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Libido at zero? Horniness — or the lack thereof — can be a key indicator of overall well-being.
Tennessee Williams wrote that “the opposite of death is desire” — and it would seem that the playwright was onto something, as experts agree that a low sex drive can indicate a slew of concerning health issues.
Though temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate are considered the four main vital signs, there’s an argument to be made that how much you want it — you know, it — needs to be taken into consideration, too.
What is libido — and how is it tied to our health?
“Libido is commonly defined as the biological need for sexual activity (sex drive) that shows up as sex-seeking behavior; its intensity varies across people and over time,” OB-GYN Dr. Jessica Shepherd, told The Post.
How strong it is reflects lots of systems in your brain and body: hormones, stress physiology, vascular health, sleep, mood, relationship quality and vaginal or urogenital comfort.
Shepherd noted that sexual satisfaction is associated with better health status, fewer physical symptoms, and higher psychological well-being — in other words, better quality of life.
The doc notes that it’s crucial to get a handle on horniness as sexual health has a direct bearing on longevity: “Observational data in older adults show that better health is associated with more years of sexually active life.”
Indeed, a study published in the journal PLOS One suggests that men with a low libido are almost twice (1.82 times) as likely to suffer an early death.
As for what your low sex drive — or your partner’s low sex drive — might mean, there are a plenty of possible health issues worth exploring.
Hormones gone haywire
“Hormonal fluctuations can cause libido issues for both men and women,” Shepherd said.
“Typically, women have hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause, which can contribute to decreased libido,” she explained. “For men, there can be changes when there is low testosterone.”
More seriously, thyroid disorders can also negatively affect sexual desire. Look for low libido accompanied by other symptoms like weight fluctuations and cold intolerance.
Mental health on the fritz
Mental health conditions make a difference too. Notably, depression and anxiety, can reduce our proverbial mojo. And medications like SSRIs and SNRIs can cause sex drive to plummet.
Serious conditions
Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, sleep apnea and chronic illnesses could all make libido tank.
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Clinically speaking, low libido becomes Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder when desire is persistently reduced for more than six months, causes distress and cannot be attributed to an underlying condition or the effects of medication.
Experts say diagnosing and treating HSDD is challenging, mainly because the science behind sexual desire is still not fully understood.
Getting your groove back
There are medications available for both men and women, and some people find that therapy and lifestyle changes can help.
Shepherd maintains that being able to address and treat low libido is key to restoring quality of life.
However, to the disservice of patients, sexual health is often overlooked, and low libido often goes untreated.
Still, she underscores the fact that libido and desire are dynamic, and it is normal for interest to wax and wane, especially for those who identify as female.
“Across the menopause transition, many women report changes in desire and sexual function, driven by hormonal shifts, sleep, mood, relationship context, and vaginal symptoms; yet partnered sexual activity and good sexual function remain linked to better quality of life when sex is personally important,” she said.
