Disorders of Sexual Desire Inhibited Sexual Desire (ISD) may be primary or secondary. Primary inhibited sexual desire is lifelong low desire. It may be caused by emotional conflicts about sex, childhood sexual or emotional abuse, hormone deficiencies, or other physical conditions that interfere with the brain's ability to receive and transmit sexual messages. Secondary ISD is defined as "lost interest". It is far more common than primary ISD. Secondary ISD is often caused by emotional crises. Such pressures as depression, high stress and fits of anger can kill desire. Power and control battles between partners are another common damper of desire. Anything that triggers anxiety will shut down desire. Other enemies of desire are physical problems and reactions to medications taken for health problems. Some ISD sufferers fear intimacy or commitment and feel desire only when a potential partner is clearly not interested in a relationship of any depth or duration. Some people consciously choose to switch off desire and avoid sex. It is more common for desire to disappear for unknown reasons. In a situation where desire is appropriate, the ISD sufferer can instantly and automatically go from turned on to anxious, impatient, or irritable and turned off without any awareness of why it happens. It is normal and customary to inhibit sexual desire in dangerous or inappropriate situations. An example of such a situation might be: When a partner is unattractive, psychologically unavailable, abusive or a family member When there is too little time or too great a risk of being interrupted When one is tired, ill or worried When a situation poses a real threat to our physical or emotional health. People with ISD, however, perceive danger when there is none and close down sexual feelings in situation which, in reality, are safe and appropriate. More on physical disorders... Kathleen Logan-Prince, MSW, LICSW     Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist    Certified Sex Therapist Phone: (781) 647-9555 Fax: (781) 893-2075