How to Increase Libido In Women: Causes & Treatment Options
women’s health
Addressing low libido in women can feel like a sensitive subject, but it’s essential that women who want to invest in their best sex life feel empowered to do so.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation about low libido in women. And, even when people do talk about it, they tend to gloss over some of the hard-hitting questions.
Can birth control cause low sex drive?
Is there a way to deal with painful sex after menopause?
What’s the link between antidepressants and sex drive?
And how do you increase libido in women?
In this helpful guide, we’ll tackle each of these questions. We’ll also review some of the most popular treatment options for low libido and discuss ways Americans can get these treatments for less (and shipped directly to their front doors).
How to Increase Libido in Women: Background Info + Treatment Options
Because we believe that informed patients make the best decisions about their care, we’ll start by providing a guide to why women might seek medications to increase their libido.
What Causes Low Libido in Women?
There are several reasons women might seek methods for increasing their libido.
Between 7-13% of adult women are estimated to suffer from a condition called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder, or HSDD. Women with HSDD have a lower or nonexistent sex drive and are unhappy with their lack of interest in sex.
In other situations, women might experience hormonal imbalances that can reduce their energy levels, their serotonin, or the healthiness of their vaginal tissues.
Often, this occurs after giving birth, after menopause, or after surgery – though there are genetic conditions and chronic illnesses that can produce similar results.
Women can also experience these libido-lowering imbalances after taking an antidepressant.
As a result of any of these causes, women might seek options like Viagra for Women or other libido-boosting treatments.
The Connection Between Antidepressants and a Lower Sex Drive
Nearly 20% of women between the ages of 40 and 60 take antidepressants at least on occasion. As treatments for depression or support for dealing with difficult situations, SSRIs and other antidepressants can be invaluable and even necessary, life-changing tools.
However, there is a link between antidepressants and a lower sex drive.
Very common side effects of SSRIs include difficulty getting aroused, sustaining arousal, or being able to reach orgasm. As those who take antidepressants age, these side effects become even more common.
Women who seek a way to balance their mental health treatment and their need for a libido-increasing solution may be able to consider Wellbutrin.
Is There a Link Between Wellbutrin and Sex Drive?
Wellbutrin (bupropion) is a prescription medication often prescribed to manage the symptoms of depression. Patients who take Wellbutrin are often better able to cope with stress, frustration, and sadness. As a result, they find themselves better equipped to enjoy their everyday life.
For women who seek consistently balanced mental health and the ability to enjoy sex without discomfort, Wellbutrin can be an ideal solution.
Wellbutrin doesn’t tend to cause the same libido-lowering side effects as many other antidepressant medications. But the benefits may go further than that.
One 2019 study found that bupropion can increase sexual function and libido for some people, under some circumstances. There needs to be more research completed to learn more about the potential benefits of bupropion for libido. Still, it may be worth asking your doctor whether Wellbutrin fits your specific circumstances.
Can Birth Control Cause Low Sex Drive?
Birth control can cause a low sex drive, but whether it will for any individual woman depends on many factors. (Many studies have looked into this question over the past several decades, and few have any conclusive results. Those that do contradict each other.)
The idea behind this question is simple.
Many popular birth control methods contain a mixture of estrogen and progestin. These hormones can suppress fertility when taken as part of a birth control regimen.
They can also lower a person’s natural testosterone levels. Higher testosterone levels are linked to a higher sex drive in both men and women.
Many women experience a reduced sex drive after starting birth control. Others don’t. As the scientific community is learning, the various puzzle pieces that go into each person’s sex drive are complex, situation-dependent, and unique.
The important thing is that women who feel a reduced sex drive and want to do something about it should have options. Here, we’re trying to ensure that you have the information to make the right decision for you!
What is Female Viagra?
Viagra is a popular medication prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction, or ED.
While there’s no such thing as Female Viagra, exactly, there are analogous medications (like Addyi) that can help women experience a heightened sex drive.
How Addyi and Vyleesi Increase Libido in Women
Addyi (flibanserin) is an oral medication women take once daily, usually in the evening. When taken regularly, Addyi improves libido in women – premenopausal women, in particular.
Unlike some of the options we’ll discuss later in this guide, Addyi is not a hormone therapy. Instead, it’s a serotonin agonist and antagonist. Addyi works by balancing brain chemistry to reduce stress and increase happiness, which usually helps allow sexual interest and desire.
Addyi isn’t the only type of women’s libido medication to take this strategy.
Vyleesi (bremelanotide) is an injection women self-administer approximately 45 minutes before sexual activity. Many patients prefer oral medications over injections, and both drugs work in similar ways, so we’ll concentrate on Addyi, here.
In America, a one-month supply of Addyi costs around $580.00 per month. Increasing a woman’s libido with Addyi could become a significant line item in the average household’s budget, costing well over $6,000.00 per year.
Here at NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 30 tablets of Addyi for approximately $350.00 (up to 40% savings).
