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Women's HealthReproductive HealthSexual health workshop - part one
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Sexual health workshop - part one

by Dr Sarah Brewer
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Desire for sex, sex drive, or libido - whatever you choose to call it - is one of the strongest urges experienced by humans

Why we get turned on

Sex drive varies considerably from person to person, and each individual can experience changes in their sex drive from time to time. Some people are driven by a powerful libido that fuels sexual activity at least once a day. For others, sex drive is low-key and is satisfied by sexual intimacy occurring less than once a month.

Sexologists describe two main types of sex drive:

  • Physical libido: the aggressive, testosterone-dominant sex drive, in which there is a drive to find a sexual mate

  • Psychological libido: the receptive, oestrogen-dominant sex drive, in which there is a passive willingness to accept the sexual overtures of a potential mate

    There is a little of each drive in everyone. Men are said to reach their peak physical sex drive in their teens, while their psychological sex drive peaks after the age of 50 when testosterone levels fall. Women are said to reach their physical sexual peak in their thirties or forties while their psychological sex drive reaches its maximum, like men, in their fifties.

    It is easy to take your sex drive for granted when it is working normally and helping you maintain a healthy, loving relationship. When it fails, however, it can have a devastating effect on your life. Low sex drive is common. Surveys suggest it affects 20 per cent of the population at any one time, including 30 per cent of middle-aged women, 60 per cent of stressed executives, over 70 per cent of postmenopausal women and 80 per cent of new mothers.

    Top turn-offs

    Loss of sex drive may be due to a variety of reasons, and the most common culprits are:

  • Anxiety, stress and overwork
  • Lack of exercise and physical unfitness
  • Tiredness and lack of energy
  • Being overweight
  • Pregnancy and breast-feeding
  • Depression
  • Side-effects of some drugs - including the oral contraceptive Pill
  • Hormonal changes during menopause

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