How Hormones Affect Libido in Young Women — And What You Can Do About It

When you’re in your 20s or 30s, low libido can feel confusing — or even isolating. Society often paints this age as your “peak,” full of passion, energy and desire. So, if your sex drive feels like it’s disappeared, it’s easy to wonder, What’s wrong with me?

Let’s clear something up: nothing is “wrong” with you.

Low libido isn’t just a concern for older women or something that only shows up during menopause. In reality, libido can shift at any stage of life — and for young women, hormones often play a central role.

The good news? Understanding the role hormones play in your libido is a powerful first step. Let’s break down which hormones matter most — and what you can do to feel more connected, confident and in tune with your body again.

Why Young Women Experience Low Libido

Whether it sneaks up gradually or feels like a sudden switch flipped, changes in desire are incredibly common in your reproductive years. And there are plenty of reasons why:

• Hormonal birth control can suppress testosterone and blunt your body’s natural signals for desire.
• Chronic stress from school, work, relationships or simply trying to keep it all together can send cortisol soaring, which can affect the balance of other hormones and reduce your libido.
• Postpartum and breastfeeding come with major estrogen and progesterone shifts, along with fatigue and body changes that can make intimacy feel far from appealing.
• Irregular menstrual cycles or PCOS can signal deeper hormone imbalances that affect mood, energy and libido.
• Even overtraining, undereating or disrupted sleep can interfere with hormone production and leave you feeling disconnected from your body.

The truth is, desire is deeply tied to your physical, mental and emotional health. When one piece is off, your sex drive can take a hit — and that doesn’t mean you’re broken. It just means your body might need some care and recalibration.

Meet The Hormones That Influence Your Libido

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers, helping regulate everything from your sleep and metabolism to your mood and sexual desire. When they’re in balance, things tend to run smoothly. But when even one hormone is out of sync, it can throw off the entire system — especially your libido.

Let’s take a closer look at the key hormones that play a role in sexual desire, and how imbalances might be affecting the way you feel.

Estrogen

Estrogen does more than regulate your menstrual cycle — it helps maintain vaginal comfort, supports mood and contributes to sexual desire. Often caused by hormonal birth control, breastfeeding or the postpartum period, low estrogen can lead to vaginal dryness, discomfort during sex and a noticeable drop in libido.

Testosterone

Yes, women need testosterone too! Though typically associated with men, testosterone plays a key role in sexual desire, energy and arousal. Some birth control methods can lower testosterone levels, making it harder to feel turned on — or even think about sex at all. 

Progesterone

Progesterone plays a key role in the female reproductive system and works alongside estrogen to keep hormonal cycles in check. Imbalances can lead to mood swings, irritability and sleep disruptions — all of which make it tough to feel emotionally or physically connected to intimacy. 

Cortisol

Cortisol is your primary stress hormone, and when it’s chronically elevated — whether from juggling a demanding job, coursework or general life pressures — it can throw your entire hormonal system out of sync. High cortisol can suppress libido by interfering with the natural rhythm of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

Signs Your Low Libido Could Be Hormone-Related

So how do you know if your hormones are the reason behind a sudden dip in desire or arousal? Here are some telltale signs to look out for:

• You’re exhausted all the time: Even after a full night’s sleep, you still feel drained or sluggish. This could point to elevated cortisol, low testosterone or thyroid imbalances.
• Your mood is all over the place: You’re more irritable, anxious or emotionally sensitive than usual. Imbalances in estrogen or progesterone often affect mood regulation.
• You’ve lost interest in sex: Not only are you not “in the mood,” but you rarely even think about intimacy. Low testosterone or high stress could be dampening your mental and physical arousal cues.
• Sex feels uncomfortable or even painful: Vaginal dryness or tension can make intimacy unpleasant. This is a common symptom of low estrogen or suppressed hormonal function from birth control.
• Your cycle is irregular — or missing entirely: Hormonal shifts often show up first in your period. PCOS, stress, thyroid issues or pill-related hormone suppression can all be culprits.
• You noticed changes after starting or stopping birth control: Hormonal contraception can impact estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels — and those effects often linger after stopping.

How To Get Your Hormones Checked

If any of those signs felt a little too familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not imagining things. Hormonal imbalances are real, and they’re more common than most women are ever told.

Thankfully, you don’t have to guess what’s going on. Testing your hormone levels can help you understand what your body needs and guide you toward real, personalized solutions.

