Sexual Wellness & You

The PASH Mission: To help every Australian woman live a happier, more fulfilled life by supporting her sexual wellness needs throughout her life.

No matter what people say, there are no 'normal' responses – desire, interest and sexual activity can vary greatly, even in one woman over the period of her life. Factors such as children, work, money, family, age, hormone levels and ill-health will affect the sexual wellness of every woman at different times. Learning to cope and adapt to change is vital to maintaining a healthy relationship with a partner, and, importantly, yourself.

There are some monumental life-stages such as post-baby, ill health, menopause and mature age that may adversely affect a woman's sexual wellness. Our goal at PASH is to help women navigate through the various options available for support, and to provide references for expert help that may be suitable.

Sexual Wellness Tips

Low Libido: Why does it happen?

Everyone goes through stages when they're 'just not in the mood'. However, if you've noticed a real dip in your sex drive, it's important to understand what might be causing it and what you can do to help fix it. There are many health and relationship benefits to a healthy sex life, so it's important to know if you can just make lifestyle changes or whether you need to seek medical advice. Here are some of the most common causes:

Tiredness

There is actually a physiological reason that lack of sleep can reduce your libido. Testosterone levels can be lower in women who don't get enough sleep on a regular basis and testosterone is the hormone that helps get you in the mood. In addition to this, less time in bed with your partner means less cuddle and connection time.

Hormonal Changes

Changes to your hormone levels, particularly oestrogen can have a negative impact on your libido. During pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause your oestrogen levels drop and this can result in low libido, vaginal dryness and other symptoms.

Medication

Many medications can adversely affect your libido and also your ability to orgasm. Anti-depressants have a well-documented negative effect on libido. It's worth checking with your doctor if it's becoming an issue as switching to a different brand may help.

Birth Control

Research has shown that some birth control pills can lower the level of testosterone in some women, which will decrease your desire. Ironic given it is designed to give you the freedom to have sex uninhibited.

Anxiety, Stress & Depression

Feeling anxious and not connecting can easily affect your libido and desire, even your ability to communicate with your partner.

What can you do?

Firstly, by recognising that you have a low libido doesn't necessarily mean there is something wrong with you. Find out what's causing your libido challenges so you can treat the root cause. Try to think of sex as a fun activity with your partner, rather than a chore, so that you start to look forward to it. There are also endless ways you can connect and build your relationship on an intimate level, without always having sex. Make a special date night with all the things that you love - generate your own 'happy' hormones!

PASH offers 'Libido Lift' parties where we take you through other practical solutions that you can try.

PLEASE NOTE: Information and advice offered on the PASH website may not be relevant to your individual circumstances. Always consult your health professional for professional advice.