Breastfeeding and Low Sex Drive

Prolactin and Progesterone

If you’re a nursing mom you (and your partner!) might be wondering where your sex drive has gone. Rest assured that if was there before, it will return again once you stop breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and low sex drive often go hand in hand for many reasons.

The hormone prolactin is necessary for milk production in breastfeeding moms. Unfortunately for the woman who wishes for an active sex life, prolactin also lowers the sex drive. Prolactin is an anterior pituitary peptide hormone that begins lactation in new mothers and is needed to maintain breastfeeding.

Another libido lowering hormone is progesterone. Progesterone is needed to sustain pregnancy and levels of progesterone are higher in nursing moms. Progesterone is the hormones that wrecks havoc with premenstrual women causing depression, breast tenderness and moodiness. It’s no wonder that nursing moms might feel less sexual with the combination of progesterone and prolactin in their bodies at high levels.

Two hormones necessary for the female sex drive are estrogen and testosterone. Both estrogen and testosterone are found at low levels in the bodies of breastfeeding mothers. Once a nursing mom experiences the return of her fertility, she may find that during ovulation her sex drive increases due to the increase of estrogen at this time. Most women find that if there are no other medical issues to be considered, once they stop nursing their sex drive returns.

Knowing what causes a lowered sex drive during breastfeeding is one thing and coping with the relationship problems it can bring is another. Many women feel guilt for their lack of sexual desire even in their partners are very understanding. Even when a woman wants to have sex when not in the mood, the lowered levels of estrogen in her body might cause her to have a problem with lubrication. It is very important that sex be taken slowly with plenty of time for the woman to warm and artificial lubrication may be necessary.