reduction of sexual desire

Lo stimolo interiore alla ricerca dell'attività sessuale, le fantasie erotiche, l'attrazione verso l'altro sesso risiedono in aree specifiche del cervello localizzate principalmente nell'area limbica che è considerata il centro del desiderio sessuale; queste aree vengono attivate normalmente al momento dello sviluppo puberale. La libido subisce alcune leggere modificazioni fisiologiche durante il ciclo mestruale aumentando nel periodo ovulatorio e permane senza significative variazioni per tutta la vita, anche in tarda età. Contrariamente infatti a quanto generalmente si pensa, l'invecchiamento non influenza negativamente questo aspetto della sessualità.

Ma quali sono i fattori che portano ad una riduzione della libido e quindi ad un allontanamento, ad una riduzione dei rapporti sessuali?

Fattori che possono influire sul desiderio sessuale

Vita affettiva, relazione con il partner
Condizioni di salute, malattie
Farmaci, ormoni, droghe, alcool
Fattori psichici (stress, ansietà)


- Tra i più Frequently certainly we include those related to psychological problems of interaction with the partner, stress, sexual trauma, family dramas, social and economic conditions, some of these only temporarily affect the desire, others may also affect long-term but not for their solution require what is today called consueling with an experienced professional in this field.

- Other important causes are those related to physical and mental illness: among these we include depression and anxiety, chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, pituitary and thyroid endocrine disorders, cancer, severe liver disease and degenerative , alcoholism and drug use. During these conditions must be recognized that the individual response is highly variable and not always predictable. Overcome the disease, have a good relationship with your partner and the environment, have adequate dose of optimism, maintaining a good appreciation of its image may well help avoid the loss of libido.

- medical and surgical treatments may also have adverse effects on sexual desire.

drugs associated with a possible reduction in sexual desire

antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics

lipid-lowering antihypertensives (clonidine, beta-blockers)
diuretics (spironolactone)
anti-ulcer drugs (H2 antagonists)
Antifungals (ketoconazole)
Hormones (Danazol, GnRH analogues, oral contraceptives)


Some medications such as antipsychotics, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, lithium, tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, lipid lowering (cholesterol lowering drugs) some antihypertensives (clonidine, beta blockers), diuretics (spironoloattone), certain hormonal preparations (danazol, GnRH agonosti, oral contraceptives), anti-ulcer drugs (H2 receptor inhibitors) or administered to increase gastric motility, antifungals (ketoconazole) have been implicated a reduction in libido, which is normally reversible on discontinuation treatment.

But demolition surgery to the breast or the genitals, for example while solving (curing), sometimes in a definitive way to determine how a disease may still vary considerably from person to person (often intersect with other issues) a reduction of libido.

We can say that this disorder may be quite frequent situational (quite common) that is tied to a particular event, a couple or family situation, a chronic drug treatment or (more rarely) when such employee from certain diseases.

In contrast to past practice gynecological clinic, the woman speaks more willingly dei problemi sessuologici ed il ginecologo parallelamente ha assunto un ruolo sempre più importante nella diagnostica differenziale e nel trattamento di questi disturbi.

Abbiamo accennato alla zona limbica dove risiedono il desiderio sessuale, le fantasie erotiche, tutto quello che viene definito come libido; a quest'area arrivano segnali dalle aree vicine, dalla corteccia cerebrale ma anche dagli ormoni che circolano nel sangue portando ad una diversa modulazione di delicati meccanismi neuroendocrini basati sulla diversa espressione di piccolissime sostanze chiamate neuromediatori.

Possiamo quindi affermare che esiste una biochimica dell'amore basata sulla giusta interazione di questi meccanismi e sulla diversa capacità modulatoria of hormonal substances. Indeed, particularly in women is evident that some substances have an important role in this respect: we talk of estrogen and androgen.
Even if the topic is still controversial it seems that the positive effect of estrogen on libido is not dependent on direct stimulation of the centers of sexual desire but is the result of a feeling of well being, adequate performance seen in other brain areas. Androgens
vice versa would have a direct positive effect, would be the ones who determine, for example the increase in sexual and erotic fantasies during ovulation. Between 20 and 50 years, the woman undergoes a slow and progressive reduction of androgen levels (50%), however, that in the absence of other interfering factors alone does not cause significant changes in sexual appetite; postmenopausal androgen levels remain stable or undergo a slight increase. E 'primarily in women who undergo surgical castration, medical (chemotherapy) or radiation therapy that the decrease of these substances is dramatically faster and thus can cause a significant loss of desire, in these patients has proved effective administration of small doses of androgens, and of course when clinical conditions permit its administration.

administration of estrogen and / or under direct control of androgens indication and medical specialist may have important effects on libido and can therefore be considered as part of strategies to solve this problem.

To conclude this brief discussion I will highlight some key issues:

a temporary reduction of sexual desire is often situational, in most cases resolve spontaneously and do not be alarmed;
psychological factors are prevalent and very important is the relationship with partners;
in the presence of a prolonged decline in libido talk to your doctor and your gynecologist, not overlooked the problem.