Dear Dr. Fritz,

Please call me Mayo de Uno. I am losing my desire in bed for some time now. This is getting me worried. Please tell me what is causing this problem.

Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.

Mayo de Uno

=====

Dear Mayo de Uno,

THERE are many common physical or emotional conditions that could cause problems with your desire in bed:

1. Chemical imbalance: The levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters may be out and away. This disrupts one’s sexual desire and function.

2. Mental health: Check if you have issues with anxiety, depression, stress, body image issues, low self-esteem, or past sexual or physical abuse. These can cause your problem.

3. Problems with Relationship: If you have fights or mistrust issues with your partner, then, you are up to losing your desire.

4. Problems with sleep: This could cause you to be too tired to have sex.

5. Problems with hormones: Low levels of sex hormones like testosterone or thyroid hormone can also lead to this desire problem.

6. Side effects of medication: The list could include, but is not limited to antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, pain treatments, antipsychotic medications, chemotherapy, blood pressure medicine, and hormone-suppressing cancer drugs.

7. Gastrointestinal problems: Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis can get to your desire problem or even due to the medications used to treat these diseases.

8. Other medical conditions: The list could include diabetes, cancer, urinary incontinence, multiple sclerosis (MS), heart disease, thyroid disease, Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease, temporal lobe brain lesions, kidney failure, stroke, and HIV.

9. Aging: Some people when they get older feel that they are too tired to have sex.

Well, I hope this helps. Good luck!

Dr. Fritz

(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and clinical sexologist. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Juan Luna St., Davao City, or e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)