if they think they’re not sexy enough for me? You might worry that your partner will see your low sex drive as a personal affront. But that’s precisely why it’s important to communicate. Inform your partner that you currently have a low sex drive, which doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the relationship.
During your conversation, you should also comfort your partner, ask them to be patient, and talk about your relationship. If you and your partner have mismatched libidos, your partner is also probably aware of the change, and perhaps they’re also afraid of broaching the subject. Talking about your low sex drive might just give your partner the opportunity to open up about their concerns. Talking about your low sex drive might just strengthen your relationship further.
9. Try some self-love, with or without a sex toy
A low sex drive may also occur because your body’s sexual desires have changed. That happens. Over time, how and where you like being touched may change. And if you’re not familiar with your body’s new rhythms, you might not find sex very exciting. Masturbation can help you better understand your body’s desires, explore your erogenous zones, and learn to love yourself. You can even try a sex toy, such as the Namii 2-in-1 clit sucker and vibrator, to boost your libido.
10. Talk to a doctor about your low sex drive
A low sex drive can also be caused by numerous underlying factors, such as sexual problems, medical diseases, medications, fatigue, and hormonal changes. If you’re concerned about your low sex drive, you should talk to a mental health expert or sexual health expert. They can help you make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve your sex drive, identify possible medical conditions that may contribute to a low sex drive, and help with your relationship.
