Expert reveals 8 warning signs that indicate your lack of sex drive could need medical attention
An expert has detailed eight specific warning signs to look out for that may suggest your lack of sex drive could be down to something more sinister.
Occasional dry spells in your lives is hardly uncommon - whether that be due to the fact having no time, or because a newborn has arrived, there are a variety of reasons why couples decide not to have sex for a certain period of time.
But a prolonged period of not being in the mood to get dirty between the sheets may be due to physical issues you may want to get checked out.
UTI infections after sex
Having sex is certainly a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), with the bacterial infection impacting your urinary system, including your urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Tracey Cox said: "Post-Sex Urinary Tract Infections are staggeringly common. Some women suffer every single time they have sex, turning something they used to enjoy into a ticking time bomb.
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"Anticipating the familiar burn, pressure and panic sends the healthiest libido into lockdown. Many women stop having intercourse altogether."
To help avoid getting a UTI, experts have said it's advised to urinate after sex.
Genital herpes
A whopping one in six people have herpes, with outbreaks causing you to develop painful blisters on your genitals.
The World Heath Organization (WHO) explains that there are two types of the virus - type one, which is spread by oral contact and it causes infection in and around the mouth.
"It can also cause genital herpes. Most adults are infected with HSV-1," it adds.
Meanwhile, type two is spread by sexual contact and causes genital herpes.
Speaking of how best to discuss such with your partner, Cox said: "A frank, mature conversation is the best route. Most people don't dump their partner once they confess to an STI got before they came along."
Lichen Sclerosus
Lichen Sclerosus is often misdiagnosed as as thrush, leading to many spending years without any proper treatment.
"It mainly affects post-menopausal women, but it can occur at any age (men and boys can get it as well)," Cox said of the condition in her piece for the Daily Mail.
"It's a long-term skin condition that mainly affects the skin of the genitals and the skin around the anus, causing thinning, inflammation and intense itching."
If you experience such, Cox advises you to see a GP or gynaecologist and 'insist on a referral'.
"Treatment usually involves high-potency steroid creams that dramatically improve symptoms," she added.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence - aka loss of bladder control - is certainly a worry during sex, and one you may want to get checked out.
However, there are some home remedies you can do to ease the pain.
Cox wrote: "Kegel exercises – repetitively and regularly squeezing, holding and releasing your pelvic floor muscles – work. More effective though is pelvic floor physiotherapy. Yes, who knew there are physios for your pelvic floor? But they do exist and treatment is incredibly effective."
Vaginismus
Such involves the muscles surrounding the lower part of a vagina going into spasm, which makes penetrative intercourse uncomfortable or even painful.
"The truth is, it's a medical condition, not your fault, and highly treatable with pelvic floor physiotherapy, counselling and the use of vaginal dilators," Cox explained in the Mail.
Endometriosis
The chronic condition occurs when tissue from the womb grows around the ovaries and fallopian tubes, and for some people, it can even reduce their fertility.
It can affect women of any age once they've started menstruating, including teenagers, and cause some pretty serious pain.
There is certainly a lack of awareness surrounding endometriosis, however, with a significant number of patients being left undiagnosed for an average of ten years.
Symptoms of the condition include pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during or after sex, and heavy menstrual bleeding
Chronic thrush
Chronic thrush is defined as having thrush four or more times within a year, leading to symptoms of itching, burning and unpleasant discharge.
"It kills your sex life because you're constantly uncomfortable, anxious about odour or embarrassed. If this is happening, don't DIY with over-the-counter meds," Cox explained in the Daily Mail.
She added: "Instead see a specialist. Often, it's about restoring the vaginal microbiome – using probiotics and making dietary changes, as well as medical treatment."
Episiotomies
Finally, an episiotomy is a surgical incision made in the perineum during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening - though there can be some complications from this.
"If you tore when your baby was born, there's a chance it never fully healed or left scar tissue behind," Cox added.
Such can result in pain during sex, which can lead to a fear of re-tearing - but there are some solutions.
The expert added: "A specialist women's health physio can help massage scar tissue and guide healing. There are also topical treatments."
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, Mental Health, Community
Callum Jones