What Is Libido? A Common Symptom Explained
What is libido? This is a question that many people are looking for the answer to. Keep reading to get more information on libido and what it means.
Just about everyone has a libido. A libido, or a sex drive, is a natural feeling to desire sexual contact.
But in medical terms, libido can be a little different. In the medical world, any change to your libido should be documented.
For most people, a decrease in libido is usually the biggest concern. But for those who typically have low libidos, a sudden rise in libido can mean something is going wrong.
Are you wondering if your libido is healthy? Read this guide and understand what is libido and if it’s healthy.
What Is Libido?
Most people confuse the definition of a libido. Most think a libido is the ability to have sex. But in reality, your libido is your desire to have sex.
Any man can achieve an erection. But when do you receive an erection? When you’re in bed with your significant other, when your pants run against your penis, or do you receive an erection for no reason?
The biggest clue in identifying a lack of sexual desire is when you get an erection for random reasons, and not when you’re in bed with your partner.
Sexual Dysfunction v. Low Libido
In addition, there are differences between sexual dysfunction and a low libido. If you’re wondering what is libido and sexual dysfunction, we can look at the libido definition and myth. The definition is sexual desire, but the myth is the ability.
What if, as a man, you desire to have sex but can’t achieve an erection? This is sexual dysfunction, also commonly called erectile dysfunction. It’s a common ailment that affects older men or men with low hormonal levels.
A low libido is caused by similar symptoms. But a low libido isn’t always physical, like erectile dysfunction. Rather, it’s hormonal and mental.
Can Women Have a Low Libido?
What if you’re a woman reading this article? Yes, a low libido is an ailment for women, as well. We’re taught men have a huge sex drive, but women should also have a large appetite for sex.
But what is libido for women?
Men and women have complex hormones. These hormones make us feel different emotions, including sexual desire. When you don’t feel a sex drive, this could mean you have low or unbalanced hormonal levels.
In women, low libido symptoms include no interest in having sex, not feeling sexual desire for someone you love or are attracted to, not feeling vaginally lubricated, and your clitoris isn’t enlarged.
And like men, you can still get vaginal wetness or clitoris enlargement while not experiencing the need to have sex.
Is a Higher Libido Bad?
Traditionally, a high libido isn’t bad.
If anything, someone with a high libido may feel more satisfaction in life. But there are times when a high libido becomes a disorder, called hypersexuality. While it commonly occurs in men, this can definitely be an ailment in women.
Hypersexuality can be dangerous — for personal reasons as well as physical reasons.
The main issue of hypersexuality is interfering with your personal life. If your partner doesn’t experience your high sex drive, you could easily cheat and have an affair.
Even if you’re single, you can engage in risky and unprotected sex with many partners.
Hypersexuality may also not bring pleasure. You feel the need to release your seed (for women — have an orgasm), but the orgasm isn’t brought by feelings of sexual desire.
Hypersexuality can also be a symptom of a mental ailment such as depression.
Your Libido Symptoms Are Mental
When you’re in bed with your partner, do you think it’s abnormal how you have a lower sex drive? Do you notice a difference in your sex drive? Or have you ever had a sex drive?
Even though there are physical symptoms for some people, the vast majority with a low libido experience mental symptoms.
If you’re wondering what is libido mental symptoms, this means you experience a lower libido than what you’re used to, or maybe never experienced a libido at all.
Identifying changes in libido can be complex.
Maybe you had a healthy libido when you were younger, but you slow down as you get older. A lot of men and women experienced a high sex drive with a previous lover, but don’t have the same intensity with their current lover.
These symptoms may not seem important — and oftentimes they’re not. But a difference in libido can point to important changes in your life, both physical and mental.
Why We Experience Libido Changes
While they may seem dangerous, libido changes are pretty natural. Men and women both have their fertility prime where their bodies tell them to procreate.
These feelings are catapulted when there are strong feelings of love, lust, and attraction.
But libido changes point to important changes in our bodies. These include:
- PMSing for women (large sex drive before PMS, lack of libido after period)
- Menopause for women (no sex drive)
- Contraceptives for women (both high and low libido)
- Aging and loss of testosterone in men
- A side effect of medications (both high and low libido)
But libido changes can also be a side effect of a more dangerous ailment. This includes:
- Low and unbalanced hormonal levels (men and women)
- Physical ailments such as restless leg syndrome (RLS)
- Mental disorders (depression and anxiety)
- Insomnia
- Chronic physical and mental illness
- Unhealthy relationships and outlook on men/women
If you believe your libido changes may be a symptom of something dangerous, visit your doctor.
Improve Your Libido
If your interest in sexual activity is decreasing, this means you have a low libido.
While experiencing a low libido can be natural, it also may point to a severe mental or physical ailment. Though a low libido can be dangerous, a natural or sudden high libido also comes with risks.
When your libido changes, be sure to identify any health, mental and life changes.
Do you believe your low or high libido is caused by hormonal issues? If so, take a look at our testosterone replacement therapy.
