Uncovering the root causes of low libido rather than just treating symptoms is key. By addressing hormonal imbalances, underlying metabolic dysfunction, and lifestyle factors, it’s possible to restore a healthy sex drive and overall well-being.

Let’s dive in!

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone-Related Low Libido

Low libido due to hormonal imbalances often presents alongside other symptoms. Understanding these signs can help identify the root cause:

• Low Testosterone: Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for libido in both sexes. Symptoms of low testosterone include reduced motivation, fatigue, difficulty building muscle, and increased body fat. Men may experience erectile dysfunction, while women might notice vaginal dryness and a lack of arousal. Low testosterone can also contribute to depression and brain fog, further reducing sexual interest.
• Estrogen Imbalance: Both low and high estrogen can impact libido in women. Low estrogen is often associated with perimenopause and menopause, leading to vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, and mood changes. High estrogen (estrogen dominance) can result in heavy periods, bloating, and irritability. Estrogen also plays a key role in increasing blood flow to sexual organs, so imbalances can lead to decreased sensation and arousal.
• Progesterone Deficiency: This hormone plays a role in balancing estrogen levels. Low progesterone can cause anxiety, sleep disturbances, and mood swings, which indirectly contribute to a diminished sex drive. It also works with estrogen to regulate dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters that influence pleasure and emotional well-being.
• Cortisol Dysregulation: Chronic stress leads to high cortisol, suppressing sex hormone production. Symptoms include weight gain (especially around the midsection), brain fog, poor sleep, and low energy—factors that significantly impact libido. Over time, high cortisol can lead to adrenal fatigue, further reducing hormone production and sexual desire.
• Thyroid Dysfunction: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to decreased libido. Hypothyroidism often causes fatigue, weight gain, and depression, while hyperthyroidism can result in anxiety and rapid weight loss. The thyroid regulates metabolism and energy levels, so dysfunction can lead to sluggishness and a lack of interest in intimacy.
• Insulin Resistance: Poor blood sugar regulation contributes to inflammation, hormone imbalance, and weight gain—all of which negatively impact libido. Elevated insulin can suppress sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), leading to increased estrogen in men and reduced testosterone in women, both of which negatively affect sexual desire.

Natural Strategies to Enhance Libido

Restoring a healthy sex drive requires a comprehensive approach. Here’s how to support the key libido-enhancing hormones:

1. Optimize Testosterone Naturally

• Strength Training: Resistance training, such as weightlifting, increases testosterone levels.
• Zinc & Vitamin D: Zinc supports testosterone production, while vitamin D acts as a hormone regulator.
• Healthy Fats: Avocados, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish support hormone synthesis.
• Adequate Sleep: Poor sleep reduces testosterone levels, so aim for 7–9 hours per night.
• Reduce Alcohol & Endocrine Disruptors: Excess alcohol and exposure to xenoestrogens (found in plastics and certain chemicals) can lower testosterone levels.

2. Balance Estrogen & Progesterone

• Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts help metabolize excess estrogen.
• Seed Cycling: Flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds support estrogen production in the first half of the cycle, while sesame and sunflower seeds promote progesterone in the second half.
• Chasteberry (Vitex): An herbal remedy that supports progesterone levels.
• Reduce Xenoestrogens: Avoid plastic containers, conventional dairy, and personal care products with endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
• Support Liver Health: The liver helps metabolize estrogen, so consuming foods rich in sulforaphane (e.g., Brussels sprouts) and drinking plenty of water supports detoxification.

3. Regulate Cortisol and Stress Levels

• Adaptogens: Herbs like ashwagandha and rhodiola help regulate cortisol.
• Mindfulness Practices: Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga lower stress and improve hormone balance.
• Consistent Sleep Routine: Going to bed at the same time each night supports cortisol rhythm.
• Magnesium: This essential mineral calms the nervous system and supports adrenal health.
• Cold Exposure & Exercise: Brief cold showers and regular movement can improve resilience to stress and lower excessive cortisol levels.

4. Support Thyroid Function

• Iodine & Selenium: Essential nutrients found in seaweed and Brazil nuts that support thyroid health.
• Reduce Gluten & Processed Foods: Many individuals with thyroid dysfunction benefit from a gluten-free diet.
• Test & Treat Deficiencies: Ensure adequate iron, B vitamins, and vitamin D levels.
• Incorporate Adaptogenic Herbs: Herbs like guggul and ashwagandha can support thyroid hormone production.

5. Improve Insulin Sensitivity

• Reduce Sugar Intake: Excess sugar spikes insulin, leading to hormonal imbalances.
• Prioritize Protein & Fiber: These nutrients help regulate blood sugar levels.
• Regular Movement: Strength training and walking improve insulin sensitivity.
• Berberine Supplementation: This natural compound has been shown to lower blood sugar and improve metabolic function.
• Intermittent Fasting (IF): IF can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation when done appropriately.

Low libido isn’t just a result of aging – it’s a sign that something in the body is out of balance. By addressing the underlying hormonal imbalances and implementing targeted lifestyle changes, it’s possible to restore a vibrant sex drive and overall well-being.

If you struggle with persistent low libido, consider functional testing for hormonal imbalances and begin incorporating nutrient-dense foods, stress management techniques, and hormone-supportive practices into daily life. I can help – schedule your consultation today!

Not necessarily. In fact, some reports suggest that our best love-making years are the ones that may lie ahead of us. A recent survey of 5,000 singles of all ages, ethnicities, and income levels across the U.S. revealed that the best sex happens at age 66 for women and at 64 for men. It is at this time that our youthful self-consciousness wears off, communication becomes more comfortable, and greater creativity is embraced. So, if others are having the best sex of their lives as they grow older, perhaps it’s worth considering why you’re not enjoying sex at all.

