Sometimes, the best treatment for low sexual desire in either partner is counseling—to resolve overt conflicts, hidden resentments, power struggles, or other interpersonal barriers to erotic interest. Since depression is a frequent cause of diminished desire in both men and women, treatment of depression is another important path to resolution of desire problems. Psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, not only may be more effective the pharmacotherapy in relieving depression, they do not interfere with libido, as many psychoactive drugs do.

There is no magic pill for restoring sexual desire among women, nor is there likely to be. Perhaps the most effective route is educating both men and women about how women actually become aroused. One treatment of hypoactive desire in women that is proving highly effective utilizes mindfulness to connect bodily sensations of arousal with psychological arousal.

Among men, a drop in testosterone levels can profoundly impact sexual desire, and, especially as men age, treatment with testosterone may restore desire.