What Causes a Low Sex Drive in Women?

A low sex drive in women is very common and usually results from a mix of physical, emotional and relationship factors rather than any single cause. Hormonal changes around periods, pregnancy, breastfeeding and especially the menopause can lower desire, as can stress, tiredness, low mood, body image, relationship issues, certain medications and some health conditions. Pain during sex can also reduce desire understandably. Because women's libido is shaped by so many interacting influences, a dip is a normal experience for most women at some point and many causes can be helped once understood.

This guide sets out the common causes of low desire in women and where to find support. This guide is general information and not medical advice, so please speak to a doctor about any personal concern. For a general overview, see our guide on What Causes a Low Sex Drive.

Common Causes in Women

The main contributors tend to fall into a few areas. The table below sets them out.

Often several of these overlap. Our guides on Birth Control and Sex Drive and How Sex Drive Changes With Age explore contraception and life stages.

Hormones and Life Stages

Hormones play a significant role in women's desire and they shift across life. Fluctuations through the menstrual cycle can change desire week to week. Pregnancy and the months after birth often lower libido through hormonal change, tiredness and the demands of a new baby and this usually recovers with time. The menopause, with its fall in oestrogen, commonly affects desire and can cause vaginal dryness or discomfort that adds to it. These changes are normal and help is available, from lifestyle support to medical options a doctor can discuss. Our guide on Testosterone and Sex Drive notes that testosterone matters for women too.

Emotional and Relationship Factors

For many women, emotional and relationship factors are just as important as physical ones. Stress, exhaustion, low mood, anxiety and how a woman feels about her body all strongly influence desire. Within a relationship, emotional closeness, feeling appreciated, unresolved conflict and the pressures of daily life can raise or lower libido considerably. Desire often depends on feeling safe, connected and unpressured, which is why responsive desire, building from intimacy rather than appearing first, is common in women. Addressing these areas, sometimes with couples or psychosexual therapy, can make a real difference. Our guide on How to Get Your Sex Drive Back covers rebuilding desire.

Pain, Comfort and Desire

One cause of low desire that deserves special mention is discomfort or pain during sex, which understandably reduces interest over time. This can have many causes, including vaginal dryness, which is common around the menopause and while breastfeeding, as well as certain health conditions. The important message is that pain during sex is not something to simply put up with, since it is often treatable. Simple measures such as a good lubricant can help with dryness and a doctor can assess and treat underlying causes.

Addressing comfort often has a knock-on benefit for desire, because sex that feels good is far more inviting than sex that hurts. If discomfort has been dampening your interest, raising it with a doctor is well worth doing and there is no need for embarrassment, as these are common and manageable issues. Comfort and desire are closely linked, so looking after one supports the other. Our guide on Medical Conditions and Sex Drive covers health causes in more detail.

Browse the complete Sex Drive and Libido Guides library for supportive guidance on sex drive.

When to Seek Help

A low sex drive is only a medical concern if it is persistent and distressing to you. If ongoing low desire is troubling you, a doctor can help by checking for physical causes such as hormonal or thyroid issues, reviewing any medications, addressing pain during sex and, where useful, referring you for psychosexual or relationship support. There is a recognised condition, sometimes called female sexual interest and arousal disorder, for persistent, distressing low desire and it can be treated. Seeking help is common and worthwhile. This guide is general information and not medical advice, so please speak to a doctor about any personal concern. Our guide on Medical Conditions and Sex Drive covers health links.

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The Short Answer

A low sex drive in women is common and usually caused by a mix of hormonal changes such as menopause, pregnancy or the cycle, emotional factors like stress and mood, relationship issues, some medications and health conditions including pain during sex. Many causes can be helped once understood. If low desire is persistent and distressing, a doctor can check for causes and discuss treatment.