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Naturopathic Treatments For Low Libido

What Is Sexual Dysfunction? 

Many medical conditions, chronic stress, and even certain medications can significantly impact the quality of your sex life. There are several phases of the love-making encounter: desire, arousal, the build-up, and the climax. Sexual dysfunction is characterized by problems during any stage of the sexual response cycle that prevents a person from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. There are a variety of natural treatments for low libido.

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The Causes of Low Libido

There is usually more than one underlying contributing factor to low libido. Understanding which underlying causes are contributing is key to successful treatment. Many medical conditions can lead to reduced libido. Here are some of the most common:

  • diabetes or insulin resistance (pre-diabetes)
  • heart disease or hypertension
  • neurological disorders
  • hypothyroidism
  • menopause or dyspareunia (painful sex due to low estrogen)
  • prolonged or severe stress
  • anxiety and depression
  • trauma
  • medications such as antidepressants, birth control pills, antihistamines, beta-blockers, benzodiazepines, seizure medications, and pain killers

Causes of Low Libido

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Naturopathic Treatments for Low Libido

Treatments for low libido vary depending on the causes contributing to the low sex drive. For example, if there are hormonal deficiencies, then Dr. Turner will support hormonal balance with herbs and nutrition, and, if needed, she will replace deficient hormones with Hormone Replacement Therapy. Depending on the individual’s personal and family history, the treatment approaches can vary. Other treatments for low libido might include a mental and emotional approach using constitutional homeopathy. There are also some new treatments specifically for when there is painful intercourse (dyspareunia) or decreased vaginal or clitoral sensations. Check out the Female Rejuvenation V-Shot. Remember, treatment will depend on the cause.

Naturopathic Treatments For Low Libido

Do You Have Low Libido? See If Excess or Deficient Hormones Might Be Affecting It With Our Hormone Symptom Guide.

Hormone Symptom Guide

 

50+ Reasons Why You Could Be Suffering From A Low Libido (And How to Get It Back!)

A 30-year-old businesswoman, trying to launch her career, comes into my office complaining of low libido and fatigue. She shares details about her marriage, explaining that she loves her husband, and they have a loving and supportive relationship. She is passionate about her career, and finds herself working more often than not. Although she doesn’t have any kids, she and her husband are entertaining the idea for the future. Her chief complaint? I never want to have sex.
We order a thyroid and hormone panel, only to find out that her testosterone is low, and her adrenals are tired. Her first question for me is: “How did this happen?!”

couple holding hands

Many, many women (and men) come into my office, complaining of a low sex drive. Some might look at this and think “What’s the problem? That’s normal once you’ve been with your partner for awhile.”

Well, I’m here to tell you that, actually, it’s not. A low libido can indicate a wide variety of things, including decreased sex hormones, stress, fatigue, anxiety and/or depression. Because of its intricacy within the human body, it’s hard to determine the root cause without a comprehensive physical exam and intake with your physician, and follow-up lab work.

Possible causes of a low libido include…

HORMONE AND METABOLIC CHANGES

  • Menopause
  • Pregnancy
  • Low Testosterone
  • Low Estrogen
  • Low Progesterone
    • Without enough pregnenolone, we won’t produce proper amounts of sex hormones. See hormone cascade.
  • Adrenal Fatigue
  • Hypothyroid
  • Anemia
  • Pituitary problems
  • Stress
  • Low Oxytocin
  • Medications and drugs
    • See drug list
  • History or current use of Birth Control Pill
    • The birth control pill causes an increase in the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).
    • SHBG is like a parking garage and testosterone is like a Ferrari on the road. When you have too many parking garages, they suck up all of the Ferraris and there is no testosterone on the road – Hence, no libido.
    • At Living Wellness, we aim to “cleanse” the body of the pill’s effects, support the metabolism, and support the body’s elimination processes in the liver and the gut.
    • We use herbs, food and natural supplements to do this.

hormone cascade

Besides just hormonal and metabolic causes, there are other reasons why one can suffer from a low libido, with one of the most obvious reasons being anatomical trauma, dysregulation and/or abnormalities. These could include:

ANATOMICAL

  • Postpartum women
  • Post-surgical (scar tissue/adhesions)
  • Injury trauma
  • Abuse
  • Post physical trauma
  • Ectopic pregnancy

Many times, patients overlook other stressors in their life, besides just the more obvious physical stressors. Our bodies have a hard time discerning between all types of stressors. To them, stress is stress. We either “running from a lion,” or we’re in “rest and digest” mode. Common stressors that could negatively affect a patient’s libido include…

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL

  • Neurotransmitter imbalances
  • Low dopamine
  • Low serotonin
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Low sex hormones (progesterone, estrogen, testosterone)
  • Tired thyroid gland
  • Low acetyl choline
  • Low self esteem
  • Trauma/abuse
  • Postpartum hormonal or postpartum depression
  • Anxiety/depression
  • How we feel about ourselves (awareness, communication)
  • We don’t have the right support network

You might look at this list and think “How do you find the root cause?” As naturopathic physicians, that’s our goal. We seek to find the root cause, rather than masking the problem by only providing a pill or supplement.

