A person’s sex drive will naturally fluctuate throughout their life, increasing at certain times and decreasing at others. However, if a person finds that they constantly lack desire and are generally not interested in sex, they may have hyperactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
People with HSDD experience little or no sexual desire or drive and find that this leads to personal or relational distress. If you have low or no sex drive and it doesn’t bother you, it’s not considered HSDD.
It’s important to note that low desire can be related to other medical conditions or changes in a person’s body, such as low testosterone for men or menopause for women. So it’s a good idea to rule out possible medical causes of low desire with a primary care provider in addition to experimenting with options from the list below of ways to boost your sex drive.
Address any underlying relationship issues.
Sometimes, a lack of sexual desire stems from a problem in a couple’s relationship that needs to be addressed. If you and your partner are experiencing emotional difficulties, it may benefit your relationship and your sex life to talk about these issues and try to find common ground. If you don’t know where to start, consider getting a counselor, psychologist, or sex therapist involved to help guide the conversation. A sex therapist may also be able to educate you and your partner about certain treatments or methods that may improve desire, such as emotional focus, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness.
Make lifestyle changes if necessary.
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet have been shown to have positive effects on a person’s libido and sexual satisfaction, so constructive changes in these areas may boost your desire. Additionally, since stress can be detrimental to desire, finding ways to effectively manage stress (eg, yoga, meditation, therapy, etc.) can also be beneficial.
Improve your knowledge about sex and explore sexual interests.
Although it may seem dry at first blush, learning more about the body’s sexual anatomy and sexual response cycle can lead to increased desire. In this way, you arm yourself with valuable information about what can be pleasurable and what sexual activities you can enjoy. In addition, newer models of the sexual response cycle suggest that desire may be responsive, meaning that it may occur after sexual stimulation. With this in mind, you may find it helpful to explore potential sexual interests through masturbation or with a partner to see if the experience sparks desire.
Talk to your healthcare provider about medications.
Certain medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, are known to reduce sex drive. If you think your medications may be negatively affecting your libido, talk to your healthcare provider about options for changing the dosage or type of medication you’re taking. There are also drugs available to increase desire, including off-label options such as estrogen therapy for women, testosterone therapy for men and women, flibanserin, and bremelanotide, among others.
Summary.
There are several ways in which a person can enhance their sex drive. If one approach doesn’t work for you or doesn’t suit your needs, consider trying another approach or consult your healthcare provider about other possible treatment options.
Resources:
Basson, R. (2000). The female sexual response: A different model. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 26(1), 51-65. DOI:
Goldstein, I., Kim, NN, Clayton, AH, DeRogatis, LR, Giraldi, A., Parish, SJ, Pfaus, J., Simon, JA, Kingsberg, SA, Meston, C., Stahl, SM, Wallen, K., & Worsley, R. (2017, January). Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) consensus panel. In Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Vol. 92, No. 1, pp. 114-128). Elsevier. DOI:
Planned Parenthood. (n). Hyperactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). Retrieved May 26, 2022, from
Sexual Medicine Society of North America. (n). Hyperactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). Retrieved May 26, 2022, from
