Libido refers to sex drive and sexual desires that several people experience, and not everyone has the best sex drive. However, do you know that many things can decrease your libido? We found 5 things that decrease libido.
- Low Testosterone
Decreased libido due to low testosterone is a condition that mostly affects men. According to the American Urological Association (ASA), testosterone level below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) is considered to be poor. Though researchers still didn’t figure out how the change in testosterone levels can increase or decrease libido. But time and again it is proven that men suffering from low sex drive happen to have below-average testosterone levels. According to research conducted in Massachusetts on the men suffering from low sex drive, it is found that about 28% of men with low testosterone showed signs of low libido thus proving that testosterone and libido do have a relation.
But not all men are created equally because low testosterone doesn’t always lead to decreased sex drive. Some men can even uphold their desire to have sex despite low testosterone levels while others may suffer from low sex drive even with moderately high levels of testosterone. Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in males having multiple functions like building muscles, manly features, sex drive, and many more. So you must maintain healthy T-levels. Some of the proven ways through which you can boost testosterone are by exercising, weight training, yoga, a healthy diet, and good sleep.
- Aging
Age is one of those things we all are bound to experience and unlike others, nature doesn’t discriminate. It’s pretty natural for both men and women to lose their sex drive as they age and the only real thing you can do is postpone the process as it can’t be stopped. In men, aging and testosterone have an inverse relationship because as they start to age the body decreases its testosterone production, and as the above point mentioned low testosterone levels may lead to low libido. Unlike men, women suffer from reduced sex drive due to a lack of estrogen.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, there is a notable connection between age and decreased libido. An earlier research study revealed that middle-aged men (40–60 years) have a libido that is three times lower than that of younger men (18–29 years). This decline in libido is linked to the gradual decrease of testosterone levels, which play a crucial role in maintaining both libido and erectile function. Typically, testosterone levels decrease by approximately 1% per year as individuals age.
The majority of women start to lose interest in sex after their menopausal transition stage. Estrogen deficiency following menopause has the potential of making sex not only less enjoyable but also painful. According to a study conducted by Tufts Medical Centre, it is found that 40% of women who are in their sixties suffer from low libido. So leading a healthy and active lifestyle is crucial if you want to keep enjoying sex in the latter half of your life.
- Lack of Exercise & good Diet
Our physical well being is completely dependent on the lifestyle choices we make. Not wanting to indulge in any sort of physical activity and not eating right are some of the choices that can get you into trouble or in this case lower your libido. Lack of exercise partnered with an unhealthy diet on a regular basis can potentially lead to serious health conditions like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension just to name a few.
Now exercise doesn’t mean spending hours in the gym. Any systematized and organized physical activity can increase the testosterone secretions in our blood which in turn can boost your libido but the most productive of them all is the Strength and weight movements. Performing high-intensity exercises i.e. which requires you to exert 70-80% of your strength and energy, along with fatigue, muscle exhaustion, and adequate rest periods have shown the biggest jump in testosterone levels. As for the diet, you need to consume adequate amounts of proteins, fats, greens, and vitamins habitually or else your body won’t be able to perform appropriately, as a result, your libido along with your overall health will eventually start to deteriorate.
- Stress
Out of all the reasons listed here, this one is the most treacherous because stress is considered to be the silent sex killer. Stress silently affects not just your libido and testosterone but also your overall health by interrupting your hormone levels. Stress is very similar to aging as both of these are impossible to avoid. We all go through stressful situations throughout our life and the accumulation of those constant and prolonged stress factors can lead to sexual dysfunctions like low libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and low sperm count. Stress might also pose a major hurdle for couples who are trying to conceive.
Several pieces of research have shown that men who have experienced more than two prolonged stressful life events are more likely to have lower sperm count and motility compared to men who faced fewer stressful situations.
Research indicates that when it comes to low libido, relationship stress and conflicts can exert a more significant impact than other forms of stress. This applies to both men and women, as reported by Verywell Mind. Moreover, stress can have psychological implications, disrupting sexual activity through emotional and cognitive changes that divert an individual’s attention away from sexual cues. These psychological responses redirect the focus from the appropriate stimulus towards the sources of stress, thus affecting sexual desire and engagement.
There are several ways through which you can manage your stress levels. Some of the techniques like meditation, yoga, pharmacological therapy, and diaphragmatic breathing exercises have proven to reduce cortisol, and epinephrine which is present in high levels can reduce testosterone along with your desire to have sex.
- Depression
For whatever reason people don’t take depression as seriously compared to other illnesses as a result depressed people don’t get the required attention and treatment. People need to realize that depression is a serious mental and medical condition that hampers with your everyday life including your sex life. According to a study published by the Indian Journal of Psychiatry showed that nearly 62% of the people suffering from depression exhibit some form of sexual dysfunction. Depression is very different from just feeling sad and fearful for a while. It can make you feel hopeless, unhappy, fed-up, and irritated with yourself and everything that surrounds you for a prolonged period.