There are a number of factors for a low libido. One of the biggest influences is our hormones. Hormones affect so many different parts of the body that when one chemical is out of sync, it can cause a nasty brew of issues. Hormones that specifically have an impact on libido include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Estrogen & Progesterone

When our bodies slow down on progesterone production, it can lead to estrogen dominance, which causes low libido in women. This can happen naturally during perimenopause, or it can also be brought on by stress. 

Yes, stress can actually throw your hormonal balance out of whack. When we’re running at top speed on life’s hamster wheel, we produce an excess of cortisol – our stress hormone. The spike in our cortisol levels can then end up blocking our progesterone receptors. The irony is that sex can usually be a huge stress buster. 

Symptoms of a progesterone deficiency can include decreased clitoral sensitivity, vaginal dryness, loss of vaginal muscle tension, as well as more general mood killers like fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and depression. Interestingly, a lack of estrogen can also cause similar symptoms. If any combination of these issues sounds familiar to you, it might be your hormones blocking your path to pleasure.

Testosterone

If you’ve always thought testosterone was only important for men, think again. Reduced testosterone levels can have an impact on libido for both sexes.

In women, testosterone is what gives orgasms their oomph, heightening the sexual experience. As you can imagine, low testosterone is going to have the opposite effect, reducing sexual desire and satisfaction. Low testosterone levels in women can also result in lethargy, depression, and muscle weakness. In post-menopausal years, reduced ovarian function and hormone imbalances can reduce the amount of testosterone a woman produces. 

Meanwhile, testosterone levels in men gradually decline with age. Testosterone deficiency in men not only diminishes libido and causes erectile dysfunction, but it can also result in a wide range of other symptoms including anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, poor memory, and reduced muscle and bone mass. Low testosterone levels can now be found in men of all ages.

Low Energy

Another one of the reasons people often associate a low libido with aging is due to the decrease in energy that comes with getting older. The same could be said about life after kids. As we age or when we become parents, our sleep patterns are interrupted with more frequent awakenings. The libido-crushing effects of poor-quality sleep does not only impact seniors and parents but feeling sleepy and irritable can happen to the best of us. Those who suffer from insomnia, irregular sleep patterns, or have sleep apnea may also relate. 

In one study, sleep apnea was shown to have an impact on testosterone levels in men. And as mentioned before, fatigue and lethargy can also be a result of hormonal imbalances in women. You see, when it comes to our bodies, everything is connected, which is why it is so important to think of our health as a whole and not in separate parts. In order for us to get better, we need to identify and treat the cause, not the symptoms. 

Solutions for Low Libido

1. Get Your Hormone Levels Checked

Our bodies are constantly changing, and the longer we ignore symptoms, the more out of balance we can get. When it comes to conditions brought on by our hormones, there is no reason why we have to “learn to live with it”. Start by getting your hormone levels tested properly in order to identify if an imbalance might be at play. A natural hormone treatment in Victoria can help get you back on track to feeling like yourself again. 

Book your Free Strategy Call to get started here!

2. Practice Mindfulness

Sure, “mindfulness” might sound like a cure-all buzzword, but there is a lot of truth to its power. Mindfulness, whether practiced through meditation, yoga or other means, helps us to reduce stress. When we reduce stress, we lower our cortisol levels. And as we already know, when our cortisol levels spike, it has a way of messing a lot of things up inside our bodies. 

A moment of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By starting each morning with a few minutes alone in quiet reflection, we can set the stage for a better day, and more easily ground ourselves when life begins to get busy.

Let’s not forget that a more mindful day can also help lead to a more restful night. According to the Journal of Sex and Medicine, getting just one more hour of sleep per night could increase your libido by 14 percent.

3. Dietary Supplements 

Foundational Nutrients

No matter what kind of diet you’re on, what exercise program you’re doing, or how much you’re meditating… in order to optimize your hormone and overall health, you need to focus on the foundations FIRST.

The Balanced You Bundle covers all the bases from immune and cellular health to sleep and digestive support and more. From optimal assimilation and absorption of nutrients to healthy joint, immune, and gut function. When your foundational health is taken care of, your hormone health can start to balance as well.

Maca Powder

Have you heard of Maca before? This interesting Peruvian plant has become a popular natural aphrodisiac and fertility booster, reputed to boost sex drive in both women and men. In one study, men reported heightened sexual desire after taking Maca for 8 weeks. In another study, men and women who took 3g of Maca daily reported an increase in libido, normally diminished by their prescribed antidepressants. 

Saffron

This pretty little herb has been proven to safely and effectively improve some sexual problems in women, including arousal, lubrication, and pain. Saffron has shown a positive effect on men with erectile dysfunction as well. In one study, men who took a 200mg tablet of saffron for only ten days showed an increased number and duration of erectile events.

Watermelon

Tasty, refreshing, and full of libido-boosting phytonutrients. A juicy slice of watermelon isn’t just nice to share on a romantic picnic, it also contains various beneficial compounds that have been shown to relax blood vessels and enhance your sex drive.  

Are you worried that you’ve lost your mojo? Fear not. We can work together to get it back! If you have been experiencing a low sex drive or suspect imbalanced hormones might be at play in other areas of your life, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we can help rebalance your system naturally – because there is no reason you should have to settle for less!

Resources:

http://www.bumc.bu.edu/sexualmedicine/publications/testosterone-insufficiency-in-women-fact-or-fiction/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9766760

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/87/7/3394/2847341

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12472620

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18801111

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25954318

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27130118

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280545

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19427775