Time to Rev Up Your Flagging Libido and Roar Away

Introduction

What is Low Libido?

Low libido refers to the decrease in the sex drive of men and women. It usually interferes with the amount of sex they usually have. Although low libido can cause relationship tension between partners, the good news is that if the underlying causes are identified, treatment can be made.

Causes of Low Libido in Men

To find out how to increase libido in men, you would have to look at what causes it in the first place. It could be several things, which can vary from physical to psychological. Sometimes, it’s even both.

1. Physical Issues

• Low testosterone levels -The all-important sex hormone for men helps to maintain sex drive and sperm production. Low testosterone levels lead to erectile dysfunction and also interfere with sex in other ways. Some men with low testosterone experience a drop in libido – others lose interest in sex completely.
• Too much exercise or too little – Men who do exercises using high-intensity workouts regularly tend to have lower libidos than the guys who do lower intensity workouts. This is what a new study has discovered.
• Obesity – Exercise and weight loss enhance mood, energy levels, sexual function, and self-image. But obesity, unfortunately, can cause low libido.

  Research shows a definite association between obesity and low libido as well as erectile dysfunction. One study from Duke University found that obese men were more likely to be dissatisfied with their sex lives 25 times more than men with healthy BMIs.

• Prescription medications – Certain medications can be causes of low libido in men. Some are anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, statins, beta-blockers and benzodiazepines.

  Even some over-the-counter drugs that act as a treatment for low libido in males can cause problems if taken for long periods. Still don’t change medication or dosage without first talking to your physician.

• Smoking or chronic illness – Conditions that have high levels of pain and fatigue, as well as poor eating habits and lifestyle are all causes of low libido in men.

2. Psychological Issues

Even though depression and low libido go hand-in-hand, stress remains one of the major causes of low libido. Stress caused by financial problems, relationship problems, and work problems contribute greatly to the decline in sex drive among men. Additionally, poor self-esteem also leads to poor sex drive.

Common Symptoms

• Trouble ejaculating – This is when ejaculation occurs too soon, or where ejaculation takes a long time. You get retrograde ejaculation where the ejaculation is forced back into the bladder rather than out the penis. Delayed ejaculation could also be painful for a guy.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) – This is the inability to keep an erection for sexual intercourse. Half of the American men over the age of 40 are affected by ED. A guy seems to have no excitement for sex, doesn’t initiate it, and could even think their marriage was on the rocks. 50% of men aged 40 to 70 have ED. For a lot of men, the causes of low libido can be both embarrassment and stress. Men often avoid sexual activity for fear of failing in the bedroom.
• Frequent urination – He wakes up more to go to the bathroom. His stream of urine might be weak and it might take him longer to empty his bladder. He is also producing less semen and blood in his urine.
• Weight gain and breast enlargement – In the same way that women can experience hormonal changes as they approach their early 40s, so do men. Causes of low libido can mean he is nearing midlife, he might be showing disinterest in having sex, he might have gained considerable weight, or he doesn’t sleep well and is moody. He might also have developed breasts – this is a medical condition called gynecomastia. Trouble conceiving is another symptom of low sex drive.

Interventions

If you want to know how to increase libido in men, there are successful treatments. Some may be natural while others may be prescribed by certified health care providers.

Treatment for low libido in males will vary from each person. As causes can be different, management will also be tailored according to the patient’s needs.

If you believe your libido is low for no apparent reason, a doctor will do an assessment and perform tests to find out the reasons and causes of low libido. If you have diabetes, for instance, then controlling blood sugar levels might improve the problem.

If you have a low sex drive, a good treatment for low libido in males could be testosterone replacement therapy when there are problems with low testosterone. Men may take testosterone supplements if their testosterone levels are measurably low. Around 25% of men go for weekly testosterone shots, and some will opt for skin patches or gel formulations. These are applied directly to the skin of the chest, abdomen, or shoulders.  

If your testosterone levels are normal, then testosterone treatment will not help to improve your sex drive. The best way is always to chat to your doctor who will give you the best advice. Counselling also helps here if there are relationship issues or psychological problems. A sex therapist can assist with sexual problems. 

You need to also consider making healthy lifestyle choices. Have you ever considered that how to increase libido in men can mean getting rid of bad habits such as following?

• You are working for too long.
• You are not taking enough zinc.
• You sleep with partners you are not close to. Men need to feel close to a partner to have a good sex drive.
• You are not having sufficient nutrients.
• You are spending too much time at the gym, performing high-intensity workouts.
• You always stay up until late hours.
• You are watching too much porn. The sight of ‘perfect’ bodies performing ‘perfect’ sexual acts can make you feel dissatisfied and inadequate, which can be the cause of low libido.
• Insufficient Omega 3s. Omega 3 is the building block of sex hormones in men as well as women. This substance helps improve circulation and increases sensation and sexual responses.
• There is a lack of communication between you and your partner.
• You are not over your ex yet.
• Stress eats away at you.
• You eat a lot of junk food.
• You think of sex as a chore.
• You aren’t considering your mental health.
• You smoke and drink too much.
• Your self-esteem is low. This can cause a lot of anxiety about sexual performance. Over time, self-esteem issues can even result in mental problems, like anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol abuse – all of these are linked to low libido.
• You don’t pay attention to your medications, and some of these have negative side effects on libido.

Conclusion

Which guy doesn’t want an increased sex drive – who doesn’t try to find the secrets and answers to how to increase libido in men? After all, sex is an important part of life, a pleasurable activity that helps to cement the bonds of two people. 

However, men do suffer from loss of libido and there can be a range of psychological, interpersonal, mental, emotional, social, and physical factors all at play when it comes to influencing a man’s sexual health.

Checking testosterone levels would be necessary. The difficulty lies in interpreting the results to figure out the right treatment for low libido in males and other problems. Testosterone levels also can vary for the day. 

A decreased sex drive can unsettle a guy and lead to a vicious cycle of emotional and physical side effects, including erectile dysfunction or ED, which is the inability to maintain an erection long enough to have satisfactory sex. ED can cause a man to experience anxiety around sex. But fortunately, you don’t have to fret; there is hope if you are willing to change some of your lifestyle habits. Then it might require only fixing a breaking bed and not her breaking heart.