Do you find yourself wistfully looking back on the days when you and your partner couldn’t keep your hands off each other?
A loss of libido is a common problem that is often linked to professional and personal stress, or life-changing events such as pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
According to the NHS, a low sex drive affects up to one in five men - and even more women - at some point in their life.
Research conducted by Headspace App and Peanut found that seven in 10 women have experienced low libido, while 53 percent believe it is a taboo topic within society.
London-based sexologist, Stella Anna Sonnenbaum, has laid bare the truth behind low libido in women and how to improve it.
She told The Sun: "It's important to remember that there is no 'normal' sex drive.
“Sex drive can be influenced by a multitude of things and often ebbs and flows throughout someone's life," she explains.
“Many women are on medications which can influence their desire to have sex, such as antidepressants.”
A shocking US study revealed that 82 percent of woman who take antidepressants struggle with sexual arousal, while 72 percent experience problems with sexual desire.
They also found that 42 percent of women taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - a common antidepressant - struggle to have an orgasm.
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The sex expert explained that depression and anxiety are often associated with a low sex drive.
Stella added: “So it might not be as simple as coming off medication.”
If you are considering coming off your medication, it is advised you consult your GP before doing so.
Sex drive can also be influenced by hormonal changes to the body, Stella explained.
She said: “Many women experience high libido in their 20’s which then rapidly falls after menopause.”
During menopause, the body goes through major hormonal changes which decreases the levels of sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen - this can lead to a loss of libido.
Stella has shared the best ways to boost your sex drive and spark passion back into your relationship.
Revive your own sex drive
The sexologist encourages clients to use mirror exercises to help them “fall back in love with themselves”.
Stella believes sex drive correlates closely with body image as “women who feel more confident in their own skin appear to have a higher libido than those who don’t”.
She added: "You have to be able to look at yourself and think: I am attractive.
"We're so often told that as we age we get less beautiful. This is so bad for our self-confidence and this can impact our sex drives.”
During sessions with clients, Stella encourages women to look at their genitals as if they are a “piece of art”.
"This is so they can discover a new found appreciation and understanding of oneself," the sex guru says.
She also advises using sex toys to boost drive and passion.
"There is nothing more exciting than a new sex toy!' she claims.
But she recommends women avoid more targeted toys, including novel clitoral suckers, which focuses on just one area of the body.
Stella suggests using the wand instead, which may be more suited to women who don’t want to touch their genitals or feel shame around self-pleasure.
"You can use the wand on places like your collarbone so that the vibrations travel through your whole body," she advises.
"The body is full of nerve endings, we feel pleasure everywhere and we ought to embrace that.”
Reignite passion with your partner
For couples looking to reignite that sexual spark, Stella advises sleeping in separate bedrooms.
She added: "Sharing a room can make a couple feel more like friends than sexual partners. The bedroom can become more practical than sensual."
Sharing a bed often adds pressure to the sexual element of the relationship, especially if one person has a lower libido than the other.
"I have found that this can lead to the person with a lower libido pulling away from their partner. They feel pressured and this can put them off sex entirely.
"Having your own space removes that pressure. And can give you time to yourself, time to miss sex,” Stella adds.
Within a relationship, it's important to feel like you can instigate sex, or say no if you are not in the mood.
"Lack of control over your own sex life can lead to anxiety over sex," Stella explains.
"People pleasers tend to have issues with this, as they end up having sex when they're not feeling 100 per cent up to it just to keep their partner happy."
The sex guru recommends talking to your partner about what turns you off and on.
She explained: "The key to being sexually liberated is feeling comfortable and to do this you must be truly honest with yourself and with your sexual partner.”
