Category: Pcos

What is a High Libido and How Does It Work?

Libido refers to the natural desire for sexual activity. Let’s be clear, a ‘normal’ sex drive does not exist! While some individuals experience a lower level of sexual desire or have a relatively average libido, others find themselves with a high libido, constantly craving sexual satisfaction.  

This may impact relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being. In this article, we will explore the concept of high libido, its causes, effects, and potential management strategies. Understanding this can help individuals embrace their sexuality and navigate their intimate lives with confidence.

High libido is also known as hypersexuality or

• Nymphomania in women
• Satyriasis in men

It refers to an unusually heightened level of sexual desire and activity.  It is essential to note that a high sex drive is subjective, and what might be considered high for one person could be average for another.

 

 

How To Tell Whether I Have a High Libido?

To understand yourself better, you need to know what classifies as having a ‘high libido’. Some common telling signs of having a higher sex drive are:

• Frequent Sexual Thoughts:

Individuals often experience an increased frequency of sexual thoughts, fantasies, or daydreams. These thoughts may be distracting and persistent throughout the day.

• Strong Sexual Urges:

People report experiencing strong and constant sexual urges, which can be difficult to ignore or suppress.

• Frequent Masturbation:

Frequent and regular masturbation, often multiple times a day, can be a sign of a high libido. It serves as a way for individuals to satisfy their sexual desires independently.

• Persistent Desire for Sexual Activity:

Individuals with a high libido may constantly desire sexual activity, seeking opportunities for intimate encounters with their partner or others.

• Heightened Interest in Sexual Content:

People with a high sex drive tend to have a heightened interest in sexual content, such as pornography, erotica, or sexually explicit materials.

• Pursuit of Multiple Sexual Partners:

This may lead individuals to actively seek out multiple sexual partners.

• Engaging in Risky Sexual Behaviors:

High libido can lead to impulsive and risky sexual behaviours, such as unprotected sex, which may increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.

• Difficulty Concentrating:

For some individuals with high libido, their intense sexual thoughts and desires can interfere with their ability to concentrate on everyday tasks or work.

• Compulsive Sexual Behavior:

In extreme cases, high libido might lead to certain compulsive sexual behaviour, where individuals feel compelled to engage in sexual activities despite negative consequences on their relationships, work, or personal life.

 

Why Do I Have a Higher Sex Drive?

Upon identifying that you have a higher-than-average sex drive, it is essential to understand the causes that lie under this:

• Biological Factors:

High libido can be influenced by biological factors, such as hormonal imbalances, genetic predisposition, and neurological differences. An overproduction of hormones like testosterone in men or estrogen in women may contribute to increased sexual desire.

• Psychological Factors:

Mental health issues like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and substance addictions have been associated with hypersexuality. Stress, anxiety, and depression can also affect one’s libido.

• Relationship Dynamics:

The quality of one’s romantic relationship can influence libido. Individuals in a happy, fulfilling partnership may experience increased sexual desire, while those in unsatisfying relationships may seek sexual encounters as an escape or source of emotional connection.

• Medication:

Some dopamine agonist medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease may cause compulsive sexual behaviour.

• Cultural and Social Factors:

Societal norms, upbringing, and exposure to sexually explicit content can shape one’s attitudes towards sex. Individuals raised in environments that embrace open discussions about sexuality may have a more positive outlook on their sexual desires.

How Will A Heightened Libido Affect Me?

For individuals with high libido, an active sex life can lead to increased intimacy and emotional connection with their partner, helping to reinforce the bond in the relationship.

While it may be exciting at the beginning of a relationship, it might lead to difficulties if both partners have mismatched libidos. The person with the higher libido may feel unsatisfied or rejected if their partner doesn’t match their intensity.

In extreme cases, high libido can lead to sexual compulsion or addiction, where individuals engage in risky or harmful sexual behaviours despite negative consequences.

It might be a coping mechanism for underlying emotional issues. In such cases, it could lead to emotional strain as individuals may feel guilt, shame, or confusion about their intense desires. 

People with high libido may struggle with self-esteem issues if they believe their desires are abnormal or unacceptable in society.

How Do I Effectively Manage My High Sexual Drive?

Now that we have figured out what a high sex drive may look like and why it is caused, let’s figure out some management strategies to deal with it:

• Open Communication:

Honest and open communication with partners is crucial to managing high libido within a relationship. Discussing desires, and boundaries, and finding common ground can help both partners feel more understood and respected.

