First, she should see her doctor. There are many factors that can contribute to a woman’s low sex drive, including stress, relationship problems, and underlying health conditions. So, getting a complete physical exam and ruling out other factors is a helpful starting point.

If it appears that the sexual issues are caused by oral contraceptives, switching to another type or dose may help.

Some women choose to stop using oral contraceptives altogether and consider another form of birth control, such as condoms or an intrauterine device (IUD).

However, in some cases, women continue to have low sex drive even after stopping oral contraceptives. This situation can make treatment difficult. One option is sex therapy. A qualified sex therapist can assess a woman’s sexual history and suggest strategies for dealing with any anxiety or other psychological issues that may be associated with the low desire.

If the woman chooses to pursue sex therapy with her partner, the therapist can offer techniques and exercises that will help the couple with intimacy.

Some doctors recommend testosterone therapy to women with desire and arousal problems. While testosterone can help with sex drive, it has not been studied for long-term use. It is also not recommended for every woman. For example, postmenopausal woman with a past history of breast or uterine cancer are advised against testosterone therapy.

In the United States, testosterone therapy has not been approved for use in women. Any such prescription is considered “off-label” use.