How to Treat Painful Sex After Menopause
After women go through menopause, they have naturally lower levels of estrogen. Since one of estrogen’s jobs is keeping vaginal tissues lubricated and healthy, after menopause, many women experience vaginal dryness.
This dryness can lead to very uncomfortable, dry sex – ranging from unpleasant to extremely painful. Three effective options to make post-menopausal sex far more pleasant include:
- Using a vaginal moisturizer. Vaginal moisturizers such as polycarbophil gel add water back to dry vaginal tissues. While vaginal lubricants must be applied before every sexual encounter, people need only apply a vaginal moisturizer 2-3 times per week.
- Using a vaginal lubricant. If a vaginal moisturizer doesn’t work for you, a vaginal lubricant is a very effective method for making sex more comfortable. Many women choose to use both! Fragrance-free options may be your best bet, and silicone or water-based lubricants are safer for use with condoms.
- Using medication. There are many prescriptions out there that can provide effective relief for painful sex and even increase female libido. From vaginal estrogens to corticosteroid therapy, you have options. Talk to your doctor about your goals, and they’ll be able to help you determine which is the best prescription medication for you.
If you’re intrigued by the medication route, there are a few options to think about.
Estrogen Treatments for Low Libido in Women
NorthWestPharmacy.com carries several hormone treatments that can treat low libido in women. Here are three of the most popular:
How Premarin Increases Libido in Women
Premarin (Conjugated Estrogens - CES) is a hormone replacement therapy available as an oral tablet and topical cream. It delivers a mixture of different types of estrogen hormones to patients dealing with the symptoms of low estrogen. Often, this happens after menopause begins, and can lead to a lower libido.
American patients pay upwards of $250.00 for a one-month supply of Premarin, which works out to be around $8.30 per pill.
At NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 28 doses of Premarin for about $29.00, or just over one dollar per pill (up to 88% savings).
How Intrarosa Increases Libido in Women
Intrarosa (prasterone) is a topical medication. Unlike Premarin, which is a type of bioidentical hormone, Intrarosa aims to boost a woman’s libido through corticosteroid therapy. Prasterone is another type of hormone, called DHEA. DHEA naturally comes from the adrenal glands and ovaries. In the body, it gets converted into estrogen.
When patients take Intrarosa, their bodies have more of the precursor to estrogen – which often helps estrogen levels rise. As some women cannot tolerate direct estrogen replacement therapies, Intrarosa’s slightly more indirect approach can provide sought-after results.
In America, a pack of 28 vaginal suppositories, or a 4-week supply, costs about $300.00. That’s about $10.70 per dose.
Alternatively, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 28 Intrarosa vaginal suppositories for about $90.00, or approximately $3.20 per suppository (up to 70% savings).
How Prempro Increases Libido in Women
Prempro (called Premplus in Canada) (estrogen/medroxyprogesterone) is a medication that can deliver two sex hormones required for optimal female health: Estrogen and progesterone.
While estrogen is the hormone that gets much of the spotlight for postmenopausal women, progesterone (sometimes known as the “chill” hormone) is associated with being in a relaxed state of mind – certainly helpful for increasing many women’s libidos.
Prempro can also help keep a woman’s vaginal walls healthy and lubricated, which reduces the likelihood of painful intercourse.
American patients often pay as much as $280.00 for 28 tablets, or just about $10.00 per tablet, for brand-name Prempro.
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 84 doses of Prempro starting at around $120.00, or about $1.40 per pill (up to 86% savings).
Wondering How to Increase Libido in Women? Start Here
If you seek a way to increase libido in women, especially after menopause, you have options. The proper medication can help – particularly if you can afford it and access it without too much stress.
Finding the right estrogen, HSDD, or “Female Viagra” medications in America can be very difficult. At NorthWestPharmacy.com, we don’t think it’s fair that products improving your quality of life or relationships should be beyond your grasp, financially or otherwise.
That’s why we support American patients with consistently low-cost medications, swift shipping options, and updated information about the medications that could improve their lives.
Here’s how it works.
- Discuss your options with your doctor, and once you’ve determined which medication aligns most with you and your goals, request an updated prescription. Your doctor should send it to the pharmacy of your choice. For low prices and excellent customer service, select an international online pharmacy.
- Go through the extensive list of medications available through NorthWestPharmacy.com or just use the “search” function on our website. Once you’ve found what you’re looking for, click “add to cart.”
- As you go through the checkout process, you’ll receive instructions on how to submit your prescription and a little information about your medical history. Our customer service team will help you every step of the way. If you’d like to speak directly with our customer service team or even a pharmacist about your order, just let us know!
- Then, once you’ve completed your order, you can sit back and relax – your medication will be on its way to your front door in a timely manner.
We believe that ordering your medications can be simple. So, at NorthWestPharmacy.com, it is. Our goal is to make your experience with our international online drugstore as seamless as possible. And that dedication has paid off: We have over 430,000 verified online pharmacy customer reviews from satisfied customers.
Give our team a call if there’s anything we can do to assist, or if you’d like to place an order over the phone. The number is 1-866-539-5330. The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com is looking forward to providing you with comprehensive support and significant savings.