• Seeking Professional Help:

If high libido becomes a source of distress or significantly impacts daily life, seeking the guidance of a therapist or counsellor can be beneficial. They can help explore underlying emotional issues and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

• Developing Self-Awareness:

Understanding one’s own desires, triggers, and emotions is essential in managing this. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation, can be helpful in developing self-awareness.

• Exploring Solo Sexuality:

Masturbation can be a healthy outlet for sexual desires, allowing individuals to fulfil their needs without putting undue pressure on their partner.

• Channeling Energy:

Engaging in physical activities and hobbies can help redirect excessive energy and reduce feelings of restlessness associated with a high sex drive.

 

So in Summary We Can Say That,

A high libido is a natural aspect of human sexuality, and it can have both positive and challenging impacts on an individual’s life. Understanding the underlying causes, effects, and potential management strategies for high libido can help individuals embrace their sexual desires in a healthy and fulfilling manner.

By fostering open communication, seeking professional support when needed, and developing self-awareness, individuals with a high drive for sex can find balance and satisfaction in their intimate lives while maintaining respect and consideration for their partners’ needs.

It is essential to differentiate between a high libido and hypersexuality, as the latter may be associated with underlying mental health issues or medical conditions.

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress or impairment due to their sexual desires, it is advisable to seek professional help from a therapist, counsellor, or healthcare provider who can provide appropriate support and guidance.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength and a proactive step towards understanding and managing one’s sexual desires in a healthy and fulfilling way.

Remember, embracing your sexuality with self-compassion and understanding is essential to living a fulfilling life!

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It is a hormonal disorder that is caused by hormonal imbalances. PCOS can be reversed naturally by making the right changes in our lifestyle which includes eating habits and exercise. But before going into this topic let’s understand what PCOS is in simple terms.

 

What is PCOS?

Let’s understand the term by breaking it into parts,

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is short for;

Poly – Many

Cystic – A Sac like structure with fluid inside

Ovary – An Oval shaped gland on either side of the uterus

Syndrome –A Set of symptoms that occur together

The general perception of PCOS is that it is a complex issue and that is made even more complex by our use of medical terminology. But if presented in everyday terms, it is simple to understand.

The ovary is one of the woman’s reproductive organs. Millions of eggs are present in the ovary, and since the ovary produces eggs throughout a woman’s lifetime, she will never run out of eggs.

These immature eggs are kept in follicles. Every month, one free egg is released into the fallopian tube; if this egg fertilizes, you are pregnant; if it does not, menstruation should result.

In women with PCOS, however, this does not occur; the egg will not get fertilized and the immature egg will not mature. So the egg will instead remain as a cyst on the ovary. This condition is called PCOS.

All of the aforementioned events take place inside a woman’s body, but how can you be aware that you have this condition? There are few symptoms for PCOS, if you experience any of the ones listed below then there are chances that you may have PCOS. However, this should be confirmed by further analysis of the situation. Now let’s see the PCOS symptoms.

Symptoms of PCOS:

How can one identify that they are having this condition by checking if they have any below symptoms?

1. Irregular menstrual cycles
2. Excessive hair growth
3. Acne
4. Weight gain
5. Fatigue and mood changes

So now we understood how to identify if one has this condition. Now let’s understand the primary cause i.e., hormonal imbalances. To understand this we need the answer to the below two questions.

1. What is the hormonal imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance is nothing but a situation where you have one or more of any of the hormones causing various physical and emotional symptoms.

2. How do we know that we have hormonal imbalances?

If we encounter any of the following signs, we can be certain that we have hormonal imbalances:

1. Acne
2. Facial hair
3. Hair loss
4. Skin tags
5. Weight gain
6. Irregular periods
7. Fatigue
8. Mood swings

Now let’s discuss managing PCOS symptoms with diet.

Best Diet for managing PCOS symptoms:

 

The best eating habits include knowing when and how much to eat in addition to what to eat and what not to eat. Our eating habits should focus on maintaining stable blood sugar levels and promoting hormone balance.

What to eat?

There are many types to classify foods like low fiber, low fat,  high sodium, gluten-free, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian. But to reverse PCOS we should start eating living food and avoid dead food.

Before knowing what is living food let’s understand what is dead food. Dead food is food that can sit on the counter for days or weeks and doesn’t turn bad. BasicaTheseackaged foods that are refined and highly processed and have no nutritional value. These contain chemicals, colors, and preservatives to increase their shelf life.

