Libido

Libido refers to a person’s sexual desire, drive, or appetite. The term comes from psychoanalysis and is now used more generally to describe the level or intensity of sexual wanting. Libido can vary greatly depending on the person, life situation, health, hormones, stress, or relationship status.

A low or high libido is not automatically a problem; it is part of human diversity. Medical or psychological evaluation may be helpful only if it causes distress or changes suddenly and persists. In BDSM and sexual contexts, it is important to respect one’s own desire and that of others and not to expect anything that has not been explicitly wanted.