It isn’t a joke when men lose their interest in sex. It not only affects their relationship with their spouse but can also cause depression, anxiety among other mental disorder.
What is Low Libido?
The decreased interest in sexual activity in men is described as having low libido. It isn’t uncommon for men to lose interest in sex from time to time, and men’s libido levels differ through life.
It is also normal for a man’s interest in sex not to match his partner’s some time, but it should be a thing of concern if the libido is low for an extended period. Below is a list of potential causes of low libido in men:
Medications
Some prescriptions are known to have side effects, and some of them can lower testosterone levels in men. This directly affects the level of libido in men.
The drugs you digest play a considerable role in your sexual parts. Blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers may prevent full erection in men.
You should consider consulting your physician if this is the case with you.
Low testosterone
Testosterone is a vital male hormone that is produced in the testicles. This hormone is responsible for building bone mass, muscles and stimulates sperm productivity.
The level of testosterone in the body plays an essential role in a man’s sex drive. If a male’s testosterone is low, his interest in sex will diminish. A man is considered to have low testosterone, or LowT when his testosterone levels fall below 300 to 350 nanogram per deciliter (ng/dL).
Ageing does take a toll in the decrease in testosterone in men, but, an immediate drop can lead to decrease libido. If this is the case, consulting your doctor might be the best way of handling the issue.
Depression
Depression comes in various degrees of intensity, and it can change all part of a man’s life, even sexually.
Men with depression may experience a reduced or complete lack of interest in sexual activities. It could be a result of the side effect of some antidepressants. Discuss with your doctor immediately to better direct you on adjusting your dose or changing to another altogether.
Chronic sickness
When a man is severely sick due to a long-term illness such as cancer, it can take a terrible toll on a man’s sex life. It can also reduce sperm production count as the body is distracted by getting better.
Discussing with your partner about how an illness makes you feel and perform sexually may help you and your partner get by without having issues in your sex life. Seeing a professional sex therapist or relationship counsellor should also be considered.
Stress
The various level of stress a man is exposed to can be distracting and may decrease interest in sex altogether. The level of the hormone responsible for healthy sex in a man can be affected by stress.
The arteries in the penis become narrow in times of stress, and this restricts blood flow and can result in low libido in men, worst still, erectile dysfunction.
You should strongly consider reducing your stress level, find time to rest and seek a professional opinion on how to best get your libido back on track.
Sleep issue
Knowing how important sleep is, men are expected to get at least six hours of sleep for a healthy metabolism and as well, improve his sex life.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) discovered that men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience reduced testosterone levels. This results in a decrease in sexual activities and low libido.
The research also indicated that almost half of the men we had chronic sleep apnea experience deficient levels of testosterone at night, and this is more common in older men.
Getting the required treatment on low libido often depends on what gave rise to it in the first place. Once the cause is established, treatment would be more straightforward. The causes could be one of the above issues stated.
Consider going through your medications and their side effect. See your doctor if you need to change drugs and a psychologist if your low libido is psychological in nature.
You could also adopt some steps to improving your libido with these few steps:
- Living a healthier lifestyle
- Quit smoking
- Get the right amount of sleep
- Avoid stress and get enough rest
- Eat fruits and food that have healthy sexual benefits
