everything you need to know about your libido

Low testosterone level

Testosterone is an important sex hormone. It’s responsible for typical male physical characteristics, such as facial hair and body muscle. This hormone also helps maintain sex drive and sperm production.

Contrary to popular belief, low testosterone levels rarely lead to erectile dysfunction.5 But low testosterone can interfere with sex in other ways. Some men with low testosterone experience a drop in libido, while others lose interest in sex completely. Additional symptoms of this condition include: body and facial hair loss; depression; fatigue; reduced muscle tone.

The most common treatment for low testosterone is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Though effective, TRT can come with potential risks. Some of these include acne, blood clots, prostate growth, and worsening sleep apnea. Additionally, TRT may put some older men at an increased risk for heart problems.

How to increase your testosterone

The most common treatment for low testosterone is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Though effective, TRT can come with potential risks. Some of these include acne, blood clots, prostate growth, and worsening sleep apnea. Additionally, TRT may put some older men at an increased risk for heart problems.

Medications

Certain medications may cause low sex drive in men. These may include entire classes of drugs that can affect a man’s sex drive to varying degrees.

Stopping or changing the suspected drug may reverse the condition, although this is not always possible with certain chronic medications. A dose adjustment may also help. As always, do not change medication or dosage without first talking to your physician.

Depression

Depression and low libido may go hand in hand. Depression can not only cause a lower sex drive, but it may also be a consequence of it, making a tough situation worse. Furthermore, while antidepressants can effectively treat depression, they can exacerbate problems with sexual desire.

If you are currently taking an antidepressant and experiencing a lower sex drive, you may want to talk to your doctor about lowering your dose. Switching to a different medication, such as Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Remeron (mirtazapine), may also help. Just keep in mind that it can take time for this side effect to go away.

Chronic illness

The high levels of pain and fatigue caused by chronic illness can take a toll on sex drive. This can be especially true for these chronic diseases and conditions:

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Diabetes
• Fibromyalgia
• Heart disease
• Kidney failure

When it comes to chronic illness and the loss of sexual function, there is rarely a straight line between cause and treatment. On the one hand, chronic illness is associated with an increased risk of depression. On the other, it can directly interfere with hormonal, neurological, or vascular functions central to the male sex drive.

Stress

While stress can impair sexual interest by distraction, its effect on sex drive is more insidious. Stress triggers the production of cortisol, a hormone that functions like built-in alarm system. Cortisol not only causes the constriction of blood vessels, contributing to ED; it can also cause a precipitous drop in testosterone.

Stress is also linked to insomnia and other sleep abnormalities, which can increase the risk of fatigue and leave you less interested in sex.