{"id":6643,"date":"2024-03-17T00:00:46","date_gmt":"2024-03-17T00:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=6643"},"modified":"2024-03-17T04:43:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-17T04:43:01","slug":"male-sex-drive-everything-you-need-to-know-about-male-libido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/male-sex-drive-everything-you-need-to-know-about-male-libido\/","title":{"rendered":"Male sex drive: everything you need to know about male libido"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is normal for men to experience a fluctuating sex drive or libido. Find out more about possible causes and treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are so many misconceptions and myths about the male\u00a0sex drive. It\u2019s widely thought that men have higher sex drives than women, and that they think about, talk about, and want sex more than women. It\u2019s presumed that a man is always \u2018up for it\u2019. These sexist stereotypes are based in a patriarchal notion of sex and are wildly outdated. They harm men, women and people of all genders alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to know that regardless of your gender, it\u2019s normal to experience a\u00a0fluctuating sex drive\u00a0or libido \u2013 and it\u2019s not always a bad thing. The only time your altered sex drive becomes a problem is if it causes issues with a partner, impacts your sex life, or your\u00a0mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How common is loss of libido in men?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Clinical psychologist at\u00a0Between Us premature ejaculation clinic<\/u>\u00a0Daniel Sher says loss of libido in men and people with penises is the most frequently reported sexual issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It\u2019s estimated that 1 in 5 men have a low sex drive, so if you\u2019ve been struggling to get in the mood recently, you\u2019re not alone,\u2019 says Dr Earim Chaudry, medical director at\u00a0Manual<\/u>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Shirin Lakhani, intimate health specialist at\u00a0Elite Aesthetics<\/u>\u00a0and\u00a0The Cranley Clinic<\/u>, points to research that suggests about 4 out of 10 men over 45 have low testosterone, and this has been linked to low libido or loss of libido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loss of libido causes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons a man or person with a penis might experience loss of libido or sex drive, and these can be physical and psychological.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychological factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depression,\u00a0stress\u00a0and\u00a0anxiety\u00a0are all common causes for a loss of libido, says Sher. \u2018Psychological disorders interrupt communication between the brain and the sex organs,\u2019 he explains. \u2018Depression and anxiety alter the way that certain brain chemicals (including dopamine and serotonin) work. Many of these chemicals play an important role in a person\u2019s sex response and their libido can be affected as a result.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also says people who have experienced sexual abuse may develop low libido later down the line, \u2018especially if they have tried to suppress their traumatic experience\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Low self-esteem\u00a0may also lead to a loss of sex drive, especially as a result of sexual\u00a0performance anxiety, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other forms of sexual dysfunction, such as\u00a0premature ejaculation\u00a0and\u00a0erectile dysfunction\u00a0can lead to low libido, Sher says. \u2018This often happens when a person\u2019s sexual dysfunction leaves them feeling ashamed and embarrassed. People with low self-esteem are vulnerable in this regard.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relationship issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If there is tension and unresolved conflict in your relationship, this could manifest itself in loss of sex drive. \u2018In a sense, low libido is the body\u2019s way of indicating to you that a greater degree of emotional safety and closeness is needed in your relationships,\u2019 Sher explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Low libido often happens in the context of relationship issues. However, sexual dysfunction can also create relationship problems that did not exist previously.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle factors can also affect your sex drive, says Lakhani. \u2018For example, if you\u2019re going through an intensely stressful period then it may decrease, or if you\u2019re exhausted from work or having a young baby.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low testosterone levels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u2018If your body isn\u2019t\u00a0producing enough testosterone, whether because of age or other factors, this can leave you with a lower sex drive \u2013 as well as other issues such as fatigue, low mood, and reduced muscle mass,\u2019 explains Chaudry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diet and alcohol consumption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

He says \u2018being overweight and unhealthy\u2019 can have an impact on your sexual desire. \u2018Too much fatty food and alcohol will have a negative impact on your cardiovascular health, which can increase your chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction and having a low sex drive. In addition, an unhealthy diet can inhibit the success of erectile dysfunction treatments.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suffer from serious conditions like\u00a0heart disease\u00a0or\u00a0diabetes\u00a0you may also experience loss of libido.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As Lakhani explains, our sex drives fluctuate naturally over time and as we age. \u2018A man\u2019s testosterone levels are highest in his late teens, at which time his sex drive should be at its highest too. After this it slowly declines with age.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rate at which this declines differs from individual to individual, but she says most men and people with penises retain some of their sex drive into their 60s and 70s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loss of libido treatments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Testosterone treatments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If after a consultation with your doctor and a blood test it is confirmed your testosterone levels are too low, testosterone treatment is an option, explains Chaudry. This is known as testosterone replacement therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can easily make lifestyle changes at home and without a doctor. \u2018The road to higher testosterone can start in the kitchen. Regular exercise, eating a nutritious balanced diet is important for your heart health, which supports sexual response. Aim for a diet rich in fruit, veg, and whole grains, low in sugar, and with a moderate amount of lean protein (such as chicken or fish),\u2019 he advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"male<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Supplements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chaudry recommends supporting and enhancing your sperm development (as this can play a role in erections) by taking supplements. \u2018A daily supplement which is packed with maca, ginseng and zinc may help keep those testosterone levels up.\u2019 Zinc supplementation may help to elevate testosterone levels in those who have a zinc deficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emotional impact of low libido<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As gendered stereotypes have so closely linked sex drives and masculinity, low libido can lead to \u2018serious secondary distress\u2019 in men and people with penises, Sher explains. \u2018While low libido is often caused by depression, it can also trigger similar psychological disorders, leading to a vicious cycle that can be hard to break free of.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to talk to your partner about low libido<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If a partner is experience a fluctuating or low sex drive, it can be hard not to take it personally and feel they\u2019re no longer attracted to yo. But Sher is keen to remind people that this isn\u2019t necessarily true – as is clear from the many possible causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It\u2019s a good idea to interpret this as emotional vulnerability being expressed physically. This gives you an opportunity to look at the bond between yourself and your partner and find ways to create more safety and closeness,\u2019 he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018When discussing this delicate subject, it\u2019s vital that you try to put yourself in your partner’s shoes and try to understand how they feel about the problem. Low libido can have a really negative impact on a relationship, but if you are able to tackle it as a team effort, it can most certainly be overcome.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As these conversations can very easily become emotional, his advice is to seek the help of a sex therapist who can support you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is normal for men to experience a fluctuating sex drive or libido. Find out more about possible causes and 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