Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionCausesLifestyle FactorsRemediesFrequently Asked Questions
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Definition
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Lifestyle Factors
Remedies
Frequently Asked Questions
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Low libido, or sex drive, in men can cause tension in a relationship, fostering doubt and guilt in affected men and their partners. However, low sex drive can often be treated successfully if the underlying cause is identified.
What Is Low Libido?
Low libido is a decrease insex drivethat can interfere with sexual activity.Low sex drivein men should not be confused with erectile dysfunction (ED), although the two conditions can co-exist.
It’s essential for couples to communicate honestly with each other while identifying possible causes. Treatments can vary and may involve psychotherapy, hormone replacement, lifestyle changes, and/or adjustment of medications.
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Causes of Low Libido in Men
What Is Libido?
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Low Testosterone
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.
Testosterone levels peak during adolescence and early adulthood, and drop with age—declining about 1% to 2% a year beginning around age 30.If levels drop below a certain point, you may have low testosterone (hypogonadism).
The American Urology Association (AUA) defines low testosterone as less than 300 nanograms (ng) of the hormone per deciliter (dl) of blood.
Contrary to popular belief, low testosterone levels rarely lead to erectile dysfunction.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:
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.
If you suspect your testosterone levels are low, discuss your concerns with a healthcare provider. A diagnosis of hypogonadism will only be made after your testosterone levels are checked on two separate occasions.
Medication Side Effects
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. Common culprits include:
Even over-the-counter drugs like Tagamet (cimetidine) can cause problems if taken for long periods of time.
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.
RecapA low sex drive in men can sometimes be a side effect of certain medications. Talking to your doctor can help you learn more about the steps you can take to address this concern.
Recap
A low sex drive in men can sometimes be a side effect of certain medications. Talking to your doctor can help you learn more about the steps you can take to address this concern.
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 asWellbutrin(bupropion) orRemeron(mirtazapine), may also help.Just keep in mind that it can take time for this side effect to go away.
If you are depressed, it is important to discuss your libido with your doctor and to talk about how medications may impact your sex drive.
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Chronic Illness
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.
Moreover, the medications used to treat the chronic condition (such as chemotherapy or cardiovascular drugs) may directly impair the male libido.As such, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of the loss of sex drive—and to find a solution. In some cases, multiple doctors may be needed.
RecapChronic health conditions can lead to low sex drive in men for a variety of reasons. Some conditions may directly impact libido. Certain medications to treat health conditions can decrease sex drive. The chronic nature of the condition can also contribute to stress and depression, which can also affect a person’s desire for sex.
Chronic health conditions can lead to low sex drive in men for a variety of reasons. Some conditions may directly impact libido. Certain medications to treat health conditions can decrease sex drive. The chronic nature of the condition can also contribute to stress and depression, which can also affect a person’s desire for sex.
Stress and Sleep Disorders
Stress is also linked to insomnia and other sleep abnormalities, which can increase the risk of fatigue and leave you less interested in sex.
Treatments depend on the specific sleep issue and may involvestress management techniquesand improved sleep hygiene for insomnia and the use of positive airway pressure to treat OSA.
If the stress is associated with an anxiety disorder, medications may be needed. But this can be challenging, because someanti-anxiety medicationscan lower libido even more.
The Best Sleep Apps to Help You Get Some Shut-Eye, Tried and Tested
While the detrimental effects of these behaviors are clear, it is never wise to pin low libido on a single lifestyle factor without first conferring with a doctor to explore all other possible causes.
RecapLifestyle factors including substance use, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive high-intensity exercise, obesity, and smoking can contribute to low sex drive in men.
Lifestyle factors including substance use, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive high-intensity exercise, obesity, and smoking can contribute to low sex drive in men.
How to Improve a Low Libido
Improving sex drive typically begins with identifying the underlying cause. For example, if it is largely linked to stress, finding ways to relax and de-stress can help increase desire for sex.
In some cases, making certain lifestyle changes may help boost sex drive. Steps you can take on your own include:
Summary
Low libido in men can have a number of different causes. Some of the most common factors that contribute to a low libido include low testosterone, medication side effects, depression, chronic illness, stress, sleep problems, and lifestyle factors.
While libido problems can contribute to stress in relationships, treatments are available. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your sex drive.
A Word From Verywell
Low libido can have a variety of physical, emotional, or psychological causes. If low libido is affecting your relationship, avoid directly blaming yourself or your partner. Instead, have an open and honest conversation about how you’re feeling.
