Low libido is one of the most common — and misunderstood — concerns I hear in my Naturopathic medical practice.
Many people assume a lack of desire is simply “normal aging,” stress, or something they have to accept.
The truth is that it can be low libido, or HSDD (Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder)
These two can look very similar on the surface, but the root causes are often very different.
HSDD is a medical diagnosis defined by a persistent lack of sexual desire that causes personal distress and isn’t explained by another medical condition, medication, or relationship issue.
Low libido, however, is often a symptom — a signal from the body that something is out of balance.
Fatigue, low motivation, vaginal dryness, erectile changes, mood shifts, poor sleep, weight changes, or feeling disconnected from yourself frequently accompany low desire.
These symptoms can easily be mislabeled as HSDD when the real issue may be hormonal imbalance, chronic stress, blood sugar dysregulation, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, or poor hormone metabolism.
Because of this, identifying the why behind desire changes is essential. Treatment depends on the underlying drivers.
This is why guessing — or treating libido in isolation — rarely works.
From a Naturopathic medical perspective, the most effective way to understand what’s really happening is to assess hormones in detail.
One of my preferred tools is the DUTCH Complete Hormone Test.
Unlike standard blood work, this test shows how your body produces, uses, and metabolizes hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA.
It also highlights stress patterns that can suppress libido even when labs appear “normal.”
One patient shared:
“I was shocked by my results. I thought my libido was gone forever. Once we addressed what the test showed, my desire returned — and my connection and passion with my spouse improved more than I ever expected after being married for over 15 years.” Alice B.
That’s the power of clarity. When you understand why desire is low, you can take targeted action instead of chasing quick fixes that don’t last.
The Bottom Line:
Low libido can be a common complaint during perimenopause and menopause.
Whether the cause is hormonal, neurological, emotional, or multifactorial, answers are available.
You deserve care that looks at the whole picture, not just one symptom.
Your Next Step:
If you are already a patient, schedule an appointment to discuss whether the DUTCH Complete Hormone Test is right for you.
Click HERE to schedule your Follow Up Telemedicine Visit
If you are not yet a patient, apply to become one so we can identify the root cause of your low libido and create a personalized plan to restore desire, confidence, and connection — naturally and sustainably.
If you are a New Patient, click HERE to apply.
I invite you to explore whether naturopathic medicine, comprehensive hormone testing—and ongoing, individualized care—might be the right next step for you.
In Health,
Dr. Helene
P.S. If you want to see how comprehensive the DUTCH Complete Hormone test is, click HERE.