Physical relationships are considered the key to a happy married life. But sometimes, one of the partners may not have the same sexual urge as the other one and this can build tension between the two. Lack of sexual desire is one of the reasons why the marital life of many people is ruined. There can be various factors that cause loss of libido, which can be both physical as well as mental. In certain conditions, this can also be a sign of some serious illness and therefore, it should not be ignored. The ETV Bharat Sukhibhava team spoke to Psychiatrist Dr. Veena Krishnan, regarding what is libido and what factors affect it and here is what she explains.
Loss Of Libido And What Causes It?
Many times in women or men, the desire to have a physical relationship is either lessened or completely eliminated and there can be many reasons associated with it. Dr. Veena Krishnan explains that the lack of desire to have a physical relationship directly affects a person's personal relationships. Sexual intercourse between the partners is known to deepen the relationship as well as their love for each other. It also increases the trust and dependency between the two. Apart from this, a happy, pleasurable, and satisfactory sexual life is also important for a person’s physical health, because sex produces many hormones in the body that protects us from many diseases.
Dr. Krishnan further tells that many times she comes across patients who are clueless about the reason behind their lack of sexual desire. If we talk about women, they are often not able to talk openly about their sexual problems or sexual urge with their partner. As a result of which, they gradually lose interest in having a physical relationship with them. Also, after being together for a long time, boredom creeps in between the partners and due to this, they also start to lose their desire for having a physical relationship.
Sometimes, medication given to cure certain severe health conditions can also be a major reason. Dr. Krishnan explains that a decrease in sexual drive can also be a symptom of a neurological condition, cancer or worsening of a morbid disease. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor before the condition gets even more complicated. Also, if the condition is ignored, it can also become irreversible. Apart from these, there are some other specific reasons which may affect a person's desire to have a physical relationship.
- Incorrect information regarding physical relationships
This problem is mostly faced by the younger generation. When a relationship is formed on the basis of wrong or incomplete information obtained from friends, relatives and pornographic sites, this condition may arise as a result of mistakes made due to lack of proper knowledge. - Mental stress
The desire of sex in women and men also decreases due to a chaotic life, work pressure, tension and mental stress faced by them in the highly competitive world scenario. Dr. Krishnan explains that present-day mental stress is considered to be one of the biggest causes of loss of libido. - Mutual discord
At times, when there is no mutual understanding between the couple and marital discord exists between the two, it can affect the sexual life as well. - Premature ejaculation
Premature ejaculation means early discharge in men during sex. In such a state, men may start having inferiority complex due to which the desire for having sex begins to decrease. It is seen that nervousness or being more imaginative during sex can result in problems like premature ejaculation. Apart from this, physical problems can also be another reason.
What Can You Do?
- Keep yourself away from smoking and alcohol or drug addiction
- Do not delay in contacting a doctor if you face any kind of physical problem, stress or depression
- Have a healthy and communicative relationship with your partner, where you can openly talk about everything including your sexual life with him/her
- Try to maintain newness in your relationship. When it comes to sex, you can always try something new with your partner
- Take special care of your diet to maintain good physical health. Eat a nutritious diet consisting of all fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
- Apart from what you eat, keep yourself hydrated. Drink sufficient amount of water throughout the day
- Get an adequate amount of sleep. It increases libido.
- Keep yourself away from stress as much as possible and keep your mind relaxed. You can also practise meditation for the same