In the meantime, try to remind yourself that the loss of sexual desire is not the same thing as the loss of a desire for intimacy. Even when struggling with sexual dysfunction, make every effort toconnect emotionallyandphysically. By doing so, you can forge a closer bond and may even end up strengthening your relationship.
When low sex drive is connected to a testosterone deficiency, testosterone replacement therapy can help boost libido.Other ways to boost sex drive include managing stress levels, getting enough sleep, getting regular exercise, and following a nutritious diet. Building greater intimacy and communicating with your partner can also be helpful.
16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of California, San Francisco.Decreased libido.Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al.Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline.J Urol. 2018;200(2):423-432. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.115Peterson MD, Belakovskiy A, McGrath R, Yarrow JF.Testosterone deficiency, weakness, and multimorbidity in men.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):5897. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24347-6Tsujimura A.The relationship between testosterone deficiency and men’s health.World J Mens Health. 2013;31(2):126-135. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2013.31.2.126Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2019;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Hackett G.An update on the role of testosterone replacement therapy in the management of hypogonadism.Ther Adv Urol. 2016;8(2):147-160. doi:10.1177/1756287215617648Just MJ.The influence of atypical antipsychotic drugs on sexual function.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2015;11:1655-1661. doi:10.2147/NDT.S84528Atlantis E, Sullivan T.Bidirectional association between depression and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Sex Med. 2012;9(6):1497-1507. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02709.xMontejo AL, Prieto N, de Alarcón R, Casado-Espada N, de la Iglesia J, Montejo L.Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: A clinical approach.J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1640. Published 2019 Oct 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8101640American Cancer Society.Cancer can affect male sexual desire and response.Crawford-Achour E, Saint Martin M, Roche F.Stress hormones in obstructive sleep apnea complications: the role of cortisol.Sleep Med. 2014;15(1):3-4. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.10.004Krakow BJ, Obando JJ, Ulibarri VA, Mciver ND.Positive airway pressure adherence and subthreshold adherence in posttraumatic stress disorder patients with comorbid sleep apnea.Patient Prefer Adherence.2017;11:1923-1932. doi:10.2147/PPA.S148099Hackney AC, Lane AR, Register-Mihalik J, OʼLeary CB.Endurance exercise training and male sexual libido.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(7):1383-1388. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001235Harte CB, Meston CM.Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men.BJU Int. 2012;109(6):888-896. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10503.xElliott J, Kelly SE, Millar AC, et al.Testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2017;7(11):e015284. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015284
16 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.University of California, San Francisco.Decreased libido.Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al.Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline.J Urol. 2018;200(2):423-432. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.115Peterson MD, Belakovskiy A, McGrath R, Yarrow JF.Testosterone deficiency, weakness, and multimorbidity in men.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):5897. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24347-6Tsujimura A.The relationship between testosterone deficiency and men’s health.World J Mens Health. 2013;31(2):126-135. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2013.31.2.126Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2019;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Hackett G.An update on the role of testosterone replacement therapy in the management of hypogonadism.Ther Adv Urol. 2016;8(2):147-160. doi:10.1177/1756287215617648Just MJ.The influence of atypical antipsychotic drugs on sexual function.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2015;11:1655-1661. doi:10.2147/NDT.S84528Atlantis E, Sullivan T.Bidirectional association between depression and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Sex Med. 2012;9(6):1497-1507. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02709.xMontejo AL, Prieto N, de Alarcón R, Casado-Espada N, de la Iglesia J, Montejo L.Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: A clinical approach.J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1640. Published 2019 Oct 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8101640American Cancer Society.Cancer can affect male sexual desire and response.Crawford-Achour E, Saint Martin M, Roche F.Stress hormones in obstructive sleep apnea complications: the role of cortisol.Sleep Med. 2014;15(1):3-4. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.10.004Krakow BJ, Obando JJ, Ulibarri VA, Mciver ND.Positive airway pressure adherence and subthreshold adherence in posttraumatic stress disorder patients with comorbid sleep apnea.Patient Prefer Adherence.2017;11:1923-1932. doi:10.2147/PPA.S148099Hackney AC, Lane AR, Register-Mihalik J, OʼLeary CB.Endurance exercise training and male sexual libido.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(7):1383-1388. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001235Harte CB, Meston CM.Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men.BJU Int. 2012;109(6):888-896. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10503.xElliott J, Kelly SE, Millar AC, et al.Testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2017;7(11):e015284. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015284
