Have you ever stopped to consider the different types of people who make up the transgender community? There are individuals of all ages, backgrounds, personalities and lifestyles. Most of these individuals have different attitudes, beliefs and behaviors when it comes to their sex drive or libido. This article focuses on those differences, and discusses ideas about what constitutes a healthy sex drive.

Is my sex drive normal? This is a healthy question a lot of people ask therapists, possibly because this is not always considered a safe subject to discuss with friends or family. When I am asked this question, I generally ask a person to describe his or her sexual behavior. I have heard many types of answers, and very few of the responses I hear are very shocking. This is because sex drive is a natural component of human behavior.

Variation in sex drive or libido ranges as widely among transgender persons as it does for non-transgender folk. However, we as transgender individuals are more likely to be preoccupied with our sex drive, because asking such questions often accompanies the process of self-defining gender identity and sexual orientation. Who do you find attractive? Do you like physical intimacy? What do you find a turn on about yourself, and hope others do, too? How often would you like to have sex? What is the right amount of sexual drive for a man or woman?

So, what is normal? In transgender persons, it's hard to say. This is because there are transsexuals who cannot tolerate masturbation or sexual contact before surgery, while others feel comfortable with just about everything at any time. There are people who painfully suffer from hyberlibido, as well as those who rarely have sex of any kind, even with their spouses. Transgender persons who are depressed, often have depressed sex drives. And, there are people who use sex to escape loneliness or boredom.

What you have just read illustrates why it is so very difficult to label a sex drive normal or abnormal. Because comparing oneself to others is not easy with so much variety, I generally encourage people to examine how their sex drive effects their and other people's lives. What is the impact? This type of self-analysis allows the person to determine if his or her libido is satisfactory. If a sex drive is found to be impaired or lacking, then it would be prudent to examine possible reasons why.

Transgender legend has it that taking hormones can significantly alter a person's sex drive, however I have found this to be slightly untrue. With correct levels of sex hormones in the blood stream, a person's libido may change or feel different, however generally the sex drive does not change dramatically over long periods of time. Why? Because the sex drive mechanism does not solely originate in blood chemistry, a person's brain also plays a contributing factor. In a sense, a person's blood chemistry and mind work together to create sex drive and desire.

A person's brain or mind is more powerful than most people realize. For instance, people who are suffering from depression, or whose creative impulses are being impaired due to health or outside forces, often lack a strong sex drive. Once these conditions have been corrected or stabilized, over time an individual's sex drive often returns or increases.

Strong medications are one of the outside forces previously mentioned which can effect sex drive. Sometimes this has to be accepted, however in other circumstances a physician can prescribe a medication which treats the medical condition but has less of an impact on sex drive. Don't take matters into your own hands, talk with your physician about this important situation if you believe it affects you.

A change in hormones may bring about a short-term change, however as blood chemistry levels stabilize, so too should an individual's libido. If it does not, this is a matter that should be discussed with a physician.

Like non-transgender persons, age also effects a transgender person's sex drive. This can be compensated for by learning more about intimacy. Hugging, kissing and extended foreplay cannot replace a person's sex drive, however they certainly can enhance intimate contacts. Physician's now are able to prescribe Viagra as well as tinker with hormone levels in aging men and post-menopausal women. There is no reason why physicians cannot do the same for transgender folk who are advancing in age.

Rocky relationships definitely may play a significant role in answering why a person's sex drive is depressed. Even if love and caring exist within a relationship, this may not be enough. Attraction and fantasy play a major role in stimulating sexual response, and if a relationship lacks these qualities sexual response is often impaired. So prominent is this relationship dynamic, that the lack of attraction frequently spells of a need for change. In many case this is particularly so for pre-transitioned individuals, who are in relationships where the spouse doesn't know about the gender identity issue or finds such matters unappealing.

Hyperlibido, which is not related to gender identity issues, is a condition which may have either mental health or medical causation. In most circumstances it is a painful affliction, where the individual suffers from too frequent sexual arousal. In some cases this may be a perception on the part of the individual, or he or she may be mix-matched with a spouse or partner who has a different sex drive. Other times there may be a hormonal imbalance, or an individual may simply lack sexual education and feel guilty about being aroused easily. An evaluation by a careprovider familiar with sex education, and possibly a physician, greatly assist individuals suffering from hyberlibido.

Transsexuals seeking genital reassignment naturally inquire as to whether their sex drive or sensitivity will change after surgery. This underscores the importance of being a good medical consumer. At a minimum, a potential surgical patient should speak to at least three other individuals who have had surgery, after he or she believes she has chosen the right surgeon. It also is important to discuss the issues of sex drive and sensitivity with the surgeon, as he or she can inform you as to what to expect from his or her particular procedure.

In a general sense, within my own clients who have had surgery, I found that their sex drive and sensitivity either remained the same or improved with genital reassignment surgery, if they had a reputable surgeon and responded well to healing. Occasionally my clients expressed that healing took longer than expected, or that urination or dilation was tender for those who encountered minor complications; however, the same individuals typically expressed long-term satisfaction both with the procedure and their sex drives.

Over the years I have found it clinically prudent to caution transsexuals with low or impaired sex drives to avoid following a misguided expectation that genital reassignment would significantly increase their sex drives. Only on rare occasion does these person's sex drive increase dramatically. In most instances individuals find that their sex drive remains intact, as it was prior to surgery. Having surgery did however substantially improve their feelings about their genitalia, and often with sex education and experimentation these person's actual feelings about intimacy also improved.

Among all people there exists a wide variety of attitudes about sexual activity, sex drive and other intimate matters. This can range from people who talk about their sexual experiences with their closest friends, to those individuals who never do so with anyone. People's reactions to hearing about sexual concerns can also vary from interest and curiosity to disdain and shock. It is okay and healthy to discuss matters involving human nature. Sometimes doing so may feel a bit funny or unusual, however sexual education is important for all people's well-being. Nevertheless, should someone decline to participate in such a discussion, be polite and don't force yourselves on them.

In the counseling environment talking about sex drive and libido is also appropriate. If you have questions about yours, ask questions of your counselor or therapist. There is also a great deal of information in the form of books or online information about these subjects, typically found under sex education and intimacy. Whether you are looking to read or try a new sexual experience, good luck and play safe! Be mindful that a discussion about using precautions should take place before two people's clothes come off, not after.