Valentine’s Day may not be a holiday to look forward to if the sexy has gone out of your relationship. Millions of Americans suffer from low libido as the stresses of work, raising children and aging take their toll on sex drive. I’d like to share a few ways that a Libido Reboot can help rekindle some of the passion that you may have lost over the years.

The Big Five Sex Sinkers

• Hormone imbalances
• Relationship issues
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Prescription Drugs

Seven Ways to Reboot Your Libido

1 Balance Your Hormones Hormone imbalances are a major cause of low libido. Most people understand that testosterone is the hormone that drives libido, but other hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and cortisol can be equally important. It’s the overall balance of your hormones that keeps you interested in your partner. For example, if a woman’s progesterone is low she may feel bloated and irritable, which does not contribute to feeling sexy or being sexy! In both men and women, too much estrogen or cortisol can throw a wet blanket on passion. If you have the suggestions below already in place but you still have no sex drive, it may be time to have your hormone levels tested. Many women over forty have some hormone imbalances, even if they’re still a decade or more away from menopause.

2 Eat Healthy Food Kicking the junk food habit may be the single biggest boost you can give to your sex life. Most of my patients feel a big difference within a week or two. Some foods might even put you in the mood, which is undoubtedly why chocolate is a Valentine’s day favorite. Chocolate is a feel-good food and can actually jump start brain chemicals that make your partner better looking!

3 Exercise If you don’t have any get-up-and-go, you won’t have the energy for sex. Exercise can make all the difference between “not tonight dear,” and “can we do that again?” It will give you more energy, lower your stress levels, and improve your overall feeling of wellness.

4 De-stress If you suspect that stress is sabotaging your sex life, learning relaxation techniques is a very important step. It can be as easy as taking a few minutes for some deep breathing. You can find relaxation techniques in any medium you like, from streaming videos to DVDs, and even apps! Meditation, yoga, and massage can all be tremendously helpful in managing stress. Find what appeals to you and make it part of your daily routine.

5 Add Some Spice Boredom can make late night TV more appealing than sex with your partner. Novelty can be important for couples in long-term relationships. Go back to things that were fun when you were courting, or try something new and different!

6 Use Caution with Alcohol Although alcohol in moderation can relax inhibitions, many people find that it’s a depressant, and makes them tired. That seemingly sexy glass of wine may end up being the lead-in to a nap instead of steamy sex.

7 Check the Medicine Cabinet Literally hundreds of prescription drugs are sex sinkers, from over-the-counter cough and cold remedies to drugs that lower blood pressure. Write down the generic names of any drugs you’re taking, and find out if side effects include “decreased libido.” You can check with your pharmacist or online sites such as drugs.com or rxlist.com.

  dr jennifer landa