Libido treatment typically refers to a medication or natural treatment used to stimulate a slow or nonexistent libido. There may be some instances of an overactive libido, but this is a rare occurrence that is generally caused by an outside factor such as medication or a hormonal imbalance. There are many potential causes for a lagging libido, so treatment will be tailored to the underlying cause of each individual. Diagnosis may be made on a trial and error basis.
The aging process is one potential cause for an under active libido. As the body ages, hormone levels naturally shift and result in less testosterone in men, leading to less sexual desire. Although women have a decrease in estrogen and a potential increase in testosterone, the sexual hormone for both men and women, side effects caused by menopause can often kill the mood. For men, a hormone supplement in pill form may be needed to help enhance sexual response. For women, controlling the symptoms of menopause or post-menopause may require hormone replacement or natural supplementation.
Other types of libido treatment may be psychological, because many times emotional distress can cause a lack of sexual desire. In many cases stress will lead to poor performance during sex, which leads to more stress and continued sexual dysfunction. To break this cycle, patients may undergo counseling to uncover the underlying stressor which may have triggered the poor sexual response. If the stressor can be removed, this may be recommended. If it cannot, like in the case of a stressful job situation, patients will be given techniques to help alleviate stress.
In some serious cases, libido treatment may involve the diagnosis and treatment of an underlying illness. Some chronic or serious conditions can cause a lack of sex drive, including prostate issues and certain cancers. Once the underlying condition is treated or cured, sexual function should return. If it does not, doctors may be able to prescribe hormonal stimulants in the meantime.
Sometimes libido treatment is applied by the patient himself. Women and men can both suffer from poor body image due to being overweight or from some other issue. This may require counseling, but many times losing the weight or fixing the perceived abnormality may be all that is needed. Aside from helping improve body image, maintaining a healthy body and proper weight is needed for overall health.
Certain medications may cause a lack of libido in both men and women. Antidepressants are one example. When this happens, doctors may prescribe an alternate medication, change the dosage of the current medication, or offer additional medications to help stimulate libido. Patients should be mindful that certain supplements may also cause a decreased sex drive, especially those containing hormones. Additionally, in rare cases, a medication or supplement may cause an increased sex drive. If this condition interrupts with daily life, an alternate medication may be needed.