How Your Sex Drive Changes in Your 30s
When our bodies age, hormone changes follow. The amounts of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones your body produces can increase or decrease depending on numerous factors. This can have a profound effect on your sex drive, also known as libido.
All three of these hormones can affect your sex drive in different ways. For men, when testosterone levels fall, so does sex drive, but low estrogen levels can have the same effect.
For women, a drop in testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone can affect sex drive. It’s been repeatedly found that low estrogen levels can cause this, but the finding that these other hormones can affect a woman’s sex drive is more recent.
How Men Are Affected
Some men find that their sex drives are unaffected going into their thirties, but that’s not the case for everyone.
In fact, this is the age when some men start to have a decrease in their sex drive caused by low testosterone, one of the main hormones that govern sex drive in men. Testosterone levels will naturally start decreasing around the age of 35 — by about 1-2% a year — which by itself can be enough to decrease your libido.
However, it’s possible for testosterone levels to start dropping earlier. Some men can have low testosterone even in their twenties, and it’s not uncommon for men in their thirties to find that their sex drive has dropped significantly.
If you’re suffering from abnormally low testosterone or estrogen levels, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can often help.
How Women Are Affected
Most women have a different experience compared to men. Several studies have found that women tend to have their strongest sex drive in their thirties. This was measured through surveys that asked women in their thirties how often they thought about or fantasized about sex.
Some researchers believe this has to do with women’s so-called “biological clock” — the idea that, as women age and get closer to menopause — they feel a biological urge to have children before it’s too late.
However, not all women have this experience. Some women find that, similar to men, their sex drive decreases in their thirties. This can be due to a hormone imbalance, like low estrogen or testosterone, and it’s possible that hormone replacement therapy can help.
Let’s Talk About Whether Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Right for You
If you think BHRT is right for you, let’s talk.
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy and discuss your options, schedule an appointment today.