no sex drive

7 replies

someonenotme · 22/12/2004 10:08

Since dd was born (year) I have lost all my sex drive and was wondering if bf would have caused this. I dont remember having problems with my other kids whilst bf.
I know if I go to the GP he will just say stop bf but I dont want to stop yet.

Any thoughts welcome?

OP posts:

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 22/12/2004 10:14

exhaustion, small children, different priorities can all lead to a lack of sex drive

I was the same after DS who was bottle fed from 3.5 months (not so much after DD who is bf at 7 months) TBH

There's something to be said for getting back on the horse though .. once you start doing it, and trying to enjoy it then you want to do it a bit more

Original poster

someonenotme · 22/12/2004 10:17

The trouble is i'm not tired and have tried lots of times but get no enjoyment whatsoever which is why i think it must be something actually hormonal.

OP posts:

aloha · 22/12/2004 10:28

Breastfeeding can reduce sex drive - the hormone involved in milk production, prolactin, is very well known to suppress sex drive. Not in all women, and not forever. If you don't want to stop breastfeeding then maybe it would help to consider that it is only a possibility that breastfeeding is contributing to lack of desire and that even if it is, when you do stop the hormones will go back to normal and you have the rest of your life to have sex and enjoy it.

Original poster

someonenotme · 22/12/2004 10:29

Thanks Aloha and twiglett.

OP posts:

tiktok · 22/12/2004 11:23

A year into breastfeeding it is very unlikely that prolactin will have any impact on sexual desire, though - prolacatin levels are back to pre-pregnancy levels, just about, after just a few months, and they are only very slightly elevated for as long as breastfeeding continues....prolactin is not very important in bf after the beginning, in fact.

The research on this is not very revealing.....it shows there is a huge variation in experience. Some studies indicate that bf seems to go hand in hand with an increased sex drive, but that might not be 'cause and effect'. It could be that the bf mother has more sex drive in the first place, or even has more time for sex, or feels comfortable with her body, or whatever. There are numerous studies that show the impact of having a small baby on sexual response, and it can be negative or positive.

Pregnancy and childbirth and babycare change people - men and women. It could be that some people just don't fancy their partners anymore.

It's too complex and too individual to single out breastfeeding as cause and effect

kbaby · 29/12/2004 12:17

Ive got so sex drive at the moment and I stopped bf 2 months ago. TBH I just cant be bothered with all the hassle when all I want to do in bed in sleep.

I think being so busy in the day and having someone else to think about hardly gets you in the mood. But I do 2nd what twiglett says that once you start doing it you may feel like it more.

cathncait · 29/12/2004 13:00

I defineatley lost any sex drive whilst breastfeeding dd1. Almost as soon as I stoppped (at13 months), I felt completely different. Now with dd2 at 6 months...no sex drive again. i have friends though who say the opposite so agree with tiktok there. maybe you will notice a difference when you do decide to stop breastfeeding? HTH

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