What can women do about a low libido?

By Serena Solomon of RNZ Sex drive in women can vary greatly, particularly during midlife and menopause, with multiple potential causes. Dr Diana Ford and Dr Megan Ogilvie highlight the complexity of libido, influenced by physical and psychological factors. Medical options such as menopausal hormone therapy and pelvic health physiotherapy can help address low libido.

Sex drive in women – whether it is low, high or normal (clue: there is no normal) – can be a taboo subject. Yet, the majority of women either have a low libido , or think they do. This can be an issue at any age of a woman’s sexually active life but libido is particularly tricky during midlife when a woman nears the end of her reproductive stage with menopause.



There could be a single reason for a woman’s depleted sex drive but it is more likely numerous reasons, which could range from pain during sex, residual trauma from sexual assault, hormonal changes , the invasiveness of fertility treatments, fatigue, medication side-effects or a blunted orgasm because of a weakened pelvic floor muscle..