Many times, a low libido can indicate low levels of oxytocin. Oxytocin is what I like to call the “love and bonding” hormone. It makes you want to bond and cuddle. It doesn’t turn you on, but if you don’t want to cuddle, it’s hard to get aroused, hence, a lowered sex drive.

In my practice, I find that women who have a history of using the birth control pill often complain of a decreased sex drive after coming off the pill – sometimes months, and often times, years later. The birth control pill tampers with your body’s ability to naturally produce and moderate female hormones, which can lead to prolonged hormonal shifts years after you stop the pill. I’ll dive deeper into this topic in another blog post.

During our initial new patient consultation, I’ll ask patients lifestyle questions to learn more about what their work, home, love and family life looks like. From a natural medicine perspective, a person’s lifestyle is key to good health. I’ll often dig deeper to figure out whether any of my patients are dealing with:

LIFESTYLE (DIET AND ENVIRONMENTAL)

  • Lifestyle stressors or imbalances
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Too low body fat
  • Current or past use of statins
  • A diet too low in fat (high carb, low fat or… just low in calories)
    • Check out our recipe for our “Libido-Boosting Cho-Cado Mousse.” I recommend dipping strawberries into the mousse and turning it into an impromptu date night!
  • Environmental exposures (including endocrine disruptors)
  • Substance abuse
  • Sleep deprivation

Many times, I have women who come to me feeling tired, stressed, anxious, have weight resistance, are gaining weight around their midsection, and just feel “unlike themselves.” After lab testing, we often find that their hormones are a wreck. After further discussion, I find out that they have a history of chronic dieting, most often restricted diets low in calories and all macronutrients, including fat.

chocolate mousse

When we consume a diet low in fat for years on end, our sex hormones are one of the first things to suffer. Our hormones are built upon cholesterol as their precursor. A diet low in cholesterol will decrease the production of pregnenolone, which then lowers testosterone and DHEA – these of which are your “libido” hormones (Refer to the hormone cascade photo above). See how everything is tied together?

Increasing healthy fats within your diet is integral to getting your hormones on track. I have an amazing “Cho-Cado Mousse” recipe that I would urge you to try if you’re easing into consuming more fat. Click here for the recipe.

How can we fix our hormones, help our relationships and therefore, boost our libido?

We can start to prioritize (and deal with) the following:

  • Commitments and priorities, people and careers
  • Letting go of our “busy addictions”
  • Letting go with primary relationship with world, and fuel this part of our life
  • Relationship woes
  • “When we are vulnerable, we protect ourselves conscious and unconsciously. Any hurt feelings, known or unknown resentments, unspoken frustrations, affect our ocean of intimacy and lovemaking.”
  • “When sex is just sex. This place of intimacy doesn’t matter. Sex drive is easy. When its more about relationship, this ocean of intimate is essential for sex drive, libido and orgasm and love making.”
  • Dealing with the most common relationship stressors
    • Commitment
    • Honesty
    • Trust
    • Experimentation
    • Feeling safe
    • Kids
    • Living situation
    • Finances
      • I highly recommend reading the “The Five Love Languages” book by Gary Chapman.
  • Scheduling sex dates and use lubrication, if necessary.
  • Quick Tip: If man and women have a different sex time, and pick a time in the middle. 🙂

Many couples might not know this, but there is some science supporting the idea that men and women have different optimal “sex” times. Women tend to be more aroused in the evening, while men are ready to go first thing in the morning. I recommend patients work with their significant other to find a time, in the middle, that works for both parties. Perhaps, scheduling a 3pm sex date would be the best of both worlds?

Naturopathic Approach – Where Do We Go From Here?

As naturopathic physicians, our first order of business is to get to the root of the problem. When did this begin? Why did it start in the first place? What factors are still contributing to the problem? A huge part of this investigation comes from lab testing. I always say… “test, don’t guess.”

First, have a discussion with doctor and assess what’s right for you** Once you have met with your physician and they have conducted a physical exam, looking for a structural problem or anatomical problem…

Lab testing might include:

  • Sex hormones – estrogens, testosterone, DHEA
  • Neurotransmitters
  • Thyroid hormones 
  • Adrenals
  • Micronutrient levels

Treatments might include:

  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Thyroid support
  • Adrenal support
  • Sex hormone regulation
  • Oxytocin supplementation
    • We offer the O-Shot for female patients. Check out our blog post “O… It’s About Time.”

