Is it Normal to Have a Low Sex Drive?

Lack of sex drive (lack of libido) is common in women, but quite rare in men. The American Medical Association has estimated that several million US women suffer from what doctors there call 'female sexual arousal disorder' (FSAD).

A slow-down or even complete cessation of libido is a completely normal part of the postpartum experience, and is really to be expected. As a woman's hormones plummet after pregnancy, this directly lowers her interest in sex. It may, in fact, take nine months to one year for a return to the pre-pregnancy hormonal status.

In one study of postpartum women, 20 percent had little or no desire for sex three months after delivery, and another 21 percent had a complete loss of desire or aversion to sexual activity.

A number of factors contribute to these feelings;

	First, your sex drive has to compete with the overwhelming fatigue that results from taking care of a newborn. New babies are demanding, they are libido annihilators in disguise. They require round-the-clock attention and a great deal of physical contact. This can be both physically and emotionally draining. Breast feeding is another cause of low libido. During breastfeeding, the menstrual cycle is delayed. Also the milk let down reflex might be triggered during lovemaking, which might be a libido buster. Sore nipples with constant breast feeding don't make for a woman feeling sexy and alluring, an essential component to an increase in libido. When you finally have a moment to yourself, you may need a break from intense physical attachment, making sex low on your list of priorities.
	Second, your body is healing from the ordeal of labor and delivery. Major hormonal shifts are taking place that can make you feel off balance. You may also worry that intercourse will be painful, and for many women, the first sexual encounters after childbirth are uncomfortable. Also, your body is still recovering from giving birth, and you may not feel as attractive as usual. These feelings can have a dramatic impact your body image and make you feel less sexy and desirable.
	Third, you may consciously or subconsciously fear becoming pregnant again. Evolution may help explain this. In nature, mother animals rarely mate when they're busy rearing their young. Their bodies just wouldn't be up to the additional burden of another pregnancy. The same may be true of women.

There are other factors too to take into consideration, such as physical and psychological causes.

	Physical causes may include Anaemia, which is very common in women because of iron loss during periods, alcoholism, drug abuse, major diseases such as diabetes, prescribed drugs, particularly tranquillizers, and hormone abnormalities.
	Psychological causes are very common. It's understandable that when a woman is having a bad time emotionally, she may lose interest in sex. These causes include depression, stress and overwork, anxiety, sexual abuse or rape, relationship problems and difficult living conditions, eg sharing a home with parents or parents-in-law.

The good news is that most women report that this decrease in libido is temporary. As your baby grows and your body comes back into shape and you start getting time for yourself once again, your libido will come back. And if it doesn't, do consult a doctor. Becoming a mother is no reason to accept abstinence.