*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.

You should also know that OutUK has produced a special report about: Coronavirus Covid-19.

This Week - L : Libido

There are many possible reasons for having a low sex drive (loss of libido). Treating the cause should help increase your sex drive.

Causes of a low sex drive

Some of the main causes of a low sex drive include:

relationship problems
stress, anxiety or depression
sexual problems like erectile dysfunction or vaginal dryness
pregnancy and having a baby - your hormone levels change when you're pregnant, and looking after a baby can be stressful and tiring
lower hormone levels as you get older, particularly during the menopause
taking certain medicines, such as medicine for high blood pressure or antidepressants
using hormonal contraception like the pill, patch or implant
drinking too much alcohol

Some long-term conditions can also affect your sex drive, such as heart disease, diabetes, an underactive thyroid or cancer.

you're worried about your low sex drive
you're taking a medicine or using hormonal contraception and you think it may be affecting your sex drive
your sex drive does not return to normal after pregnancy

Treatment for a low sex drive depends on what's causing it.

A GP can advise you about help you can get and any treatments that might improve your sex drive.

Cause	Possible treatments
Relationship problems	Relationship counselling
Sexual problems like vaginal dryness or erectile dysfunction	Medicines to treat the problem, such as vaginal lubricants or medicines to help you get an erection
Menopause	Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Mental health problems like depression	Antidepressants or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Medicine, contraception and health conditions	Changing to a different medicine or type of contraception, or discussing treatment options if you have a health condition

We'll have more information and advice next week on another topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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