As if you needed any further encouragement, the field of sexual medicine has determined that sex is good for you. Some of the areas of our health that benefit from having sex include longevity, heart health, blood pressure, and reduction in the risk for certain cancers. Somewhere in there happiness might be affected, as well.

Unfortunately, many people are unable to reap the benefits of sex because of various reasons, including an overall disdain for the practice. By some estimates, nearly 33% of women lack the desire to engage in sexual activity, a condition referred to as inhibited sexual desire (ISD), or hypoactive sexual desire. In addition to any possible health consequence, ISD can also lead to marital strife. In fact, 25% of divorces are rooted in sexual dissatisfaction, and low sexual desire is the number one reason that women seek out a sexual therapist, while also being one of the most difficult to treat.

Current treatment options include therapy and the prescribing of testosterone. Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is responsible for the development of male sex characteristics. It is present in women, as well, though in much lower quantities, and the supplementation of testosterone has been shown to be effective in increasing female sexual desire. However, research has shown that testosterone might increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

Because of this, other methods of addressing ISD have been investigated, but some experts believe that many of these methods do not properly address the roots of the problem, including body image and relationship issues, ignorance of how the body works, and stress. In fact, recent studies have found that relationship issues are a far more significant factor in a woman’s level of sexual desire than hormones. In light of this, certain schools of thought recommend that individuals seek out psychological therapy before turning to medical treatment.

With this in mind, a new study suggests that there may be a treatment option that employs a psychological and cognitive approach. Components of the methodology include open communication between partners, physical ways to increase sexual interest, spending quality time together, and assorted practical and logistical considerations designed to increase sexual desire.

In order to study the effectiveness of the treatment, researchers recruited married women between the ages of 28 and 65 who stated that they were no longer interested in sex. All of the women were employed and most had children. The group was then divided, and half took part in the interventional process, while the other half did not.

After six weeks, surveys indicated that, when compared to the group that had no intervention, the women who took part in the treatment regimen made significant gains in increasing their libido, raising their level of sexual desire by as much as 30%.

The findings suggest that there may very well be effective ways to treat ISD that do not involve medication, thus reducing the chances of adverse side effects that can accompany the use of drugs or steroids.

Fluctuations in sexual desire are natural, and are linked to numerous causes, including lifestyle choices, natural shifts in relationships, pregnancy, and illness. For the most part, they are not cause of concern. However, if a person is not happy of having a low sex drive, there are ways to address the situation.

If you or someone you know is experiencing ISD, speak with your doctor to learn more about what you can do. For more information about ISD, visit the website for the National Institutes of Health.