Is something messing with your mojo?

Ebbs and flows in libido are natural, but if you’re feeling as if your sex drive has been too low for too long, “that’s worth investigating,” says Dr. Lori Brotto, Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health and director of the Sexual Health Lab at the University of British Columbia.

Many factors affect libido. Some you’re likely aware of, like fatigue and stress. But there are others.

Alcohol: While small amounts can act as a disinhibitor and aphrodisiac, higher levels have the opposite effect. “It impacts the dilation of the blood vessels, making it difficult to get blood flow to the genitals,” Brotto explains. Arousal and orgasm also require a complex interplay between the brain and body but with alcohol’s effect on the brain, “you might feel in the mood, but the brain is not actually picking up the signals from your body that they’re aroused, so the brain is not able to direct more arousal back down to the body,” explains Brotto.

Pain medications: Gabapentinoids are a class of drugs that are increasingly being prescribed to treat chronic pain in women and are known to often lower libido.

Of course, not treating chronic pain isn’t really an option. “Pain itself can be debilitating, and it directly interferes with desire,” says Brotto. While Brotto recognizes there’s “no easy answer” when it comes to weighing the benefits versus downsides of a medication, seeking the advice of medical experts can help.

Thyroid conditions: An undiagnosed thyroid condition can wreak havoc on one’s energy levels, mood, and sex life, since the hormones it produces “have a cascading effect on the other hormone systems of the body,” Brotto explains.

With hyperthyroidism, “your body is revved up all the time,” and this can result in an almost constant “fight or flight” response, Brotto explains. On the flip side, with hypothyroidism, it’s the side effects of the condition, like fatigue and overall sluggishness, that affect libido.

Those who think they might have a thyroid issue can talk to a family doctor about blood tests.