How To Increase Libido In Women

09 December, 2022

It’s a fact of life: for women (and men too), our sexual desire can come and go — naturally fluctuating throughout our lives, at different points for different reasons. But when it happens for prolonged periods or more than you’d like, this may well be a case of low libido.

There are a variety of causes of low libido in women: stress, inactive lifestyles, lack of sleep, poor diet, mental health issues, medical conditions — the list goes on.

Here, we dive into a few common causes of reduced sex drive, as well as looking at a few ways to increase libido for women just like you. Let’s get started!

Stress and libido: reduce stress

It’ll come as no surprise that stress is one of the biggest libido-killers for women. We all know the feeling: when you’ve got the world on top of you, the last thing on your mind is a roll in the hay. But what’s the science behind it?

When you’re chronically stressed, your body’s hormones get thrown out of whack. Stress lowers progesterone levels, which can lead to a host of symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and brain fog, and can affect your period. Your hormones and emotions are everywhere, and all that stress is a big distraction that makes arousal less of a priority.

So, the first thing you should do when you’ve lost the lust is to take steps to relieve and reduce that stress.

And you know what’s great for simple stress relief? Mindfulness and meditation. By focusing your mind, concentrating on the moment and practising conscious breathing, you can stop stress in its tracks. This enables you to focus on the present — on your body and your partner’s body, so you can let your libido flourish.

It’s also worth considering therapy too. Depression and libido are linked, and depression isn’t as easily resolved through meditation or mindfulness. Long-term therapy with a qualified professional will help get to the root of your depression, helping to relieve your mood and reawaken your sex drive.

Exercise and libido

It’s a fact: the less you exercise, the more likely it is you’ll experience a low sex drive. Although you might not think it while you’re sweating through a gruelling 5K on a Sunday morning, exercise makes you more energised — and that includes your sex drive too.

A lack of exercise leaves you sluggish and tired, and less likely to want to enjoy some Netflix and chill. But regular exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can help re-energise your sex drive if you’re not in the mood.

Looking and feeling great is also a wonder boost for your body confidence too. We naturally feel hornier when we feel sexier, and a regular workout is a great way to get us there.

For more information, please read our article on how to sync your workout routine with your menstrual cycle.

Sleep and libido

Has anyone ever woken up after a terrible night of restless sleep and thought: I need a lay? If they have, we haven’t met them.

A lack of good (and we mean good) sleep is one of the key culprits for a loss of libido. Studies have found a significant link between a lack of sleep and reduced libido, and one of the best ways to kickstart your sex drive again is to get some solid forty winks.

Of course, this is easier said than done (isn’t everything?) — but it is possible.

Firstly, ditch all electronic devices for at least half an hour before bedtime. All it does is keep you awake, so put that phone away. Avoid caffeine, nicotine or big meals before bed too — these can all prevent you from drifting off and enjoying a truly deep sleep.

And if you’re still struggling to get to sleep, consider trying a sleepy herbal tea before bed. Natural herbs such as chamomile and valerian help relax you, making it easier for you to catch some much-needed Zs and giving you the restful sleep your libido needs.

Foods that increase libido

A healthy libido relies on your good physical and emotional health. And while there’s little solid evidence to support the idea that certain foods directly increase your sex drive, there’s no doubt that plenty of healthy vitamins and minerals will help keep your body working as it should — including your libido.

Here are a few foods that may potentially increase your libido:

Figs
Bananas
Avocados
Oysters
Salmon
Nuts and seeds
Apples
Beetroot
Ginseng
L-arginine
Ginkgo biloba

These foods are rich in nutrients that can improve circulation (which may promote blood flow to the sex organs), help regulate hormone levels, and perk up your libido.

Different libido in relationships: talk to your partner

In an ideal world, our and our partner’s libidos would be in sync. They’d want it when we want it, and when we’d rather roll over and sleep, they’d rather do the same.

But sadly, this isn’t the case, and sometimes we find ourselves and our partners to be sexually out of sync. While this is completely normal, sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) can leave us feeling lost, even causing us to lose our libido.

But SDD doesn’t mean you don't love each other, or that something’s wrong with you. And through good, healthy, open communication, it is resolvable.

The first thing to do is get it out in the open. It might be a difficult conversation, but it’s the first step towards resolving the issue. Talk about each other’s expectations for sex — how often, for instance, but remember that it’s natural for each couple to go through (and eventually pass) the honeymoon phase.

Explore each other’s desires and try new things. Stay open-minded, but if this exploration doesn’t work or if you both find it uncomfortable, consider couples therapy. Sometimes, the intervention of a professional is the guide you need to kickstart your sex life again.

Treatment for low libido in females

For a medically-backed boost to your libido, you might just need a dedicated course of hormone treatment.

Your hormones play an important role in your sex drive, and imbalanced hormones can spell disaster for desire — with testosterone the key culprit.

Often seen as the male sex hormone, testosterone actually plays a key role in women’s libido too. Yes, testosterone is also an MVP for women too, with low levels causing everything from tiredness and fatigue to motivation, muscle mass and, of course, your sexual mood.

While women don’t need an enormous amount of testosterone, the little they do need plays a massive role, and Hormone and You’s bioidentical testosterone cream is the perfect way to give your libido the top-up it needs.

The naturally formulated cream, available in a variety of different doses, is proven to help increase your sex drive, energy and confidence, giving you a boost of testosterone that’s identical to the testosterone your body makes too.