Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last reviewed October 2026.
A quiet loss of interest in sex is one of the most common things people want to ask a doctor about and one of the least asked. It affects men and women of every age, it almost always has an identifiable cause, and most causes are treatable once found.
This guide explains the common causes, the tests that actually answer the question, and what treatment looks like.
What low libido means
Libido is not a fixed setting. It moves with sleep, stress, health, relationships and hormones, so a dip that lasts a few weeks during a pressured period is a normal variation. It becomes worth investigating when the change is sustained over months, is out of character for you, or comes with other symptoms such as fatigue, low mood, weight change, erection problems, irregular periods or vaginal dryness.
The common causes
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In practice, most cases come down to one or more of a familiar list:
- Stress, anxiety and poor sleep, the single most common driver
- Low mood and depression, which lower desire directly
- Medicines, especially SSRI antidepressants, the combined contraceptive pill, some blood pressure tablets and long-term opioids
- Hormones: low testosterone in men, thyroid problems in either sex, raised prolactin, and the perimenopause and menopause in women
- Alcohol above recommended limits, recreational drugs, and significant weight change
- Relationship difficulties, pain with sex, and the after-effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Underlying illness such as diabetes, anaemia and iron deficiency
Because the list is long, guessing rarely works. A short consultation and a small set of blood tests usually narrows it quickly.
The tests that matter
There is no single libido blood test, but a focused panel answers most of the question. For men, that is a morning testosterone level, ideally repeated if low, alongside thyroid function, prolactin, HbA1c for blood sugar, and a full blood count. For women, the picture guides the panel, but thyroid function, ferritin and iron studies, and a hormone profile around the menopause transition are the usual starting points.
Blood tests are arranged after a consultation so you only pay for the markers that fit your history. Our guide to blood test referrals explains how testing works with us.
What treatment looks like
Treatment follows the cause. Where a medicine is the driver, a doctor can often adjust it rather than simply stopping it. Where testosterone is genuinely low and symptoms fit, testosterone replacement is considered properly, with the right monitoring. Thyroid problems, iron deficiency and raised prolactin are all straightforward to treat once identified. Where stress, mood or relationship factors dominate, the honest answer is that tablets are not the fix, and talking therapies, psychosexual therapy and lifestyle change have the strongest evidence.
What does not work is the supplement market. No over-the-counter libido booster has evidence behind it worth your money, and some are actively unsafe.
What a consultation adds
A video consultation is £150 for up to 30 minutes, a telephone consultation is £59, and an in-person consultation is £220. A doctor will take a proper history, review your medicines, arrange the right bloods and set out a plan. Anything that needs prescribing can usually be sent to your pharmacy the same day.
To talk to a doctor, message WhatsApp, call 020 3951 3429 or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Questions people ask
Is low libido normal?
A temporary dip is completely normal, particularly during stress, illness, poor sleep or after having a baby. A sustained change over months, or one that bothers you or your relationship, is worth discussing with a doctor. It is one of the most common concerns GPs hear.
Can the contraceptive pill lower libido?
Yes, for some women. Combined hormonal contraception raises levels of sex hormone binding globulin, which lowers free testosterone, and some women notice a real drop in desire. The effect usually reverses on switching or stopping, and a doctor can talk through alternatives.
Does low testosterone always need treatment?
No. Testosterone treatment is appropriate when levels are repeatedly low on morning testing and the symptom picture fits. A borderline single reading, or low levels driven by poor sleep, weight gain or illness, is usually best treated by addressing the cause first.
Can I get help for low libido online?
Yes. A video or telephone consultation is a discreet way to start. A doctor can review your history and medicines, arrange blood tests near you, and prescribe or refer where needed. Most people only need one appointment to get a clear plan.
When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor if the change has lasted more than a few months, if it comes with fatigue, weight change, low mood, erection problems or irregular periods, or simply if it is worrying you. Earlier assessment means earlier answers, and most causes are simple to treat.