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
University of California, San Francisco.Decreased libido.Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al.Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline.J Urol. 2018;200(2):423-432. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.115Peterson MD, Belakovskiy A, McGrath R, Yarrow JF.Testosterone deficiency, weakness, and multimorbidity in men.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):5897. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24347-6Tsujimura A.The relationship between testosterone deficiency and men’s health.World J Mens Health. 2013;31(2):126-135. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2013.31.2.126Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2019;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916Hackett G.An update on the role of testosterone replacement therapy in the management of hypogonadism.Ther Adv Urol. 2016;8(2):147-160. doi:10.1177/1756287215617648Just MJ.The influence of atypical antipsychotic drugs on sexual function.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2015;11:1655-1661. doi:10.2147/NDT.S84528Atlantis E, Sullivan T.Bidirectional association between depression and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Sex Med. 2012;9(6):1497-1507. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02709.xMontejo AL, Prieto N, de Alarcón R, Casado-Espada N, de la Iglesia J, Montejo L.Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: A clinical approach.J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1640. Published 2019 Oct 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8101640American Cancer Society.Cancer can affect male sexual desire and response.Crawford-Achour E, Saint Martin M, Roche F.Stress hormones in obstructive sleep apnea complications: the role of cortisol.Sleep Med. 2014;15(1):3-4. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.10.004Krakow BJ, Obando JJ, Ulibarri VA, Mciver ND.Positive airway pressure adherence and subthreshold adherence in posttraumatic stress disorder patients with comorbid sleep apnea.Patient Prefer Adherence.2017;11:1923-1932. doi:10.2147/PPA.S148099Hackney AC, Lane AR, Register-Mihalik J, OʼLeary CB.Endurance exercise training and male sexual libido.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(7):1383-1388. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001235Harte CB, Meston CM.Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men.BJU Int. 2012;109(6):888-896. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10503.xElliott J, Kelly SE, Millar AC, et al.Testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2017;7(11):e015284. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015284
University of California, San Francisco.Decreased libido.
Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392
Mulhall JP, Trost LW, Brannigan RE, et al.Evaluation and management of testosterone deficiency: AUA guideline.J Urol. 2018;200(2):423-432. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.115
Peterson MD, Belakovskiy A, McGrath R, Yarrow JF.Testosterone deficiency, weakness, and multimorbidity in men.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):5897. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24347-6
Tsujimura A.The relationship between testosterone deficiency and men’s health.World J Mens Health. 2013;31(2):126-135. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2013.31.2.126
Cohen J, Nassau DE, Patel P, Ramasamy R.Low testosterone in adolescents & young adults.Front Endocrinol. 2019;10:916. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00916
Hackett G.An update on the role of testosterone replacement therapy in the management of hypogonadism.Ther Adv Urol. 2016;8(2):147-160. doi:10.1177/1756287215617648
Just MJ.The influence of atypical antipsychotic drugs on sexual function.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat.2015;11:1655-1661. doi:10.2147/NDT.S84528
Atlantis E, Sullivan T.Bidirectional association between depression and sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Sex Med. 2012;9(6):1497-1507. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02709.x
Montejo AL, Prieto N, de Alarcón R, Casado-Espada N, de la Iglesia J, Montejo L.Management strategies for antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction: A clinical approach.J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1640. Published 2019 Oct 7. doi:10.3390/jcm8101640
American Cancer Society.Cancer can affect male sexual desire and response.
Crawford-Achour E, Saint Martin M, Roche F.Stress hormones in obstructive sleep apnea complications: the role of cortisol.Sleep Med. 2014;15(1):3-4. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2013.10.004
Krakow BJ, Obando JJ, Ulibarri VA, Mciver ND.Positive airway pressure adherence and subthreshold adherence in posttraumatic stress disorder patients with comorbid sleep apnea.Patient Prefer Adherence.2017;11:1923-1932. doi:10.2147/PPA.S148099
Hackney AC, Lane AR, Register-Mihalik J, OʼLeary CB.Endurance exercise training and male sexual libido.Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49(7):1383-1388. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000001235
Harte CB, Meston CM.Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men.BJU Int. 2012;109(6):888-896. doi:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10503.x
Elliott J, Kelly SE, Millar AC, et al.Testosterone therapy in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.BMJ Open. 2017;7(11):e015284. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015284
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