Research shows that nearly a third of women and 15% of men lack the desire to have sex regularly. But there are things you can do to put the sizzle back into your sex life with these expert-approved lifestyle changes, Fox News reports.
Plan more date nights
If a fun Saturday night with your hubby means watching Showtime in sweatpants, it could be killing your sex drive. Rekindle your romance by getting out of the house for an old-fashioned date. Your dates don't need to be grand romantic evenings; just going to the movies or out to dinner can reignite the spark you felt when you first met. "If it's too expensive to hire a nanny, ask your friends with kids to watch yours for the night and offer to return the favor," says Dr. Leah Millheiser, director of the Female Sexual Medicine Program at Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Pop a different birth control pill
Hormonal changes take a big toll on your sex drive. Birth control pills can be one of the biggest perpetrators: they can reduce your body's production of testosterone, and in turn, your desire to get down. Certain varieties may even cause pain during sex.
Check other meds, too
Take a look at your medicine cabinet—your prescriptions could be behind your lower libido. Aside from birth control pills, common offenders include drugs for high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), anxiety, and depression. "If a medication is the most likely culprit, discuss your concern with the prescribing doctor," Millheiser said. "It's possible that another treatment may be used with fewer side effects."
Add sex to your to-dos
We schedule doctor's appointments, work meetings, and drinks with friends—so why not sex? It's not the most romantic approach, but setting aside a specific time with your significant other means you're making a commitment to having an active sex life.
Use a lubricant
Getting in the mood can be almost impossible if sex is painful for you—but it doesn't have to be. One of the leading causes is dryness. "If vaginal dryness is causing pain during intercourse, try using a silicone-based sexual lubricant or a vaginal moisturizer," suggested. Millheiser. " If this doesn't improve the situation, you may want to check with a gynecologist to see if vaginal estrogen therapy is appropriate."
De-stress before sex
Everyday stressors—your job, your kids' grades, the leaky bathroom faucet—have a more powerful effect on your sex life than you may realize. Being stressed causes your body to produce more of the "fight or flight" hormone cortisol, which your body needs in small doses but can suppresses the libido when the body produces an excess. Before you hit the sheets, find an easy way to clear your mind, whether it's taking a long bath or curling up with a good book.
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