Libido
Libido is the state of a person’s sex desire to indulge in sexual activity. Various factors affects like biological, social and psychological collectively form libido. It can have a normal range, a hyper state called hypersexuality or a lower state to the extent of complete absence called hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It is common to see a person with high libido with low sexual activity due to suppression or sublimation of libido as well as a person with little or no libido with high sexual activity due to some other motive like relationship, money or favors. Many factors can temporarily affect libido like illness, pregnancy or some stress. Libido can be one of the crucial factors on which depends the success or failure of an intimate relationship. Libido compatibility is therefore important topic of recent times.
Psychological explanation
Sigmund Freud is famous for defining libido as life force or energy which is the instinctive unconscious part of the psyche. This comes as impulse but is often in conflict with norms of society. A person uses defense mechanism to avoid conflict with society. But excess suppression leads to neurosis. Carl Jung described libido as “It is the energy that manifests itself in the life process and is perceived subjectively as striving and desire.”
Factors that can reduce libido
Psychological factors
- Lack of intimacy
- Stress or fatigue
- Emotional turmoil
- Stress from bad environment
- Poor self image
- Attractiveness of partner
- Sexual anxiety
- History of abuse or traum
Physical factors
- Lack or deficiency of sex hormone, testosterone
- Other hormonal disorders
- Poor fitness level
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of energy
- Anemia
- Smoking, alcohol and drug abuse
Medications
- Anti depressants
- Antipsychotics
- SSRI
- Beta blockers
- Hormones like contraceptives
Endogenous substances affecting libido
- 5-HT1A agonist
- Acetylcholine
- Cortisol
- Dopamine
- Estrogens
- Oxytocin
- Progesterone
- Serotonin
- Sex hormone binding globulin
- Testosterone
Libido and menstrual cycle
Since libido is linked to body hormones, women may experience a high libido before ovulation. This is said to be linked to gradual rise of testosterone level in every cycle which is at peak around 13th day. Changes in hormones may cause high or low libido around menopause.
Aphrodisiac
Some products that are said to enhance libido or sex desire. There effects, benefits and side effects are a matter of debate and study.
- Alkyl nitrites or poppers
- Ambergris
- Bremelanotide
- Crocin
- Dopamine agonist
- Ginko biloba
- Ginseng
- Melanotan
- Musk
- Phenylethylamine
- Spanish fly
- Testosterone
- Water melon
- Yohimbine
How to increase libido naturally
- Reduce obesity, alcohol, smoking
- Reduce stress, organize life
- Overcome sexual myths
- Keep fit exercise regularly, do yoga, strength training
- Eat right food, nutritious and not causing lethargy
- Try safer aphrodiasics like yohimbine, ginko biloba, ginseng
- Attend sex therapy
- Activate sexual mindset, think sex
- Feel sexy Look sexy Be sexy
- Try outfits which helps including the type and color
- Use pleasant odors
- Create atmosphere to tease libido
- Learn sexual skills to feel sexually confident
- Smooth skin is aphrodisiac
- Try sexual touch
- Sexual fantasy
