Low Sex Drive in Men

Is your sex drive as strong as wish?

A lot of guys don’t find their engines running as hot as they might like. One out of five men actually have a low sex drive. Men who have a reduced sex drive don’t want to talk about it, and the women with them don’t want to talk about it either.

Low libido in men is a very common complaint. The leading reason men don’t want to have sex is medication, usually SSRI-type antidepressants and antihypertensive drugs prescribed for men with high blood pressure. Diseases such as diabetes; conditions such as obesity and high cholesterol; and HIV drugs, some hair-loss remedies, and other medications can negatively affect sexual desire.

Aging also plays a role, though many older men have a robust interest in sex.

Fatigue is another oft-cited reason for a low sex drive, as is that all-encompassing nemesis, stress.

Stress and anxiety from the strain of daily life, relationship or family problems, depression, and mental disorders are among the many factors that can affect sexual desire.

Testosterone is the hormone of desire, arguably for women as well as for men. Low testosterone levels usually mean low sexual desire. Levels dip as men age.
Other hormones can play a role, too, such as low levels of thyroid hormone or, rarely, high levels of prolactin, a hormone produced in a gland at the base of the brain.

Each cause of low sexual desire has its own treatment. When the root cause is psychological, sex therapy can offer men specific techniques and strategies for regaining their enjoyment of sex.

In cases where the problem is low testosterone, men can take testosterone supplements if they have measurably low levels.

In the end, the choice for men who've lost their desire for sex is not between being a panting sexual animal and being a eunuch. Instead, the real choice is whether these men are ready to regain a vital source of intimacy with their partners -- and a key part of a healthy life for themselves.