Sometimes, relationship issues are NOT the problem!

The emotional effects of low libido don’t only affect the woman herself, but they affect her partner and her children because like it or not, we are teaching the next generation how to age and remain vibrant. 

If your low libido is causing you distress, there SHOULD be available pharmaceutical choices.  Yes, sex therapy MAY help and yes, counseling MAY help but for many of us these are either not effective or more importantly, NOT THE ISSUE!!

The excerpts below from "Relationship Advice with MaryJo" underscore the importance of obtaining a proper diagnosis of HSDD and it's underlying cause...

Absolutely,"addressing the emotional causes of low libido should be the first step you take in addressing why you no longer desire sex, your partner, or your intimate life"  and "relationship problems must also be ruled out prior to asking your doctor for help with medical interventions"

The questions below SHOULD be asked :

1. How is your mental health? Anxiety and depression must be ruled out. 
2. Stress level. Do you have stress regarding work, finances or lack of sleep?
3. Poor body image (do you feel less attractive)?
4. Low self-esteem. Did you just lose a job or is one of your children floundering?
5. A history of physical, verbal or sexual abuse lowers libido.

It is HSDD IN THE ABSENCE of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, marital distress, poor body image and low self-esteem that currently "gets the short end of the stick" in terms of medical solutions.

Having been on a clinical trial for a medical intervention for HSDD, it is time to EVEN THE SCORE.  There needs to be a balance of therapy and medical intervention - there is no perfect drug or perfect answer but we deserve choices.

Thanks MaryJo for this read!

 http://www.maryjorapini.com/2013/04/11/the-emotional-side-to-low-libido-in-mid-life/and