According to two studies conducted by Kendurkar and Kaur, as well as the Zurich prospective study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information, individuals suffering from depression experienced a notable decrease in sexual desire and encountered more difficulties with ejaculation and achieving orgasm compared to the general population. Additionally, those with depression frequently reported dissatisfaction with their overall sexual life and their relationship with their sexual partner.
People suffering from depression don’t experience joy or interest in any activity they indulge in, including sex. It is because the whole progression of sexual arousal initiates with the ability to anticipate pleasure which is gone in depression as a result, sex is a lot less pleasing and enjoyable for depressed people. One of the most common ways doctors try to treat depression is through antidepressants. But some of the antidepressants like duloxetine (Cymbalta), fluoxetine (Prozac), and sertraline (Zoloft) are known to lower libido as a side effect. Although antidepressants can make sex less desirable, your foremost objective must be to treat the depression first.
Bonus Tips Submitted By Viewers
- Marital issues
Marital trust and comfort are vital in any relationship. Thus any nagging problems that remain unsolved could spill over to harm your libido.
If you don’t make any effort to keep the marital flame burning, it will extinguish. Not surprisingly then, relationship matters are one of the most common causes of losing sexual desire.
These issues include insignificant occasional misunderstandings and miscommunication. When you are in a long-term relationship, you may become overconfident with your partner to the level that you don’t take their concerns seriously.
Then there is the issue of being complacent. Couples prioritize other homemaking and career issues ahead of intimacy. Thus, when they make love, it’s more of an unavoidable but unproductive chore.
Hence they commit as little as possible in terms of time and effort. Soon, it becomes so blatant that they no longer pretend to make an effort.
In such a situation, the libido ebbs.
But there may be debilitating challenges such as perennial infidelity, which are hard to deal with and could lead to loss of libido.
- Reckless lifestyle
Poor lifestyles include a sedentary and stressful working environment.
But being reckless is much worse.
It kills your libido for a long and making a recovery is both expensive and time-consuming.
So what would you consider reckless living? Well, drugs, smoking, and drinks.
These are a bad combination. Recreational drugs cause nervous disorientation, leading to a freeze in sexual pulses. They also disrupt the proper functioning of the digestive and reproductive systems.
Still, cigarettes contain hundreds of chemicals that pollute your entire body. These toxins also kill the sperm production process significantly.
You may think that drinking beer is fun. But anything more than four pints a week is overkill as far as your libido is concerned.
Alcohol causes “whisky penis.” This is a situation where you are mentally aroused and desires sex, but you can’t perform when in bed.
All three vices above disrupt your sleeping pattern, resulting in less testosterone and badly damaged and worn-out cells.
In conclusion, we provided five things that can decrease your libido. We hope that with the knowledge mentioned above regarding libido, you can make better health-related decisions that can increase your libido and improve sexual health and functioning.
SIMILAR QUESTION
How Do I Know If My Libido Is Low?
Introduction
Low libido, or decreased sex drive, is a common issue among men and women alike. A decrease in libido can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, depression, hormone imbalances, certain medical conditions, or medications. The good news is that low libido can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as improving diet and exercise, and in some cases, through medical intervention.
Signs and Symptoms of Low Libido
The most common signs and symptoms of low libido are decreased interest in sexual activity, difficulty becoming aroused, and reduced sexual desire. A person may also experience decreased satisfaction after engaging in sexual activities or reduced sexual fantasies. Other signs and symptoms of low libido may include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.
Physical Signs and Symptoms
In addition to the emotional and psychological signs and symptoms of low libido, there are also physical signs and symptoms that can indicate a decrease in sex drive. These physical signs and symptoms include decreased lubrication during sexual activity, decreased sensitivity in the genital area, and decreased genital sensation during orgasm.
Tests to Determine if Libido Is Low
If you are concerned that your libido may be low, there are a few tests that can help you determine if this is the case. One of these tests is a hormone panel, which looks at the levels of testosterone, estrogen, and other hormones in the body. Another test is a physical exam, which can help determine if any underlying medical conditions may be contributing to your decreased sex drive. Finally, if depression or stress is suspected to be a contributing factor, a mental health professional can provide a psychological evaluation.
Conclusion
Low libido is a common issue that can be caused by a variety of factors. If you are concerned that your libido may be low, it is important to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your symptoms. Your doctor can help you determine the underlying cause of your low libido and determine the best course of treatment. With the proper treatment and lifestyle changes, you can get your libido back on track and enjoy a healthy sex life once again.
