Wednesday, 28 April 2010
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Odd (and Alarming) News of the Day: Women 18-30 Reporting Low Libido
A 2010 study done by the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health have found that it isn't just older women that have found their sex drive diminishing, it's happening in women as young as 18 years old as well!
43% of women, ages 18-30, reported sexual problems. I'd just like to point out... THAT'S ALMOST HALF! And I thought I was supposed to be hitting my sexual peak at 30, not having it wind down. According to ABC News, some of the culprits may be stress, depression/anxiety and the birth control pill.
The stress comes mainly from the workplace and the pressure from the fact that people are losing their jobs and working longer hours. The new economy and the exhaustion that comes along with it is essentially sucking the sex drive out of women.
Secondly, more and more young women are taking antidepressants, where a common side effect is decreased sexual desire. Similar side effects come from taking the birth control pill, which messes with women's levels of testosterone, the central hormone in desire.
And lastly, women are feeling the pressure to be sexy in the media. The anxiety that comes from the pressure to be good in bed is having the reverse effect on their libidos.
" But Judith Steinhart, a health and sexuality consultant certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists, said today's young women -- and men -- feel the pressure to be "sex pots."
Steinhart argues that the medical and pharmaceutical community is dictating new norms: "Whose definition of sexual desire are we talking about?" asked the New York City sex educator.
"Is it lack of sexual desire or do we have expectations that we are supposed to be hypersexualized women at 16, 26, 36 and so on?" asked Steinhart.
"Take a look at any MTV video or at Beyonce," she said. "Who can even move that way? She works so hard on the dance floor, I'll bet she goes to sleep early, too."
So what do you think? Are these all valid reasons that young women could be experiencing problems in the bedroom? Is the pressure to be sexy killing our sex drives?
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Comments (23)
Well, at least I can say I am in the 57% of that statistic. I definitely do not have a high libido. =P
Women have it rough, I suppose. Though as a woman, I don't care if I'm ungodly busy, I will always be willing to go at it. =)
*I definitely do not have a low libido, rather
Epic post fail. XP
I don't think it is the "pressure to be sexy" for me... cause I don't feel the pressure. I could care a less about thin models on the covers of mags and my SO feels quite repulsed by them. I think sometimes for me... it is just the stress... the economy, worrying about money, going to college, going to work, being tired when you get home... it is just that women have way larger roles now days... and there is a lot to do and a lot to stress about.
For me it's all about the connection. My hubby is working the night shift so he sleeps during the day while I'm awake with our daughter and I sleep at night while he's awake. So we don't have a lot of 'together time'...and that's killing the connection for us. Less connection, less I want to have sex.
My sex drive is definitely lower now and I'm currently in Counselling for depression. Never really thought that the two might be linked. When I first broke up with my ex all I wanted was sex, but now I'm just not interested that much. I am very stressed at the moment, and I'm living such a busy life right now. I'm pretty sure it would increase if I had a boyfriend again though ;).
I am into this. Less sex means less scope for embarrassment. Once a week is fine.
Check out my dating disasters:
http://plentymorefishoutofwater.blogspot.com/
One thing that isn't in there. How many of the women had childern? Why is that not a factor in this?
Hooray not being in that 43%! On the flip side, boo for not having anyone to get it on with lol.
I feel like there are a lot of factors that can contribute to occasional low libido, especially in women with kids and/or full-time jobs, but some medications can certainly screw with things long-term.It's hormonal.
The food supplies are tainted with hormones, chemicals and pesticides. It is reaking havoc with our lives, health and moods.I def believe that stat. I myself am only 23 and didn't feel like for quite awhile, cuz I was exhausted and stressed out. I was working, going to school full time & doing an internship for school. I was gone from the morning till late in the evening then had hw to do. I barely had energy to eat, so getting laid was not a priority for me then. I felt so bad for my fiance. Now that work is gone and I only have to do with school & my internship its gotten better. So I can def see the role stress plays with it.
WELL. I'm not in that 43%.
I can definitely relate to younger women losing their sex drive.. I'm almost 19 and I pretty much have none. It sucks terribly.. It was before I even started birth control and I'm not on antidepressants yet.
I think its simply the fact my significant other didn't do well with keeping me happy. I didn't even do well with keeping me happy..especially with all this stress of money and college on top of it.I find that I have a lot of problems staying turned on. I get extremely "hot and bothered", get into the act with the bf, and it takes me forever to reach the grand finale because my mind wanders and I lose the vibe or I'm exhausted. I work at a privately owned pet store with around 8 puppies at a time, plus over a dozen different reptiles, hundreds of rodents and occasionally birds, and it can be taxing. Shouldn't be for what little I'm getting paid.
But I seem to manage...I have mornings off most of the time so I'm content. Bf has school and martial arts training (he's inherited the title of "sensei" so...big, important job). It's not the most important thing in our lives, so we don't care. Just spending time together is enough :3
I'll tell you the problem.
Guys.
They're becoming more asshole-ish by the second.
Nobody wants to sleep with that.
mines been dropping. It makes me sad :(, my boyfriend is just as hot, but I don't feel as much.
@HollowTendencies@xanga - ROFL!!! AMEN!
my depression has not lowered my libido at all. I have a high libido and if I have an emotional connection with the guy, my libido jumps even higher. if he pisses me off, my libido disappears and I don't want him near me. I never took the birth control pill before. being tired does affect my libido. if I'm too tired, I can't reach orgasm.
i just turned 20 and i have a really low libido. but i'm not stressed, on antidepressants or anything. it's just how i've always been.
@Fairywife@xanga - Haha, me neither!
I know mines got killed after I was on the pill for a while. I got off and everything went back to normal. My husband prefers that I'm off since I get more into it than before. Make sure the pill isn't an issue for you :)
Stress and how tired you are does affect it and it does make sense. After a hard day at work or at school you're so tired that you just want to go home, shower, have dinner and relax. Sex = you'd have to do some work, in which by the end of the day you wouldn't want to do anything or even if you do have sex. The guy/girl might as well do it with their toy. =X
Yea, I heard about the antidepressants but however I think for the Birth Control there are varying opinions. Also losing job is a big one, one of consequences of sex is a child (you never know, and so it MAY happen) and if your job is not secure you wouldn't want to risk to have a kid and get screwed over at your job.
Anyways take care!~
Yep, definitely sounds about right for me.
well there is a pretty obvious answer and that is that 70 percent of americans are obease or overweight. Kinda hard to get horny when you are 200 pounds overweight, cant breath, cant find your vagina, your penis wont get hard, and the lights are on. Dont get me wrong your body your decisions but this is getting out of hand America. There is a line and it was crossed a long time ago lets bring it back in people.