The idea that you one day would not constantly be itching to “get it on” might have once seemed preposterous as a hormone-ridden teenager. But lo and behold, the unfathomable day has come when being able to get it up now seems like a chore, if not impossible. There are multiple causes for low libido.
It is common for men to experience changes in their libido over the course of their lives. Libido is your sexual desire and drive. Low libido is often a result of low testosterone, prescription medications, alcohol and drug use, or the amount of exercise you’re getting. All of these factors can impact your interest in sexual activity.
While it’s fairly typical for your libido to vary from time to time, low libido can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health condition. In this article, we’ll explore the potential causes of low libido in men and how you can address them.
1. Low testosterone
Testosterone is an important male hormone that’s produced in the testicles. It’s responsible for building muscles and bone mass as well as stimulating sperm production. According to the American Urological Association, men are considered to have low testosterone when their levels fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). While decreased testosterone is a normal part of aging, experiencing a drastic drop will affect your libido.
2. Medications
Certain medications can affect testosterone levels, which ultimately can affect your libido. Below are some examples. If you’re taking a medication on the list, consider talking to your doctor to see if it could be the cause of your low libido:
- Blood pressure medications (ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers)
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatments for cancer
- Hormones used to treat prostate cancer
- Corticosteroids
- Opioid pain relievers (morphine and oxycodone)
- An antifungal medication called ketoconazole
- A medication used for heartburn and GERD called cimetidine
- Anabolic steroids
- Certain antidepressants
3. Depression
Individuals with depression often experience a reduced interest or a complete lack of interest in activities they once found pleasurable. This includes–you guessed it–sex. Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, or anger interfere with daily activities. Symptoms include:
- Feeling empty, sad, hopeless, angry, irritable, anxious, restless
- Loss of interest in activities
- Thoughts of suicide
- Excessive use of drugs/alcohol
- Restless sleep
- Fatigue
- Pains
- Headaches
- Digestive problems
- Inability to concentrate
- Difficulty completing tasks
- Reduced sexual desire and lack of sexual performance
If you’re experiencing these symptoms and have not yet been diagnosed, talk to your doctor. Furthermore, as noted above, certain antidepressants can also cause low libido. If you are taking antidepressants and are experiencing low libido, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage or switching to another medication.
4. Chronic illness
Chronic illnesses are those that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention. They often limit the activities you’re able to do. Here are some of the chronic illnesses that can affect your libido.
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Chronic lung, heart, kidney, and liver failure
Chronic illness will not only take a toll on you but also your loved one. Talk openly with your partner about how you can maintain your relationship and intimacy. Marriage counselors and sex therapists are also good resources.
5. Exercise
Too much or too little exercise can both be the cause of low libido in men. When you get regular exercise, you reduce your risk for chronic conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. All of these conditions are associated with low libido.
However, over-exercising has also been shown to affect sexual health. This study shows that high levels of chronic intense and lengthy endurance training on a regular basis are strongly associated with decreased libido in men.
What should you do? Strive for moderate exercise, which helps to lower cortisol levels at night as well as reduce sex. Overall, this should help boost your sex drive.
Final thoughts
While these are 5 of the leading causes of low libido, these aren’t all of them. Even if you aren’t experiencing one of these 5 reasons, there are still plenty of others that could be causing your low libido. Don’t be shy of having a low libido, there are treatments that have been proven to help with male enhancement. Viking Man is an FDA Approved company that offers quality and safe ED medication that can help you improve your erection. Click here to get started on your online health assessment to see which treatment option is best for you.