Now that we understood what is dead food, let’s go to the “living food”. Living food is the one that is close to its original natural form like vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds, and whole grains. These foods are rich in nutrients and inflammatory-fighting antioxidants.

Now let’s go by each type of food that one can consume to fight PCOS.

• Vegetables higher in fiber: Broccoli, Sprouts, Carrots, Spinach, Sweet potatoes, Peas, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Green peppers, and Green beans.
• Fruits that are richer in fiber: Papaya, Guava, Oranges, Apples, Kiwi, and Avocado.

 

• Tomatoes & Garlic: They contain a powerful antioxidant that may help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity.
• Cucumbers: These are low in calories and help in hydrating the body.
• Antioxidants: Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Grapes, Cranberries, and Cherries.
• Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds, and pumpkin seeds. These are fiber-rich foods and hence provide healthy fats and proteins.

Other than this try to substitute processed foods with unprocessed ones and try using whole grains. Also by opting for local and seasonal choices, we honor nature’s wisdom for hormonal balance.

 What to avoid?

 

• Fried foods: French fries, potato chips, corn chips, and fried chicken or fish should be avoided as they increase inflammation.
• Processed snacks: Cakes, cookies, candy, etc might seem tempting to eat but contains high sugar levels so they should be avoided.
• Sweetened beverages: Soft drinks, coffee or tea, sodas, and energy drinks are high in calories so avoiding them will help to maintain a healthy diet.
• Refined carbohydrates: Processed and refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and pastries increase blood sugar levels contributing to insulin resistance.
• Meat, Milk & Milk based food: The chemicals and steroids injected to have better production through the food reaches our system creating havoc in the hormonal imbalance.
• High Glycemic Index foods: Carbohydrate foods that are broken down quickly and cause a rapid increase in blood glucose are those with high GI. These foods include white rice, potatoes, and certain cereals. Minimise and only part of the afternoon lunch meal.

When to eat?

 

• Breakfast: Breakfast post your morning exercise routine, and keep it light with water-rich fruits or vegetable juices.
• Lunch: Lunch around noon to 1 pm, a balanced home-cooked meal. Include carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• Dinner: A easy & light meal, not later than 8 pm.
• Snacks: Water-rich fruits are a good option.
• Consistent meal timings: Following consistent meal timings each day helps to regulate your body’s internal clock and improve insulin sensitivity. Irregular eating patterns result in hormonal imbalances and the development of PCOS symptoms. Try to adopt a consistent daily eating window of 12 hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Avoid late-night eating:  This should be avoided because our biological clocks are linked to the environment we live in. Hence our body is best at digesting when we are active and when sunlight is present. So eating or drinking late at night when our body expects us to rest and when it’s dark will disrupt the system and compromise the metabolism. Late-night snacking may worsen PCOS symptoms by interfering with sleep cycles and negatively affecting hormone control.

How much to eat?

• Eat Aware: Pay attention to your body’s hunger and fullness signs
• Listen to your body: Observe how your body reacts to various foods and to any food at various times of the day. Individualize your diet based on how it makes you feel because everyone has a different body type.
• Stay hydrated: Observe & listen to the body, and have a regular intake of water as required.

 Along with the aforementioned eating patterns, people should also incorporate the below two things into their daily routines:

 

1. Physical health (Exercise):

The reason for gaining weight is not just eating more but also moving less. The only way for the food we eat to be digested is through physical activity, but nowadays, since most of our jobs only require our brainpower, we have begun to forget that we should occasionally take a walk.

 

 

Sitting still for long pperiodsmay get the job done, but it can be physically damaging. Start living a more physically active life.

 

2. Mental health:

Mental health is as important as our physical health. Physical health can be maintained by moving our bodies more, whereas mental health can be maintained by stressing our brains less.

One of the causes of poor mental health is overthinking. Women are known to think significantly more than males, which contributes to their worse mental health than men.

But the symptoms of PCOS can also be impacted by poor mental health. So it’s crucial to control our stress levels and our thinking.

There’s a saying “Things out of our hands should be out of our brain” Adapting this kind of attitude helps to stay positive in addition avoids stress and overthinking. Also doing yoga and meditation calms our mind, so one can practice any of these to develop their mental health.    

 

To sum up, adopting healthy eating habits and placing a priority on your physical and mental health can naturally reverse PCOS by regulating your hormones.