libido

Sex is more than just "the most beautiful thing in the world", sexual intercourse is necessary to ensure the continued existence of humanity. And since our instincts lead to wanting to reproduce and produce offspring, Mother Nature has us with the libido fitted. Our sexual desire leads us to procreate.

What is libido?

Under the term libido one understands the general desire for sexual intercourse and sexual acts with the purpose of sexual satisfaction.

This primarily refers to the human predisposition, not just the pleasure that exists at the time of sex. The libido is very different in humans. There are people with less sexual desire and those who very often crave sexual satisfaction. The spectrum of what is perceived as normal and what is perceived as a deviation is broad here.

This classification also depends a little on the partner and the extent to which the frequency of sexual desire of the respective partner is similar and who perceives what as "too much" or "too little". However, pathological deviations can be possible here.

Functions & tasks

The libido is there to get people to have sexual intercourse. From a physiological and evolutionary point of view, the libido is what drives people to produce offspring. A normal libido and a fulfilled sex life not only ensure the offspring, but also contribute to the psychosocial well-being of the individual.

Sexual pleasure not only ensures that you want to have sexual intercourse, it also enables and facilitates it in the first place. The increased blood flow and various hormonal processes in the body lead to an erection in men, the woman's vagina is optimally supplied with blood, it excretes vaginal fluid off, so to speak as a natural lubricant. This creates the best possible conditions for sexual intercourse from a purely physical point of view.

Sexual pleasure is therefore also a prerequisite for orgasm. The male orgasm is absolutely necessary for reproduction, but the female orgasm should also serve to better bring the sperm towards the uterus. So nature has ensured in a very complex way to preserve human and animal species. Today, sexual pleasure is viewed separately from the desire to have children. Since the birth of the birth control pill in the 1960s, women have been deciding for themselves when and whether they want to have children.

Illnesses, ailments & disorders

Diseases related to the libido can be increased sexual desire, as well as little or no interest in sex.

Both can be very stressful for those affected as well as for their sexual partners. An increased desire for sex can lead to a sex addiction, those affected look for constant satisfaction, which can also lead to frequent cheating in partnerships. The best-known example from the recent press is the professional golfer Tiger Woods, who tried to excuse his countless affairs with a sex addiction and now wants therapy.

A poor behavior can also lead to problems in the partnership. Singles who want a partnership also find it difficult to reveal to their partner that sex is not very important to them. However, a decreased libido can also have physical causes. It is not uncommon for the affected partner to want to sleep with their sexual partner, but the body throws them in the way.

In men in particular, an erection, which is a prerequisite for sexual intercourse, is dependent on sexual pleasure. But women also need sexual pleasure in order to be able to unite with the man without pain. Appropriate medication can help here, which the doctor must of course always prescribe. Numerous offers on the Internet are more harmful than helpful. A lack of libido can also have psychological causes.

Stress at work, but also problems in the relationship or illnesses can negatively affect the love instinct. Lubricants are no longer of any help here; instead, psychotherapy or a general elimination of stress is indicated.