Sex hormones play an important role in sexual function, including sex drive and libido. In fact they are responsible for all the major stages of sexual development which begins even at childhood. The influence of hormones is none more evident than in puberty and menopause.
Contraceptive Pills and Female Libido
Birth control pills are used to control the levels of sex hormones. Basically pills are used to control the release of eggs preventing fertilization by the sperm cell. This is done by changing the levels of sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
Estrogen is the hormone responsible for maintaining vaginal moisture and lubrication. In order for a female to experience a healthy and normal sex drive, all sexual functions must act perfectly. Any alterations could mean a deviation from the normal enjoyment derived from intercourse.
Hormonal changes may lower the amount of moisture or lubrication which leads to discomfort and pain during sex. This can lead to decreased appreciation for performing sex and drives sexual libido down.
Mood swings are seen in the normal menstrual cycle. This is due to the interaction of different hormones in the female’s body. Birth control pills alter the amount of hormones produced in the body and a lot of these hormones influence female libido.
Contraceptive pills affect the production of sex hormones which has a direct effect on female libido. Testosterone in men is responsible for sexual drive in men. These too are produced in small amounts in the female body and are also responsible for normal female libido. Androgen, a sex hormone responsible for sexual pleasure is also affected further decreasing female libido and sex drive.
Other negative side effects of using birth control pills include bouts of depression, mood swings, headaches and weight gain. A quick glance on these side effects could surely indicate decreased appetite for intimacy. Sexual desire or female libido depends on a lot of factors and one important factor is the ability to appreciate sex. These conditions make it truly difficult for a female or any person for that matter to look forward to or appreciate sex.
Hormone Treatment during Menopause
Factors related to the normal aging process and menopause contributes to decreased female libido. Lower levels of estrogen and testosterone for example contribute to decreased female libido. Testosterone plays an important role in normal libido for sexes and any changes in their normal levels will also have an effect on the person’s sex drive.
Estrogen is usually used for women who might be suffering from a lower sex drive after menopause. This is also used for treating women suffering from fatigue, depression and decreased sex drive after surgical removal of their ovaries. In addition to estrogen, testosterone is also sometimes used to boost sex drive in women.
I have a question I am 50 yrs old and had a complete hysterectomy at 35. I am on estrogen and premarin cream. I am also raising my 3 yr old grandbaby and have epstien barre sydrome so I am very tired. I am on and anti- depressant called celexa. I have been trying estratest, then testosterone shots and now androgel.. It is not helping with my sex drive only giving me hair where I don’t want it. I use to be very sexually active with my husband and really miss enjoying sex. Do think this pill can over come these obsticals and help me?
It is impossible to say if hersolution will work or not in your case as you are taking various forms of medication.Although hersolution has successfully helped women who have gone through hysterectomy, your case is slightly more complicated as you are on anti-depressants and various other hormones. It might be useful to check with your doctor if he/she thinks it is worth trying a natural supplement in your condition?
you area stupid man its men like u that cause us to not want it and justifiably so u probably have a very little penis and do not know how to use it and if u think the answer is to go out and cheat u dont deserve to have your penis at all a real man knows how to keep us hot and our sex drive going strong to the end of our beautiful life what i wish for u is permanent erectile dysfunction and no one with any sympathy
Stacy, the Mirena IUD is also hormonal, it releases hormones into your body just like the pill or the ring, except maybe at slightly lower levels. I desperately want off hormonal birth control, but don’t know where else to turn, as condoms greatly reduce pleasure both for me and my bf. I was thinking of the copper IUD but that often increases period flow and pain, and before I went on the birth control I had debilitating periods, so I’m afraid it will be even worse. I am only 23 and feel like my sex drive has dropped incredibly since going on bc. I still enjoy it once I’m actually into it, but have almost no desire to get started most of the time, my man has to coax me into it. Before bc I NEVER had that problem, I’d be happy doing it 7 times a day lol… I’m desperate enough that I’m seriously considering getting my tubes tied( I don’t want kids, ever) but don’t think anyone will do it for me at my age, plus there’s complications with that as well. Any ideas?
Brian, yes, the birthcontrol pill can affect one’s libido. I thought that was affecting my libido so I got off the pill and got the Mirena IUD. Unfortunately, it did not do much for my libido. So, the next thing I did was get my hormone levels tested. Come to find out, my progesterone level is very low and my testosterone level is high. There’s an imbalance there. So now I’m on a progesterone cream that I apply 2x daily. I just started it so I can’t give anyone an honest opinion yet. The Pharmacist said to give it a couple of months for it to build up in my system (I’m on a low dosage). So, sometimes it’s NOT just the testosterone level or the estrogen. I would HIGHLY recommend your wife getting her hormone levels checked.
Greyfox, I kind of have to agree with Christina on this one. It is not always the woman’s fault. You have to take a serious look at yourself and ask….”What can I do to make a difference?” Have you ever asked your wife what is REALLY going on? Have a heart-to-heart with her about your realationship? Maybe she doesn’t feel validated or loved or wanted by you. That would be a good place to start.
Greyfox have you ever thought maby it’s you! Womens sex drive does decrease, but have you made an effort your self. I am soo sick of men saying its all the womens fault because they cheat! That is a lame excuse! If you were not such an asshole she probably would want to sleep with you! Women primp for men constantly! What do men do? Nothing they just let them selves go, and have a double standard. So pull your head out of your ass! It takes two people to make intimacy work dumb ass!
Women after 50 just don’t have a sex drive, that’s all.
Their libido goes out the window and no potions or creams in the world can bring it back because they don’t CARE any more. It’s too much fuss, too much bother, it requires activity; they stop using makeup, don’t bother even getting dressed, much less “dressing up”, and have no interest in sex AT ALL. They look on it as a duty, a chore that they have to do for their husband’s sake. And then they get mad because their husband looks at younger or attractive women.
It’s God’s cosmic joke: the hubby gets horny as his wife’s sex drive goes down the toilet, and he either gets a lover or mistress or the rest of his life is spent frustrated and horny. It’s a great plan, if you’re Satan.
So does this mean that a 28 year old women who has practically no libido must get off hormonal birth control to solve her low libido (and find other means of BC) or can she stay on Hormonal BC and use some of the products you review? My wife is having a tough time of this and we both want her to have a higher libido, BUT whats the point if you are terrified of getting pregnant. Are we screwed?
We have seen article after article talking about how Hormonal BC can cause it, but no solution other than change your BC (which she has done over time with no luck).
Love to have your thoughts.
As you are already aware, birth control pill affects sex drive because it inhibits the production of androgens, including testosterone, in a woman’s ovaries. Additionally, birth control pills increase the amount of sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in the body. contributing to decreased libido and sexual desire.
One of the ways to counteract this is to use triphasic birth control pills (which deliver differing amounts of hormones every week). Although this might work for some women it may not be enough for many others. Ultimately BC Pills interfere with your hormones and are bound to have some side effects. In fact, leaving these pills may not return your libido immediately and it might be a slow process. So additional supplements could really help.
Also, you could consider another form of contraception, such as a condom or diaphragm, when engaging in sexual intercourse.