Editing Libido (section)

=== Other psychological and social perspectives ===
A person may have a desire for sex, but not have the opportunity to act on that desire, or may on personal, moral or religious reasons [[Sexual abstinence|refrain from acting on the urge]]. Psychologically, a person's urge can be [[Psychological repression|repressed]] or [[Sublimation (psychology)|sublimated]]. Conversely, a person can engage in sexual activity without an actual desire for it. Multiple factors affect human sex drive, including stress, illness, pregnancy, and others. A 2001 review found that, on average, men have a higher desire for sex than women.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Roy F. Baumeister, Kathleen R. Catanese, and Kathleen D. Vohs|title=Is There a Gender Difference in Strength of Sex Drive? Theoretical Views, Conceptual Distinctions, and a Review of Relevant Evidence|url=http://assets.csom.umn.edu/assets/71520.pdf|work=Department of Psychology Case Western Reserve University|publisher=Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.|quote=All the evidence we have reviewed points toward the conclusion that men desire sex more than women. Although some of the findings were more methodologically rigorous than others, the unanimous convergence across all measures and findings increases confidence. We did not find a single study, on any of nearly a dozen different measures, that found women had a stronger sex drive than men. We think that the combined quantity, quality, diversity, and convergence of the evidence render the conclusion indisputable}}</ref>

Certain psychological or social factors can reduce the desire for sex. These factors can include lack of privacy or [[intimacy]], [[stress (medicine)|stress]] or [[fatigue (medical)|fatigue]], distraction, or depression. Environmental stress, such as prolonged exposure to [[noise health effects|elevated sound levels]] or [[over-illumination|bright light]], can also affect libido. Other causes include experience of sexual abuse, assault, trauma, or neglect, body image issues, and anxiety about engaging in sexual activity.<ref>[[Irvin D. Yalom|Yalom, I.D.]], ''Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy''. New York: Basic Books, 1989. {{ISBN|0-06-097334-X}}.</ref>

Individuals with [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD) may find themselves with reduced sexual desire. Struggling to find pleasure, as well as having trust issues, many with PTSD experience feelings of vulnerability, rage and anger, and emotional shutdowns, which have been shown to inhibit sexual desire in those with PTSD.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Yehuda|first1=Rachel|last2=Lehrner|first2=Amy|last3=Rosenbaum|first3=Talli Y.|date=2015|title=PTSD and Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women|journal=The Journal of Sexual Medicine|volume=12|issue=5|pages=1107–1119|doi=10.1111/jsm.12856|pmid=25847589|s2cid=1746180|issn=1743-6109}}</ref> Reduced sex drive may also be present in trauma victims due to issues arising in sexual function. For women, it has been found that treatment can improve sexual function, thus helping restore sexual desire.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wells|first1=Stephanie Y.|last2=Glassman|first2=Lisa H.|last3=Talkovsky|first3=Alexander M.|last4=Chatfield|first4=Miranda A.|last5=Sohn|first5=Min Ji|last6=Morland|first6=Leslie A.|last7=Mackintosh|first7=Margaret-Anne|date=2019-01-01|title=Examining Changes in Sexual Functioning after Cognitive Processing Therapy in a Sample of Women Trauma Survivors|url=https://www.whijournal.com/article/S1049-3867(18)30101-4/abstract|journal=Women's Health Issues|language=en|volume=29|issue=1|pages=72–79|doi=10.1016/j.whi.2018.10.003|issn=1049-3867|pmid=30455090|s2cid=53871527|doi-access=free}}</ref> Depression and libido decline often coincide, with reduced sex drive being one of the symptoms of [[Depression (mood)|depression]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal|last1=Robert L. Phillips|first1=Jr|last2=Slaughter|first2=James R.|date=2000-08-15|title=Depression and Sexual Desire|url=https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0815/p782.html|journal=American Family Physician|volume=62|issue=4|pages=782–786|pmid=10969857|issn=0002-838X}}</ref> Those with depression often report the decline in libido to be far reaching and more noticeable than other symptoms.<ref name=":12" /> In addition, those with depression often are reluctant to report their reduced sex drive, often normalizing it with cultural/social values, or by the failure of the physician to inquire about it.

[[Sexual desire]]s are often an important factor in the formation and maintenance of [[intimate relationship]]s in humans. A lack or loss of sexual desire can adversely affect relationships. Changes in the sexual desires of any partner in a sexual relationship, if sustained and unresolved, may cause [[Relationship breakup|problems in the relationship]]. The [[infidelity]] of a partner may be an indication that a partner's changing sexual desires can no longer be satisfied within the current relationship. Problems can arise from disparity of sexual desires between partners, or poor communication between partners of sexual needs and preferences.<ref name="B">{{cite web|url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/low-sex-drive-in-women/DS01043/DSECTION=causes |title=Low sex drive in women|website=Mayo Clinic|publisher=Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research|access-date=July 28, 2010}}</ref>