Remedies for low libido in women

It's a problem that afflicts millions

Sock hop: One way for women to boost their libido is to pop on a pair of socks‘Generally, if a person has a good sex life it’s an indicator of good health. Low libido or erectile dysfunction can sometimes indicate an underlying condition such as diabetes.’

Here the experts reveal the most common passion killers — and advice on how to tackle them . . .

COLD FEET

Surprisingly, one simple way for women to boost their libido is to pop on a pair of socks.
Mooted theory: There's no proof that men who are bald are more virile - and the treatment for baldness may leave them under-performing sexually In a study at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, researchers found that 80 per cent of women involved were able to achieve orgasm when they were given socks to wear, compared with 50 per cent when barefooted.

According to Gert Holstege, who led the study, it’s all connected with how safe and comfortable women feel. The regions of the brain responsible for anxiety and fear — the amygdala and prefrontal cortex — need to be deactivated for a woman to successfully reach climax.

‘A pleasant environment, which includes the room temperature, is an important part of making her feel safe, secure and comfortable, ’ he says.

ANTI-BALDNESS DRUGS

Some men worry that baldness affects their attractiveness, but the treatment for it may leave them under-performing in the bedroom, says Dr Radha Modgil, an NHS GP in London who specialises in sexual health.

‘Lots of men come and see me asking for finasteride, a drug that treats male pattern baldness.

Mooted theory: There's no proof that men who are bald are more virile - and the treatment for baldness may leave them under-performing sexually

‘But when I tell them this drug behaves by blocking the male hormone testosterone and can therefore have an effect on libido and erectile function, they tend to have a change of heart.’

Worryingly, the effect may not be instantly reversible. A study last year of 71 men, by Dr Michael Irwig at the University of Washington, found that finasteride can cause persistent sexual dysfunction lasting for an average of 40 months after stopping taking the drug.

And although it’s a much mooted theory, there’s been no conclusive proof yet that men who go bald are more virile.

BUNGED-UP NOSE

A growing body of evidence is showing the importance of smell in libido, and our ability to attract and be attracted to people.

Last year, a study at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that men with anosmia — no sense of smell — have significantly fewer sexual partners on average.

The researchers said this could be because we subconsciously use smell to recognise others’ emotional states.

‘A lot of social signals are transported through the olfactory channel, and they are probably missing them, ’ said lead author Ilona Croy, a psychologist at the university.

Smell is also important because of pheromones — scents given off by a partner’s body through sweat.

Brain scan studies by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden show that the smell of testosterone and oestrogen activates the hypothalamus — the area of the brain responsible for mood, sexual behaviour and hormones.

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by Ulysses@rest