Igini, a gynecologist explained, “Libido is complex and is influenced by a lot of other factors such as physical, social, biological, and psychological causes. Economic hardship, which belongs to the psychological and social factors, can lead to decreased sex drive in anyone and can cause relationship problems among partners.
The gynecologist, however, said that for some couples who were average earners and workaholics, the situation might have forced them to stay at home more and concentrate on the relationship.
Igini further noted that economic hardship can lead to financial stress, which also impacts stress levels and libido.
“Stress and libido are intricately linked because financial stress can affect a man by adversely impacting his sleep, self-esteem, and energy levels. It can lead some men to be ashamed, fearful, or angry and this may cause some tensions and arguments among couples.
“So when the relationship is already affected, you cannot be talking of libido because sex is a two-way traffic even if the man does not have the desire and the woman has the desire and there is a problem in the relationship, the ego will step in and there will be no encounter. It is no secret that the problem of money can be a huge source of relationship fights.
“Most surveys report money as the biggest source of stress in relationships. Economic hardship will lead to decreased libido because money is widely known as the leading cause of divorce.
“After all, financial problem constitutes 20-30 per cent of all divorces. Stress and exhaustion can reduce one’s sex drive by taking one’s mind off sexual desire because other things are occupying your mind. Sex needs a lot of concentration and once there is anything that takes away that concentration, it reduces the sex drive,
On how couples could cope with the situation and still maintain their sexual drive, the fertility specialist stated that sex was both physical and emotional, therefore couples needed to dissociate their minds from the environmental factors during sexual encounters.
The don also noted that some medications, such as anti-depressants reduced sex drive, adding that alcohol consumption reduced libido.
