What Are The Common Reasons For Low Sex Drive In Men?

Low sex drive is a common problem in both men and women. But it’s distressing for anyone to experience a negative shift in their sex drive, especially if they’ve had high libido in the past. If it’s out of embarrassment or some other reason, many people don’t know where to turn to help. Fortunately, patients can control their sexual wellbeing by opening up this issue to their doctor. Through discussion and evaluation, they can understand why their decreased libido can explore their choices on how to get back to feeling like themselves. 

What is a low sex drive?

Low sex drive in men is the term used to describe a lack of sexual desire in men. Sexual desire or sex drive results from a combination of biological, personal, and emotional factors.

Sexual desire is different for each person, which can vary over time based on what’s going on in a person’s life. Some people are not worried about having a low sex drive. However, if you lose interest in sex for no apparent reason and are worried, talking to a doctor might help.

What are the common reasons for low sex drive in men?

1. Low Testosterone and ED

If the total testosterone drops below 300 to 350 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), male libido can fall, sometimes dramatically.

Low testosterone (hypogonadism) usually occurs as men ages. But it can also affect younger men for many reasons. Testosterone is a male hormone that is necessary for growth, strength, and sex drive.

While testosterone replacement therapy can help restore the male sexual drive. It can increase the risk of blood clots and strokes in men with underlying cardiovascular conditions. Sleep apnea, acne, and breast enlargement (gynecomastia) are typical side effects.

Depression and low libido can go hand in hand. Depression is also the source of a low sex drive. But it may make a difficult situation worse. Although psychotherapy can effectively treat depression, antidepressant drugs may also exacerbate rather than improve libido loss.

Switching or reducing the dosage may sometimes help, but the side effects are not immediate, and skipping or delaying the dose may not help. If you are stressed, it is important to speak to your doctor about your libido and how drugs can affect your low sex drive.

2. The Effects of Chronic Illness

Chronic disease can take a toll on your sexual drive, both physically and mentally.

This is especially true with chronic pain or exhaustion conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

There is rarely a straight line between cause and care regarding serious disease and lack of sexual function. On the one hand, chronic disease is associated with an elevated risk of stress. It may directly interfere with the hormonal, neurological, or vascular role of the male sex drive.

3. Sleep issues

Research in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine showed that non-obese men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) had lower testosterone levels. This leads to a decrease in sexual appetite and libido.

In the study, researchers found that almost one-third of men with extreme sleep apnea also had decreased testosterone levels.

In another recent study in young, healthy men, testosterone levels decreased by 10 to 15 percent after a week of sleep restriction of 5 hours per night.

The researchers showed that the effects of sleep restriction on testosterone levels were especially evident between 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. the next day.

4. Relationship problems

One of the first things to consider is if you’re happy with your relationship. Do you have any questions or concerns that could be causing your loss of sexual desire?

Low sex drive in men can be the result of:

• Being in a long-term relationship and being over-familiar with your partner
• Lack of sexual attraction
• Unresolved dispute and frequent arguments
• Weak communication
• Difficulty trusting each other
• Physical, sexual issues

5. Poor Lifestyle Choices

Vices are easy to get around and just as easy to adopt. Meanwhile, drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking medications will drive low sex, such as an unhealthful diet or a general lack of exercise. And while you still can classify this one under “common sense,” that doesn’t make it any less relevant.

Are we saying that you need to pour out all the beer or stop eating potato chips? Not necessarily that. Excessive behaviour causes excessive outcomes, much as in sexual activity. Moderation is the key.

6. Underlying Medical Conditions

Not only can these medical problems induce constant distraction, but they may have a major impact on libido. Cancer is a clear inhibitor, but far from the only one. Here are several other medical problems that may cause low sex drive in men:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Chronic organ failure
• Chronic pain
• Obesity

Even restless leg syndrome (RLS)—i.e., the uncontrollable desire to move your legs has been linked with ED and other low libido symptoms.

7. Having children

It has been reported that several men suffer temporary drops in T levels as soon as a woman gives birth. From a biological point of view, this makes perfect sense as it tends to ensure good parenting. And after these T levels have been restored, however, raising a young child may be a full-time obligation and a libido-killing one.

8. Ageing

Allow us to close down on an obvious note: you’re getting older, and your sex drive is getting weaker. In the meantime, it’s not just the sex drive. Anything from your immune system to your metabolism to your intrinsic genetic structure to your cognitive function will gradually dissolve over time.

How is low sex drive in men treated?

Possible treatments include, depending on the cause:

• Healthier choices in lifestyle. Develop the diet, exercise enough, and get adequate sleep, reduce alcohol, and reduce stress.

• Move to a new medication if it affects your libido.
• Testosterone replacement therapy
• Testosterone replacement therapy
• Counselling

Your doctor may prescribe therapy if you have a psychological problem. In certain cases, low libido suggests a desire to have a closer relationship with the other person that is not sexual but also intimate. It will help you explore these problems with a psychiatrist, either alone or with a partner. If depression is a problem, antidepressants can help. Some of them lower your sex drive, though.

What about the meds you’ve seen on TV and magazine advertisements like Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra? They’re not boosting libido. They’re going to help you get and keep erections.

The Bottom Line: Low Sex Drive in Men

Treating low sex drive also depends on treating the underlying problem.

If the underlying health problem causes low sex motivation, you will need to switch treatments. If your low libido has psychological causes, you will need to see a relationship counseling therapist.

You should also take steps of your own to improve your libido. The following acts have the potential to improve libido:

• A healthy lifestyle
• Get enough sleep
• The practice of stress management
• Eat a healthier diet