How To Decrease Libido: What Libido Is, Tips, and More – Healthline

Your libido is also commonly referred to as your sex drive its your emotional and mental desire for sex.

Your libido is individual to you and varies widely between people. What you experience as normal libido might be higher or lower than what somebody else experiences.

A number of factors influence your libido, such as:

Some people worry that their libido is too high. A high libido is generally not a concern unless its having a negative impact on your life or relationships.

If your high libido libido is disrupting your life or results in sexual activity that feels out of your control, it may be a sign of hypersexuality or what has traditionally been referred to as sex addiction.

Read on to learn more about the specific factors that influence your sex drive and what you can do to lower it.

First, its important to know exactly what your libido is its simply a term for your desire for sexual activity.

Once you engage in sexual activity, your body goes through arousal physical changes to prepare for sex. Heres what happens to your genitals during this stage:

Like other animals, humans need to have sex to have children. Our sex drive is deeply rooted in our biology as a way to encourage us to reproduce.

Your libido is individual to you, ranging anywhere from having no desire in sex to thinking about it frequently. But unless your sex drive is causing problems with your relationships or in your life, its essentially normal.

Biological, psychological, and social factors all play a role in determining your libido, including:

Many factors can influence your libido. If you think you may have a hormone imbalance, its a good idea to visit your doctor. Hormone tests may be able to provide insight on whether your high libido has a physical cause.

Changes in your sex hormone levels can influence your sex drive and can easily be measured with a blood test. Your doctor can also screen you for other conditions that may increase your sex drive.

If you feel that your libido is too high and having a negative impact on your life, here are a few ways you might be able to manage it.

Some research suggests that there are some dietary changes you can make that may have an effect on your libido. But many practical dietary changes you can make to lower your sex drive may compromise your overall health.

Aphrodisiacs are foods or medications that increase your libido anaphrodisiacs are the opposite. Theyre foods or medications that lower your libido.

A variety of herbal remedies have been used over the years for their anaphrodisiac properties, but theres little to no research to support the use of most of these herbs.

Theres some evidence that consuming licorice may lower testosterone levels, but more research needs to be done to examine the magnitude of its effect and safety.

Soy has also been claimed to lower libido in men by lowering testosterone. But at this time there are no conclusive interactions between soy and testosterone levels or libido.

One study found that women who followed the Mediterranean diet had the lowest levels of sexual dysfunction. Theres no research to definitively prove if this diet lowers your sex drive without compromising your health.

People with nutritional deficiencies often have low sex drives and experience sexual dysfunction. See your doctor if any nutritional changes you make result in sexual dysfunction.

If your doctor doesnt suspect that your high libido has a physical cause, they may recommend that you seek therapy or counseling.

Speaking with a therapist can help you uncover reasons that may be triggering your experience of high libido and help you learn techniques to manage it.

Therapy sessions can come in many forms, including one-on-one, family, or group. Its up to you to decide what youre most comfortable with when it comes to discussing your sex drive.

If youre currently in a relationship but not satisfied with your sex life, you may want to discuss this with your partner to come to a mutual consensus as to how sex can be fully satisfying for both of you.

If youre not currently in a sexual relationship but would like to be, be transparent with your potential partners about your expectation in a sexual relationship and communicate openly about what you do and dont like.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend medications to reduce sexual urges, including:

If youre currently on medication, you may want to talk to your doctor to see if your use of prescribed medications may be influencing your sex drive.

Cocaine and methamphetamines are two illicit drugs that can increase your sex drive, and reducing their use can help lower your sex drive.

Quitting these types of drugs can be difficult by yourself, but there are a number of support groups and services available for you.

Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Helpline at 800-662-4357 for treatment referral if youre ready to seek help for your drug use.

Whether youre in a long-term or casual relationship, work together with your partner to make sex fulfilling and consensual for both of you.

Here are some tips:

A high libido isnt an issue until it starts negatively impacting your life or relationships.

Compulsive sexual behavior, sometimes called sex addiction or hypersexuality disorder, refers to sexual behavior that disrupts your life.

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing compulsive sexual behavior:

Some questions you can ask yourself to judge if you may have compulsive sexual behavior include:

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to see your doctor. Your doctor can perform tests to determine if your high libido has a physical cause or if it may be psychological.

If your doctor suspects that your high libido is caused by psychological factors, they may recommend that you talk to a therapist or counselor.

You can also visit your doctor if you feel your sex drive is too low. They can help you determine whether your low sex drive is caused by physical or psychological causes.

Your libido is another name for your sex drive. Your libido is individual to you, and whats normal for you may not be normal for somebody else.

Generally, a high libido is only a concern if its causing issues with your relationships or life. Talk to your partner, your doctor, or a counselor if your high libido is keeping you from having sex life you want.

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How To Decrease Libido: What Libido Is, Tips, and More - Healthline