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Call 480-588-6856 to schedule a FREE
brief meet and greet with a naturopathic doctor.

Jill Mapstead
Jill Mapstead
2022-03-22
Can’t say enough about Dr. Marianne Marchese! Her commitment to women’s wellness, calm, knowledgeable, non-judgemental guidance and insightful diagnoses / treatment has me turn to her for all my wellness needs. She takes the time to really listen. I feel heard and valued in her care.
Marc Cohn
Marc Cohn
2022-01-08
We had a great first visit with Dr. Turner and we look forward to continuing to work with her. She provides true support and guidance to better health. Alexandra Cohn
Ivana Kalika
Ivana Kalika
2021-12-24
I'm writing my review for Dr. Sarv Varta Khalsa. I met with her a few months ago to receive treatment for a condition I'd been dealing with for an extensive amount of time. She was incredibly kind and took the time to listen to all the details of the symptoms I was experiencing. The office had the prescriptions I needed on-hand so I didn't need to go off-site to find them. All natural remedies, and at comparatively good prices (I don't remember how much exactly, but if they were up-charging, which I doubt, I didn't notice nor would I have minded for the convenience). I'm still symptom-free now after following her recommendations, so I wanted to write a review to express my gratitude. Even though the appointment was pricey, it was worth every single penny to finally be able to live my life feeling normal again. Thank you so much!!
Irene Nicholas
Irene Nicholas
2021-12-15
What's better than a Naturopathic Dr.... Dr. Olivia Watkins!!! I have been working with her for over a year and have learned so much about myself, she is truly a team partner in my journey. She is experienced in ANYTHING you may be experiencing. I consider her my primary physician... you should too!!!
Stephanie Llamas
Stephanie Llamas
2021-11-29
Dr. Watkins is nothing short of incredible. She is kind and personable, while extremely smart and results driven. I have suffered from digestive and hormonal issues my whole life and it wasn't until I met Dr. Watkins that I finally felt heard by a Dr and saw a difference in my health. I can confidently say that my body has never felt this good and we are still working to be even better. If you are ready to feel better and feel heard from your doctor, then run, don't walk to Living Wellness.
D Bach
D Bach
2021-11-10
Dr Olivia Watkins offers a beautiful aura of sincere loving support that I will forever cherish, as she exudes and radiates a beautiful light towards her patients' health care needs. Also, her staff, Joslyn and Ariana are as sweet as they come and have been as helpful as can be to me. One issue I had (and have had a few) was a lack of nutrient absorption and it was Dr Olivia who helped me change that status (thank God!) which I'm already seeing immediate results from and I've had this issue for years which my nails and hair loss were severely revealing! I've also experienced so much stress in the last year and a half, that having Dr Olivia as part of my healing process has made all the difference in my recovery to a more whole being! At this point, I seriously don't know what I'd do without her, as she is now my go-to health advocate and will be to my end days. Dr Olivia is a GodSend! Don't hesitate to call her office. High fives for the brightest healing light you could ever pray for in life! After eight long years, Dr Olivia just recently finished her GM residency and once again, I must congratulate her on such discipline and hard work as it has obviously paid off in spades! Long live Dr Olivia!
Kristin A
Kristin A
2021-09-19
I love Dr. Marchese and so glad I found her last year. She has helped me so much with my health. I have recommended her to several people and they love her too.
Kelly leibrandt
Kelly leibrandt
2021-07-28
Dr. Watkins is life changing! I am so grateful that I was referred to Living Wellness and her specifically. I’ve been dealing with severe stomach issues for 10 years and have gone through the ringer with the test, labs, and over-the-counter medicine suggested by other doctors. Dr. Watkins is so smart, thoughtful, and attentive to every detail so that she can really get down to the bottom of your problems. She feels like a teammate and a very strong coach and a friend all in one. I’m finally on my way to feeling better and I couldn’t have done this without her. If you’re struggling don’t even hesitate to see her or any of the staff at living wellness. I promise you won’t regret it!
Erica Brunkow
Erica Brunkow
2021-03-19
I saw Dr. Warkins several times and was overly impressed her. I was going through cancer treatments and she was compassionate and resourceful. We connected and I felt at such ease with her. She followed up with me multiple times to see how I was doing and feeling. I will continue to see her for any future Gyn needs.
Carey Miller
Carey Miller
2021-03-18
I began to see Dr. Watkins for some general Women's Health issues and she was incredible to work with. She helped my body become more balanced, pain was relieved naturally, and my body was prepared for a healthy pregnancy. She is kind, knowledgable, and very supportive!
Google rating score: 5 of 5, based on 27 reviews

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All material on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.

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