A Holistic Approach to Libido

Discussing sexual health is a conversation that most people are often reluctant to discuss with their doctor due to the stigma attached, as well as a doctor’s time being mostly focused towards education and risk prevention rather than pleasure and enjoyment. 

Sexual dysfunction including libido can manifest in various ways, it may involve difficulty with desire, such as not wanting sex, or it could also involve arousal issues where someone struggles to get in the mood, stay in the mood, or not enjoy sex due to pain, stress or disinterest.

Sexual dysfunction can be caused by various factors including sexual symptoms, physical symptoms and psychological symptoms 

The many factors for low libido include:

1. Hormones: Various hormones and neurotransmitter imbalances can lead to symptoms such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and painful sex.
2. Diet and Nutrients:  The Standard American Diet (SAD) – Western Diet would contribute to low libido and sexual dysfunction. Where as the Mediterranean Diet supports overall health including sexual health. 
3. Stress: High or low cortisol, constant fight or flight can impair sexual desire and function 
4. Mindset: psychological factors, the impact of life and relationships, our beliefs about wellness and intimacy, a history of trauma and mental health significantly affect sexual health. 
5. Relationships: The quality of one’s relationship plays a critical role in sexual health 
6. Self Esteem, Body Image, Shame and Stigma: How a person perceives themselves and how emotions can create barriers to seeking help and feeling confident has an effect on a person’s sexual health.
7. Medical status: Cardiometabolic, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. 
8. Medication: Various medication can effect libido.
9. Functional Changes: As a person ages and life situations change.  
10. Female Menstrual Cycle: The cyclic changes of hormones throughout the month can effect a womens libido.

It may not be sufficient to just address libido by just taking Tribulus or L Arginine; this is because the issue is multifactorial and as such needs a holistic view.

To address these various factors requires a more holistic and positive approach, one that considers the impact sexual health can have on a person’s mind, body and spirit. 

The World Health Organization defines sexual health

as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all individuals must be respected, protected and fulfilled. (5)

The area is vast but Naturopaths can support in areas including

• Hormone balance: Address hormonal imbalances that manifest as various symptoms affecting sexual health 
• Stress Response: Manage HPA axis and cortisol levels 
• Mindset: Treating the whole person, not just the symptoms, a referral may be need in certain situations 
• Nutrition: Addressing diet and nutrient health
• Overall Health: Manage any underlying health conditions

An example of where a Naturopath can support,

When someone is overworked and stressed,  they are in a dominant sympathetic nervous state, ‘fight or flight’. Being in this state causes the pleasure centres of the brain to turn off to any physical affection; this is because they are not in the right headspace for pleasure and enjoyment.

By treating stress, burnout ,fatigue, inflammation and ensuring good sleep are all crucial in helping someone regain their capacity for a healthy libido.

Sexual dysfunction affects a significant proportion of the population, with studies indicating 43 -50 % of women and 31% of men experience some form of sexual dysfunction,(1) (2)  but only 18.9% of women and 18% of men seek medical help for sexual concerns (3) and only 13% of medical doctors inquire about pleasure and enjoyment.(4)

It is essential to address issues like erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness and low libido, but even if these factors have been addressed, there can still be no desire. It is equally important to address overall health, self-esteem, mindset and relationship.

By understanding how different people perceive love. How your partner perceives love could be different from you; it could be through gifts and compliments, or touch and intimacy.

Addressing and understanding your needs and your partners is key to rekindling a relationship and deepening your connection around pleasure and enjoyment, and still maintaining clear communication around consent, boundaries and mental health.

Feeling listened to can help a person understand that pleasure is a part of the human experience and essential to health. The conversation in health care about sexual health should not be a one -time occurrence and should be positive and respectful.