Etiology of Sexual Arousal Disorders Common causes of sexual interest / arousal disorder are Psychologic factors (eg, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, stress, distractibility, lack of communication between partners, other relationship problems) Unrewarding sexual experiences (eg, due to lack of sexual skills or poor communication of needs) Physical factors (eg, disorders such as genitourinary syndrome of menopause and vulvar dystrophies, changes in sex hormone levels, certain drugs, fatigue, debility) Use of certain drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) particularly, some antiseizure drugs, and beta-blockers, can reduce sexual interest, as can drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.