Many people experience a lull in their sex life occasionally. It is usually no cause for concern and will often pass. For those that experience it for extended lengths of time, knowing the symptoms that define it as a medical condition can be very helpful. It gives the sufferer knowledge to share at doctor visits to help pinpoint the problems that may be causing the issue.

Distressing

It must cause remarked distress. This effect must be felt by the person with the condition. Although the medical industry is beginning to understand the negative consequence such a condition can have on a long-term relationship, your partner’s misery is not taken into consideration. An example of this could be that of a new mother that is breastfeeding her baby. Normal lows in hormones, being tired, and learning how to fit the new baby in with everyday life can take its toll. She may not feel like or be interested in sex. Her partner may be feeling it has been too long, the doctor said it was ok, and is getting frustrated with the lack of action. This does not fit the clinical description of low libido. On the other hand, if after the baby is older and the mother has adjusted to her role as mother, her periods return to normal and she is still lacking any desire for sex and it bothers her that is happening, we would have something to work with. This leads us to the next symptom to be considered.

Ongoing

The situation of lack of desire has to be going on for quite some time. Many months and sometimes even longer without is often a deciding factor to perform further evaluation. Continuing our example above, the mother quit nursing the baby at the average time of one year. Within a couple of months, her menstrual cycles have returned to normal. Her schedule of activity has lightened up; she has adjusted to the new responsibilities. By all appearances, she should be ready to enter once again into a sexual event because she wishes to share that with her partner. Somehow, that is not the case. A few more months go by; she is starting to wonder if she should be feeling amorous. This would be a good time for her to discuss this with her doctor. Lack of sex drive has lasted for quite some time and it is starting to bother her that her desire is not what it used to be.

To summarize the symptoms that warrant further evaluation of low libido it must be an ongoing problem. Once or twice or a week when other things may be conflicting will not allow for a clinical diagnosis. The ‘unaffected’ partner being frustrated with lack of sex or extra work towards arousal does not make for a clinical diagnosis. The person who is experiencing this lack of desire for sex must be experiencing it for quite some time and it has to be bothering or worrying largely to qualify for further investigation into the cause.