If your sex drive, libido, or sexual desire has dropped off and you can’t pinpoint why, there may be something physical going on beneath the surface. While many people assume that low libido is just a normal part of getting older, this isn’t always the full picture.
Hormonal imbalances are one of the causes of a declining sex drive in both men and women, and they can impact libido even for younger individuals. At Balanced Medical Solutions, we help patients in Hayward and across the San Francisco Bay Area identify whether their dip in sexual desire is a direct result of hormones or whether there are other underlying causes. If a hormone imbalance is part of the problem, it can be treated.
Why Is My Libido Low?
There is rarely just one reason behind a drop in libido. It can be simultaneously influenced by stress, poor sleep, relationship dynamics and health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Certain antidepressants can lower libido because they inhibit the hormones that are responsible for arousal.
Sometimes, certain lifestyle habits can factor into a lower libido. Excessive alcohol or drug use, or lack of exercise, can reduce your desire. Because there are so many possible causes of low libido, it takes special attention from compassionate doctors to find the right treatment. At Balanced Medical Solutions, we begin our investigation with a review of your symptoms and comprehensive blood tests to help determine your hormone levels and general health and chemistry.
Which Hormones Control Sexual Desire?
Testosterone
While it is important for men to have this hormone in balance for everything from sexual health to energy production, it is also important for women’s bodies. It fuels arousal in both men and women and helps maintain interest in sex. When testosterone levels dip, whether from aging or other factors, libido often drops along with it. In men, low testosterone levels can cause erection irregularities and even erectile dysfunction (ED). Studies show that up to 50% of men suffer from ED when testosterone levels drop as part of the aging process (known as andropause).
Estrogen
Another hormone imbalance that can affect libido in women is estrogen. This hormone supports blood flow to the reproductive organs and keeps the tissue lubricated and comfortable during sex. When estrogen levels fall, often in perimenopause and menopause, women may experience vaginal dryness and discomfort that causes them to be less interested in sex.
Progesterone
In women, progesterone works closely with estrogen and tends to have a calming effect on the body, which can be very beneficial for sexual health. However, it needs to be balanced. When progesterone is too high, it can dampen libido, which is why some women notice a drop in desire during certain phases of their menstrual cycle. Levels that are too low can also have a negative effect on sex drive.
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is known as the “love” or “bonding” hormone. It is released during physical touch and intimacy, and it strengthens feelings of closeness and connection. Low oxytocin levels may make intimacy feel less rewarding and lead to a cycle of less connection and reduced interest in sex. Stress and isolation are two factors that can suppress oxytocin production.
Serotonin, Dopamine and Norepinephrine
These brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, each influence sexual desire in different ways. Dopamine drives motivation and pleasure-seeking and is important for arousal and anticipation. Norepinephrine increases alertness and physical arousal and works alongside dopamine to keep your brain engaged during sexual activity. Serotonin helps regulate mood, but higher levels of it (often from SSRI antidepressants) can inhibit dopamine and norepinephrine.
Other Hormones That May Impact Sexual Desire
- Cortisol: When your body is under chronic stress, it produces excess cortisol, which can suppress testosterone and disrupt the balance of other hormones involved in sexual desire.
- Thyroid: An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) slows down your metabolism and can lead to fatigue, weight gain and reduced libido, while an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) may cause anxiety that interferes with sexual interest.
- DHEA: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a precursor hormone, meaning your body converts it into testosterone and estrogen, so low DHEA levels can limit the raw material your body needs to maintain a healthy sex drive.
- Growth Hormone: Growth hormone decline, which accelerates as you age, can reduce energy levels and lower overall vitality, all of which can take a toll on sexual desire.
Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men and Women
Men
- Low motivation
- Weaker erections or ED
- Reduced interest in sex
- Irritability
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
- Mental fogginess or difficulty concentrating
- Loss of strength in arms/legs
Women
- Less desire for physical contact
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Difficulty reaching orgasm
- Mood swings
- Chronic fatigue
- Insomnia
- Weight gain, especially around the abdomen
- Mental fogginess or difficulty concentrating
- Loss of strength in arms/legs
Hormone Replacement Treatments
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) (for men and women)
BHRT uses naturally-derived hormones that match the structure of the hormones your body already makes. Synthetic hormones that are derived from animal sources are close, but not an exact match, so they tend to bind too strongly to hormone receptors and carry more side effects. Bioidentical hormones avoid this problem. We administer them through time-release pellets or a topical cream to help bring libido back up. In women, this hormonal treatment also increases estrogen production safely.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (for men)
This treatment is a direct way to address a drop in libido caused by low testosterone. TRT supplements the testosterone your body is no longer producing in sufficient amounts, which can start happening gradually as early as your 30s. We deliver testosterone cypionate through simple injections that patients can learn to do themselves. Patients may start to notice improvements in sexual desire and performance within four to six weeks.
Testosterone Boosting Therapies (for men)
For men who are still producing enough of their own testosterone, but not at optimal levels, there are treatments that can delay the onset of full andropause for months or even years. These include clomiphene, enclomiphene, hCG, and gonadorelin. These treatments stimulate the body to produce more testosterone safely.
Treatments That Support Hormonal Therapy
- Oxytocin Nasal Spray: This “love hormone” is available as a nasal spray to quickly help with sexual bonding, arousal and orgasm for both men and women. This solution raises oxytocin levels in the blood within 20 minutes.
- Libido Cream: Libido cream is a prescription topical treatment for women that contains vasodilators like sildenafil to increase blood flow to the genital area when applied before sexual activity. Improved circulation can help heighten physical arousal and orgasm intensity.
- Prescription Medications for Libido: Medications like PT-141 (bremelanotide) work directly on the brain’s pathways for sexual desire, while PDE5 inhibitors like Sildenafil, Vardenafil, and Tadalafil improve blood flow to support physical arousal and responsiveness. For the most stubborn of cases, these can be customized into formulas combining more than one PDE5 medication and adding apomorphine. Apomorphine is a dopamine agonist that works on the central nervous system. It targets the hypothalamus in the brain to trigger the neurological signals needed to initiate arousal and “turn on” the body’s erectile cascade. Cabergoline, which lowers prolactin levels, can also help restore libido in patients whose elevated prolactin is suppressing their sex drive.
Regenerative Treatments for Men and Women
- Female Climax PRP Shot: This treatment uses platelet-rich plasma drawn from your blood and injected into female tissues to help improve sensitivity and rejuvenate the vagina.
- Male Climax PRP Shot: Similar to the female version, PRP is injected into penile tissue to help rejuvenate penile tissue, promote blood flow and improve sexual performance and sensation.
- Shockwave Therapy for ED: Low-intensity sound waves are applied to penile tissue to stimulate new blood vessel growth, which can help restore stronger and more reliable erections.
- Pelvic Floor and Incontinence Support (HI-EMT): High-intensity electromagnetic technology strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, which can improve bladder control and also enhance sexual function and sensation for both men and women.
Schedule Your Hormone Evaluation in Hayward, CA Today
If you have had a drop in sexual desire, hormones may very well be behind it. At Balanced Medical Solutions, we have multiple ways that we can address low libido – with both symptomatic and root cause solutions We also work with couples who want to “level up” their sexual pleasure together. Our services are available to patients in Hayward, Oakland and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. New patients only pay for the first visit, which includes comprehensive labs and then enjoy free unlimited consultations and follow ups in all the areas of medicine that we specialize in. There is no need to guess anymore as to what is causing your drop in vitality! Call (510) 679-3300 to speak confidentially to a specialist today or book an evaluation below.
