Has COVID-19 destroyed your libido?

Lockdown was a very good time to get close with your partner and spend some quality time together, but that's not the case with everyone. Let's be real, 2020 has been a stressful year. The uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, and the fact that no one really knows when this might end has resulted in widespread panic and stress.

Loss of libido (sex drive) is a common problem that can affect men and women of any age. It is normal for many people to lose their sex drive after a certain age especially women. Usually, it happens when you attain Peri-menopausal age which is 42 onwards. Usually, women feel mood swings, vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse during the peri-menopausal phase that is before menopause and after the age of 45 and above which is the ideal age of menopause, levels of the female hormone oestrogen begins to fall, which can affect the libido and result in a lack of interest in sex.

''Low sex drive is actually a woman's problem, but today men are no further behind. When cortisol is raised for long periods of time, say, during a worldwide pandemic, it impacts everything from digestion, to immune function, to body fat storage, and the ability of your brain to process and react to sexual cues. Stress and no physical activity are one of the reasons for a loss of libido, Dr Anubha Singh, Gynecologist and IVF Specialist from Shantah IVF Centre said.

Intimacy is not possible when people are around: Intimacy is often a natural result of two separate individuals who desire "a closeness, merging or fusion of themselves", but for those who share their home with partners, family members or kids; it is a bit not possible for them to have intimacy at this time. Like Shefali Arora, (name changed) a teacher said: "Nowadays in and out, you're aware of everyone's presence in the home and with so few boundaries to delineate us while we eat, sleep, work and navigate the same space all day long, the idea of getting intimate with your partner may no longer be of interest. Also, physical work is more due to non-availability of housemaids."

Stress is another reason for lack of libido: The pandemic and related concerns about health, income, work, children and the uncertainty of it all can leave us feeling overtaxed and under-resourced.

Women experience more loss of libido than men: Women, on the other hand, suffer the most times the low sex drive. There is an N number of reasons for loss of libido among females. "During pregnancy and lactation, it is not only the hormonal changes that can cause a lack of libido. It is goaded by tiredness, low self-esteem due to weight gain and compounded by psychological factors too. Many a time after pregnancy women feels PPD i.e postpartum depression due to tiredness and usually resolves itself in a few months."

"Due to low sex drive women may suffer secondary infertility too after the first pregnancy," informs Dr Anubha Singh. You can also take steps to boost your libido on your own. The following have the potential to increase your libido:

Live a healthier lifestyle. Get enough sleep. Practice stress management. Reduce alcohol intake. Go for Testosterone replacement therapy (ask your doctor first). Counselling. (IANS) 

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