It is a common belief that people are highly interested in sex. However, this is not true.There are a lot of reasons which can reduce this sexual drive, known as libido. The reasons and therefore the causes are slightly different in men and in women. Read on to know some of the most common causes of reduced arousal in men and women and how to deal with it.

Causes of reduced arousal in men:

1. Physiologically, sex is greatly influenced by the sex hormones and with age, as there is a gradual decline in the amount of these hormones in circulation, the sex drive also takes a dip. This need not be the case though.
2. Stressed relationships are extremely common and though hormones have a big role to play, the mind is equally if not more important. If the couples are not happy, there is going to be no sex. As plain as that!
3. Excessive smoking can reduce a person’s sexual arousal and even affect performance.

Prescription medicines, lack of exercise, anxiety, and depression are other causes that also reduce sexual desire.
Management measures:

1. Testosterone replacement therapy in males is often used to boost sexual drive.
2. Lifestyle changes including regular exercise, quitting or controlled smoking, stress management, healthy relationships can go a long way in improving sexual performance.
3. If there are medications that are affecting the sexual drive, talk to your doctor and switch to an alternative.
4. Counselling where the partner is also involved also is very important.

Women: The causes of low sexual drive in females are very different from men.

1. Cultural differences: The cultural background and upbringing contribute in a big way to how responsive a person is. When it comes to sex, we as a country are still not very frank and open, and so there could be a perceived lack of desire. This is of course in the initial stages of a relationship and given some time, things would change.
2. Relationship issues: Stressed relationships are definitely a big no-no for a physical relationship. Happy relationships definitely invite a lot more intimacy between the couple.
3. Hormones: Testosterone which is present in both males and females affects sexual drive in women also. This hormone also gradually reduces overage and causes some loss of libido.
4. Medical problems: Depression, anxiety, endometriosis, fibroids, thyroid issues also affect a woman’s drive.

In managing this issue in women, psychology takes over a bigger role. Talking to the woman first and if required the partner helps in solving the issues in most women. Medical conditions, if present, should be corrected to address this issue. Hormone replacement and medication substitution also may be helpful if required. If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a sexologist.