sexual drive

For decades, researchers bought into society’s belief that men have higher desire than women, since large studies consistently prove that finding. But more recent evidence reveals that differences between the sexes may actually be more nuanced or even non-existent, depending on how you define and attempt to calculate desire. Some studies have even found that men in relationships are as likely as women to be the member of the couple with the lower level of sexual desire.

What do women want?

despite decades spent trying to answer this riddle, researchers are yet to land on an agreed definition of female desire, let alone come close to fully understanding how it works.

scientists are realising the more that female desire cannot be summarised in terms of a single experience: it varies both between women and within individuals, and it spans a highly diverse spectrum of manifestations. As Beverly Whipple, a professor at Rutgers University, says: “Every woman wants something different.”

What do women want?

despite decades spent trying to answer this riddle, researchers are yet to land on an agreed definition of female desire, let alone come close to fully understanding how it works.

Even the variety of feelings during sex itself had gone unrecognised: women do not necessarily experience the same progression of excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution that men do. Instead, the order is often shuffled. Sex itself can be the trigger for desire and arousal, or a first orgasm might lead to the desire for a second. “Often for women, genital, physical arousal precedes the psychological experience of desire,” Diamond says. “Whereas in men, desire precedes arousal

The enduring enigma of female sexual desire

Still, we’ve come a long way from past points on the subject, which ran the gamut of women being insatiable, sex-hungry nymphomaniacs to having no desire at all.

We’re also coming to realise that male and female desire might not be as dissimilar as we’ve typically assumed. For decades, researchers bought into society’s belief that men have higher desire than women, since thorough studies consistently point that finding. But more recent evidence reveals that differences between the sexes may actually be more nuanced or even non-existent, depending on how you define and attempt to measure desire. Some studies have even found that men in relationships are as likely as women to be the member of the couple with the lower level of sexual desire.

Women don’t have lower sexuality than men. What they have are more variable patterns

Past studies typically asked participants things like, “Over the last month, how much desire have you experienced?” When that question is posed, men do typically rate higher than women. But when the question is revised to ask about in-the-moment feelings – the amount of desire experienced in the midst of a sexual interaction – scientists find no difference between men and women. “This challenges our gender-related stereotypes about women being passive and not sexual,” says Lori Brotto, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of British Columbia, and a private practice psychologist. “It also suggests that the factors that elicit desire in the moment might be equally as potent for men as for women.”

Others have found that women’s desire waxes and wanes with their menstrual cycle. “During women’s peak period of arousal, which occurs around ovulation, their sexual motivation is just as strong as men,” says Lisa Diamond, a professor of psychology and gender studies at the University of Utah. “Women don’t have lower sexuality than men. What they have are more variable patterns.”

This makes sense when thinking in terms of sex’s ultimate purpose: making babies. “Biology, which helps to drive reproduction, is an element of sex,” says Anita Clayton, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia. “It’s only in modern times that reproduction and sex are uncoupled.”

Women do not necessarily experience the same progression of excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution that men do

Previously, doctors had also assumed that the male sex hormone testosterone could be linked to female desire. In fact, it probably does not play a major role: several studies found no difference in testosterone levels in women who have high levels of desire and those diagnosed with a desire disorder. Despite this finding, women continue to request testosterone as a treatment for low desire, and doctors continue to prescribe it – often based on lab tests that erroneously use male levels of testosterone as a marker for what normal levels of that hormone should look like in a woman’s body.

Many women have tried testosterone supplements to boost desire - despite little convincing medical evidence

Other research finds that testosterone and desire are linked only very indirectly, and that sexual activity has more of an effect on hormone levels than hormones do on whether someone actually desires sex. Sexual thoughts increase testosterone in women, as does sexual jealousy. “Thinking that sex just comes out of testosterone is such a falsehood,” says Sari van Anders, an associate professor of psychology and women’s studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, whose lab led the investigations. “Hormones have such small – if any – influence on desire.”

Desire, however, does not necessarily entail the wish to engage in sex with another person. Each woman (and, indeed, man) is different in terms of preferences, and those preferences may change at different times. Women may sometimes or always desire solitary masturbation, and some can even experience orgasm purely through thought, with no physical contact at all. Others may desire sexual activity with a partner, but without penetration or without ending in orgasm. “When people say they have a high desire for a partner, they might actually mean they want to be close to someone, or relieve their boredom, or experience something or someone new, or experience orgasm,” van Anders says. “My guess is that desire depends on the context, the person, the time of their life, relationship factors and who’s available.”

CAUSES OF HIGHER SEX DRIVE

Exercising

Drug-taking: Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, can cause an increase in libido.

Changes in neurotransmitters: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. People with Parkinson’s disease may receive dopamine replacement therapy. This can cause hypersexuality and sexual compulsions.

Testosterone: old research suggests there may be a link between higher testosterone levels in men and higher sex drives.

CAUSES OF LOWER SEX DRIVE

Menopause.

Culture and religion

Mental health:

Studies have found that males and females with mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, may have a higher risk of sexual dysfunction. This can lead to a decrease in sex drive.

Age

Sex drive may fluctuate as a person ages.

Obesity

There is some research to suggest that a link exists between obesity and sexual dysfunction,which may lead to a lower sex drive.

Chronic conditions

Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, can cause sexual dysfunction, which may reduce sex drive.

Pregnancy

Relationship satisfaction:

One study found that the libido of some females may decrease, depending on their satisfaction with the relationship.

Medication:

Medicines or treatments may cause a decrease in a person’s sex drive. Some of these include:

Chemotherapy

Female hormonal contraceptive: A review of women and hormonal contraceptives highlights that the following contraceptive may decrease libido:

contraceptive ring

injection

implant

Antidepressants: A historical look into antidepressants and sexual dysfunction suggests they may decrease sex drive.

HOW TO INCREASE SEX DRIVE

Some people can try the following methods to help increase their sex drive:

Sex therapy

A sex therapist can assist with sexual problems. While they can help increase sex drive, they can also support people to achieve orgasm.

Increase sleep

Aphrodisiacs

Herbal aphrodisiacs such as yohimbine and Eurycoma longifolia, may help to increase male sex drive. Certain foods such as strawberries, chocolate, and raw oysters could also have aphrodisiac properties.

Exercise

People may increase their libido through exercise mindfulness, and yoga.

Testosterone therapy

Testosterone therapy in older males has shown it could help them regain sexual desire.

Research that explores testosterone treatment and sexual desire in females varies. A 2016 study argues it is unlikely to increase female sexual desire, however, another study suggests that it can boost libido in females.

WHAT IS A NORMAL SEX DRIVE?

It is best to view sex drive as a spectrum. What someone may consider normal, may be different for another person. Sex drive can also fluctuate, leading to a higher or lower libido.

In some cases, a person’s sex drive may become extremely high, or extremely low. This may develop into a sexual functioning disorder, which can include:

Female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD): This is a form of sexual dysfunction where there is a persistent lack of sexual desire, which is not caused by a medical condition or medications.

Treatment for FSIAD may include counseling or medication.

Compulsive sexual behavior:The World Health Organization (WHO) includes compulsive sexual behavior in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). It is defined as an impulse disorder “characterized by a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges resulting in repetitive sexual behavior

SUMMARY

Sex drive is a spectrum, and what may be normal for one person may not be normal for another.

There are many reasons why a person may have a high or low sex drive, or why it might fluctuate. Medication, age, and chronic conditions can all affect it.

There are ways to increase libido, which include exercise, sex therapy, or getting enough sleep.

If a person is worried about any changes in their libido, they should discuss this with their doctor.