How to Decrease Your Libido: From Dietary Changes to Medications

An in-depth look at causes, treatments, and interventions for a high libido

If you always seem to be turned on so strongly that it’s difficult to keep your head straight, you may be interested in lowering your sex drive. While there’s no way to instantly turn your sex drive off, there are plenty of ways to curb your impulses and take some of the intensity out of your sexual energy. In this article, we’ll cover the causes, treatments, and tricks you need to keep an overactive sex drive under control. Keep in mind, a high sex drive is only an issue if it interferes with your life and causes you distress or if it’s a symptom of some kind of medical condition. If you’re happy and healthy the way you are, you don’t need to change anything.

Things You Should Know

  • There is no such thing as a “normal” sex drive, so don’t be self-conscious or hard on yourself for wanting to have sex.
  • See a therapist if you suspect you have an underlying mental or emotional problem causing this or your relationships are struggling due to your sex drive.
  • Ask your doctor about SSRIs, anti-androgens, or birth control. All of these medications can curb a high sex drive.
Section 1 of 4:

What is a sex drive?

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    Your sex drive, or libido, refers to how often you desire sex. Your libido is influenced by your hormone levels, medical health, emotional comfort, and other factors. The point is, your body will let you know when it’s interested in getting frisky. Just keep in mind, a high sex drive is no big deal so long as you’re happy.[1]
    • There is no “normal” libido. Some people want to have sex every day while others are only interested in sex weekly or so.
    • If you’re content with the way you are and you have no other medical symptoms, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a high libido. However, if there’s an underlying issue causing this, it’s best to address it.
Section 2 of 4:

Natural Solutions

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    Adjust your diet to maintain a stable sex drive. Aphrodisiacs refer to foods that naturally increase libido, so avoiding these ingredients may take some steam out of your sex drive. The strongest aphrodisiacs include coffee, beets, asparagus, artichokes, avocado, chocolate, and strawberry, so cut back on these to reduce your libido.[2]
    • If you’re male, start eating licorice. There’s good evidence that regularly eating licorice can naturally lower testosterone levels.[3]
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    Maintain healthy and respectful sexual relationships. Your sex drive may diminish if you don’t feel fulfilled or comfortable in your sex life. Communicate your wants, needs, and boundaries with your partner in a productive way. Respect your partner by showing them affection, and listen to them when they express themselves.[4]
    • Always practice safe sex by using a condom (unless you’re in a committed and consensual relationship).
    • Never shy away from voicing concerns or saying no; you should never feel compelled to do something you aren’t comfortable with.
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    Seek therapy if you want to improve the way you feel. You don’t have to have a mental or emotional disorder to benefit from therapy. Talk therapy is extremely helpful when it comes to making sense of your emotions, finding inner peace, and improving your overall wellbeing. Work with a therapist to sort through any feelings or issues that may be driving your high sex drive.[5]
    • Couples therapy is a great option if you’re in a relationship where the two of you have naturally different libidos or if you’re struggling with conflict.
    • Sex therapists specialize in treating clients dealing with sexual issues. If your high libido is the only thing in your life you want help changing, seek out a sex therapist.
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    Cut back on any illicit drug use or excessive alcohol consumption. MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine, and many other drugs out there can send your libido rocketing through the roof. Binge drinking can also throw your hormones into all kinds of crazy cycles, so cut back if you’ve been overdoing it.[6]
    • If you’ve noticed your libido is always really high whenever you party and become intoxicated, taking it easy in the future should solve this problem.
Section 3 of 4:

Medical Interventions

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    See an endocrinologist to have your hormonal levels checked. If something is going on medically with your hormones, an endocrinologist will get to the bottom of it. See your primary care physician and ask for a referral or schedule an appointment on your own to get a hormone panel test. They’ll draw your blood and analyze your hormone levels to spot any potential issues.[7]
    • If something is going on medically, work with your doctor and endocrinologist to treat the underlying condition.
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    Ask a doctor or psychiatrist about taking SSRIs. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressant medications that are notorious for their ability to curb libido. SSRIs like Zoloft, Effexor, and Paxil also treat a variety of mental health issues. They also come with relatively few side effects for most people (outside of the one you’re looking for here).[8]
    • Do not self-medicate without talking to a professional first. SSRIs can be a great option depending on what you’re dealing with, but you must see a medical expert first.
    • If you’ve had a negative reaction to SSRIs, ask your doctor about tricyclic antidepressants. These are a different class of medication that function a little bit differently to SSRIs but have the same effects.
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    Talk to your doctor about anti-androgen medications. Anti-androgens, like Flutamide, Spironolactone, and Cyproterone, are used to treat skin conditions, like acne. These meds are also a common treatment for an enlarged prostate, cancer, or hair loss. Androgens are a key hormone class that control sex drive, so taking any medication that inhibits androgens will curb your libido.[9]
    • You’ll need a prescription for any anti-androgen medication, so ask your doctor if these meds are appropriate for you.
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    Switch to birth control pills if you’re a woman. If you’re using an IUD or some other form of birth control but you really want to slow your libido down, try switching to the pill. While some women see a huge increase to their libido, most women experience a bit of a slowdown with oral contraceptives.[10]
Section 4 of 4:

