What is libido?

Libido is a term that comes from Latin and means desire or throbbing. It is widely used in psychoanalysis and is defined as a vital energy load linked to sex and influenced by sex hormones, these generate responses in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Sexologist in Delhi defines it as the impulse or psychic energy that orients behaviour towards an end and is discharged upon achieving it.

There are different types of libido

Many people associate libido with a high sexual desire, that desire that invites you to have wild and spontaneous sex. We’ve all seen the typical scene of two passionate lovers in film or television. But it is a mistaken belief as desire can take other forms. This is what happens in stable couples; You may not want sex at first but if a moment of intimacy arises with kisses and caresses, the desire that was not a priori may appear. What has just happened is that it has changed the way of desire and there is a need for quality rather than quantity in sex. In these circumstances, until the body is not aroused the desire does not appear.

What differentiates male and female libido

It is known that there are subtle differences between people of both sexes if we talk about libido.

Female libido is intimately linked to the menstrual cycle, depending on the phase of the cycle, hormones will cause increased or decreased menstrual cycle. There are two hormones involved in desire and that in women are especially active, these are estrogen and testosterone, are hormones produced by the ovaries and are responsible for hormonal fluctuations and the intensity of female desire throughout the menstrual cycle, causing an increase or decrease thereof.

For example, during the preceding days of ovulation, the woman’s body records a spike in estrogen, so the female libido will be in its heyday. In the male, there is also an influence of hormones, but it is more stable over time.

Factors that determine libido loss

The first thing to do is to rule out physical or organic problems when determining why the loss of libido occurs.

Organic causes of libido loss

Sometimes this loss can be caused by disease or in the consumption of certain drugs. For example, it is known that chronic kidney disease may lower desire levels or that drugs used for depression, anxiety or prostate cancer may also reduce it. Although most of the time the origin is psychological.

Psychological causes of libido loss

Psychological causes include the fear of not “carving” as lovers, fear of pregnancy or spreading ourselves from a sexually transmitted disease, beliefs or taboos around sex, the education received.

It is also common for day-to-day tensions, stress and anxiety to end up affecting our sex life. Communication problems with our partner are also another factor in affecting our libido. Another important factor is age, since at a younger age less libido.

A traumatic sexual experience in childhood or having learned to suppress sexual thoughts can also lead to reduced libido.

If the cause has a psychological root, and we want to have a good libido again, psychological therapy is recommended, among which cognitive-behavioural orientation is usually included. Psychological counselling helps to be able to re-impact the couple’s situation if the problems are in the relationship. If it is due to stress, the person must become aware of how this stress is affecting their body and learn techniques to be able to control it.

How to increase libido?

Libido, as we have said, depends on many factors. By making a few small changes in the routine can be increased and thus live sexuality in a more intense way.

• Spend quality time with the couple. This time does not necessarily involve having sex, it can be eating together, going for a walk. The idea is to enjoy someone else’s company. This will make it easier for the desire to wake up.
• Talk to the partner about your sexual desires, as you would like intimate encounters to develop, propose to do new things in bed.
• Schedule intimate encounters. Just thinking that we’ll meet such a day and in such a place with our partner will wake us up to our libido.
• Don’t worry about orgasm. Sex is also massages, caresses, hugs and intimacy. Not seeking the purpose of orgasm will make us relax and enjoy the encounter with our partner more.

Here are just a few tips. The important thing is that if you notice that the desire has declined, try to find a solution. Having a good sex life is indicative of good health.