What Causes Low Libido & Vaginal Dryness, According to an Expert

O Positiv has been challenging stigmas around hormonal and sexual wellness since it launched in 2018. And now, the women’s health brand pushes the conversation forward with URO Vaginal Moisture + Mood, a daily supplement designed to support arousal, natural lubrication, and emotional wellbeing.

The launch comes as conversations about women’s sexual health gain traction. Research indicates that up to 40% of women experience some form of sexual dysfunction, while separate studies show that low sexual desire affects around 26.7% of pre-menopausal women and vaginal dryness impacts roughly one in five in the same group.

To explore the causes, we spoke to Dr. Roxanne Pero, board-certified obstetrician and gynaecologist and member of O Positiv’s Medical Board of Directors, who explains that these challenges are a natural yet often overlooked part of women’s health.

Biological Shifts

“Aging naturally leads to a decline in vulvovaginal blood flow, which can reduce both lubrication and arousal,” says Dr. Pero. “These changes are further intensified during perimenopause and menopause, when levels of estrogen and androgens like testosterone and DHEA begin to fall. Lower estrogen, in particular, decreases genital blood flow and thins the vaginal lining, resulting in less natural lubrication and more discomfort during sex.”

Experts note that this hormonal shift can also affect collagen and elastin levels, making vaginal tissues less elastic and more prone to micro-tears. Even before menopause, hormonal fluctuations during menstrual cycles can cause temporary changes in arousal and moisture levels.

Postpartum Effects

Women who’ve given birth may face additional challenges. “Estrogen shifts in the postpartum period can lead to a reduction in vaginal lubrication,” explains Dr. Pero. “Recovering from childbirth and healing physically can also impact comfort during intercourse, which in turn affects arousal. How a woman feels about her body’s changes during this period also influences sexual health.”

Postpartum dryness is also more common for those who breastfeed, as prolactin levels increase while estrogen levels remain suppressed, a hormonal imbalance that can last for several months.

Lifestyle Factors

Diet, vaginal care, and birth control choices also play a role. According to Dr. Pero, certain vaginal washes and treatments can disrupt the microbiome and reduce natural moisture levels. Some contraceptive pills with antiandrogenic properties have also been linked to decreased lubrication and desire. If contraception appears to be contributing to these changes, Dr. Pero recommends discussing alternative options with a healthcare provider.

“Consuming high amounts of certain foods, such as oils and white meats, may reduce sexual lubrication and desire,” she explains. “However, maintaining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is generally linked to improved lubrication and arousal.”

Other factors can also play a role, including chronic stress, which raises cortisol and dampens sexual desire, and smoking, which restricts blood flow to genital tissues.

Treatment Options

Dr. Pero highlights several approaches to improving sexual comfort and function:

• Exercise and pelvic floor training: Regular movement and targeted exercises can meaningfully enhance vaginal lubrication and sexual desire.
• Diet and weight management: Healthy, balanced diets like the Mediterranean diet can have a positive impact on sexual function.
• Hormone therapies: For those who need additional support, local and systemic options (including vaginal estrogen and DHEA) are effective in improving sexual health.
• Communication: Good sexual communication between partners is positively associated with all aspects of sexual function, including desire, arousal, and lubrication.

Dr. Pero also recommends herbal supplements as a treatment option, including O Positiv’s new URO Vaginal Moisture + Mood ($31.99), which is designed to help increase lubrication and arousal. Formulated for daily use, it aims to address not just physical symptoms but also the mental load that impacts desire. Featuring clinically studied ingredients like ashwagandha, GABA, and ginkgo biloba, the supplement supports blood flow, stress reduction, and mood regulation — three pillars essential to arousal and satisfaction.

Studies suggest that ashwagandha may help balance cortisol levels and improve sexual function, while ginkgo biloba has been linked to enhanced circulation and genital blood flow. GABA, a neurotransmitter, plays a role in calming the nervous system, potentially reducing anxiety that can dampen desire.

URO Vaginal Moisture + Mood is available now at opositiv.com.