Potential Causes

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    Age It is extremely normal to experience a high sex drive as you go through puberty in your teens or when you first experiment sexually. In fact, this period of high sex drive can last through your late 20s! All of the hormones and neurotransmitters that control sexual urges can fluctuate as you age, so it’s possible your high sex drive is just a natural part of getting older.[11]
    • A lot of women experience a sudden surge in their libido during their 40s due to the onset of menopause, which can cause hormone levels to dip and spike in huge waves.[12]
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    Mental health status You might be experiencing an increased sex drive because you’re especially happy or energetic. If you’re in a productive, loving relationship you could simply be super into your partner. Short periods of increased libido are often simply a reflection of your state of mind.[13]
    • You may have a high libido simply because you’re bored. A lot of people let their mind wander towards sexual thoughts when they don’t have a lot going on.
    • Stress can lower your sex drive, so if you’ve recently resolved a major stressor in your life, you may naturally experience a huge boost sexually.
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    Medication There are a ton of medications out there that can increase your libido, so if you’ve changed your medications lately, this may be the root cause. Your libido is controlled by testosterone (in men) and estrogen (in women), so any medication that boosts these hormones will influence your sex drive.[14]
    • Ask your doctor about the medication you’re taking and whether an increased sex drive could be a side effect.
    • Birth control can cause some women to experience a radical increase in libido.
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    Hormonal issues Your sex drive is controlled by hormones in your body. Primarily, testosterone and estrogen are the key chemicals, although serotonin and dopamine (the mood hormones) play a big role as well. If you have any kind of medical condition influencing your hormones, it can trigger a change in your libido.[15]
    • Thyroid disorders are a common cause of hormonal imbalances.
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    Sexual or mental disorders A variety of non-physical conditions can lead to hypersexuality and compulsive sexual behavior. If you’ve been dealing with any kind of emotional or mental issues, your high libido could be a side effect.[16] Potential conditions that can cause an increase in sex drive include:
    • Sex addiction.
    • Bipolar disorder.
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
    • Manic-depressive disorder.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/libido
  2. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/10-edible-aphrodisiacs/
  3. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14520600/
  4. ↑ https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/sexualhealth/characteristics.html
  5. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/when-an-ssri-medication-impacts-your-sex-life
  6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4036458/
  7. ↑ https://www.endocrinewellness.com/hormone-panel-testing/
  8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/when-an-ssri-medication-impacts-your-sex-life
  9. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453
  1. ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/ask-experts/im-on-the-pill-and-ive-noticed-a-drop-in-my-sex-drive-what-should-i-do
  2. ↑ https://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/news-events-media/news/web/20-in-2020/aging-and-sex-drive
  3. ↑ https://www.memorialcare.org/blog/why-i-feel-more-sexual-my-40s
  4. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12807294/
  5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3687056/
  6. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18192936/
  7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695750/

About This Article

Klare Heston, LCSW
Co-authored by:
Klare Heston, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
This article was co-authored by Klare Heston, LCSW and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR). This article has been viewed 247,467 times.
10 votes - 60%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: December 21, 2022
Views: 247,467
Categories: Sexual Activity
Article SummaryX

To lower your sex drive, take herbal supplements known to reduce testosterone, like Chaste Tree Berry, licorice, or red reishi. Make sure to talk to your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet so you can do it safely. When you feel the urge to have sex, distract yourself by going for a walk or playing a game, anything that will put your attention on something else. Consider getting your body moving through a vigorous exercise like kickboxing or weight-lifting. However, exercise can increase testosterone production, so be careful not to work out too much. For a less intense physical distraction, learn relaxation techniques like yoga or tai chi, which can help you cope with sexual tensions. For more help from our co-author, including how to reach out to a therapist about your urges, read on.

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