What To Ask For

A standard hormone panel doesn’t always reflect what young women need, so it’s worth advocating for a more targeted approach. Talk to your healthcare provider about checking:

• Estradiol (E2): A main form of estrogen — essential for mood, vaginal health and sexual desire.
• Progesterone: Crucial for cycle regulation, sleep and emotional balance. Testing should be done during the luteal phase (about 5–7 days after ovulation).
• Testosterone (Total and Free): Even small drops in testosterone can impact energy, arousal and sexual thoughts.
• DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): A precursor to sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Low levels can contribute to fatigue and low libido.
• Cortisol: Measures your body’s stress response.
• TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): Thyroid health plays a big role in energy levels, metabolism and libido. Ask about Free T3 and T4, too, if you’re experiencing fatigue or mood changes.

Depending on your symptoms, your provider might also test for FSH, LH or insulin levels — especially if irregular cycles or PCOS are a concern.

Who To Talk To

Not every doctor is trained to dig deep into hormonal health, so don’t be afraid to seek out a provider who gets it. Look for:

• OB-GYNs or integrative practitioners who specialize in women’s hormone health
• Functional medicine providers with experience in libido and stress-related issues
• Endocrinologists (in some cases, especially if thyroid or adrenal issues are suspected)

Online platforms now offer accessible hormone testing, but it’s still worth pairing your results with professional interpretation and support for next steps.

And remember: you deserve answers. If your concerns are brushed off as “just stress” or “in your head,” it’s okay to get a second opinion.

Keep a Symptom Journal

While you’re waiting for an appointment or test results, start tracking:

• Your mood, energy and stress levels
• Sleep patterns
• Libido and intimacy notes
• Menstrual cycle details (length, regularity, symptoms)

These patterns can offer powerful insight into what’s going on beneath the surface and give your provider helpful clues about your hormone picture. 

How Olympia’s Savor Libido Booster Can Help

While testing and tracking can help you understand the “why” behind your symptoms, sometimes you also need support in the now — something gentle to help restore balance while you work on the deeper root causes.

Formulated specifically for women, Savor is a non-prescription daily supplement designed to support hormonal harmony, ease stress and reignite natural desire. Whether your low libido is tied to cortisol overload, mood shifts or hormonal birth control, Savor offers a thoughtful, well-rounded approach to helping you feel more energized, emotionally grounded and connected to your body again.

What makes Savor different?

• Adaptogens like ashwagandha help regulate stress and reduce cortisol, promoting calmness and emotional stability.*
• Circulation boosters like L-citrulline and ginkgo biloba may support blood flow for enhanced vitality and energy — and better physical responsiveness.*
• Traditional hormonal-support herbs like damiana may play a role in supporting hormone balance, including how the body processes testosterone and estrogen.*

Take the First Step Toward Feeling More Connected

Low libido doesn’t define you — and you’re not alone. Hormonal fluctuations are completely normal in your 20s and 30s, especially in a world that never stops moving.

Listening to your body, getting tested when needed and exploring gentle support tools like Savor are powerful steps toward reclaiming your wellness, confidence and joy.

Your desire isn’t gone. It’s just waiting for the right kind of care. 

Try Savor today, and take your first step toward balance, vitality and self-connection.

Resources:

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Hendrick, V., Altshuler, L. L., & Suri, R. (1998). Hormonal changes in the postpartum and implications for postpartum depression. Psychosomatics, 39(2), 93–101. 

Yang, J., & Chen, C. (2024). Hormonal changes in PCOS. The Journal of endocrinology, 261(1), e230342.

Hough, J. (2024). Overtraining and the endocrine system. Can hormones indicate overtraining? The Endocrinologist. Society for Endocrinology.

Haines, M.S. Endocrine complications of anorexia nervosa. J Eat Disord 11, 24 (2023). 

Kalmbach, D. A., Arnedt, J. T., Pillai, V., & Ciesla, J. A. (2015). The impact of sleep on female sexual response and behavior: a pilot study. The journal of sexual medicine, 12(5), 1221–1232.

Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Low Estrogen. Cleveland Clinic Health Library.

Guay, A., & Davis, S. R. (2002, June). Testosterone insufficiency in women: Fact or fiction? World Journal of Urology, 20(2), 106–110.

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Low Progesterone. Cleveland Clinic Health Library.

Thau, L., Gandhi, J., & Sharma, S. (2023, August 28). Physiology, cortisol. StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing. 

AlAwlaqi, A., Amor, H., & Hammadeh, M. E. (2017). Role of hormones in hypoactive sexual desire disorder and current treatment. Journal of the Turkish German Gynecological Association, 18(4), 210–218. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, December 5). Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep?. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. 

Cleveland Clinic. (2023). L-Citrulline Supplement Benefits and Side Effects. Cleveland Clinic.

Mount Sinai. Ginkgo biloba. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Carey, E. (2023). Damiana: An Ancient Aphrodisiac. Healthline. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This product is not FDA-approved. These statements are provided by the drug manufacturer.”