Experience Low Sexual Desire? Here’s What Men Can Do About It

Many people mistakenly believe that only women have a decreased interest in sexual activity. The latest study reveals that up to 19% of men in the United States experience low sexual desire on a regular basis. As you can understand, some women hear every week, “I’m not in the mood” or “I have a headache” from their boyfriends and husbands.

Men’s sexual desire can indicate severe health problems; it can also be impacted by relational and social issues such as workload or parenting. According to psychologist Barry McCarthy, co-author of Rekindling Desire: A Step by Step Program to Help Low-Sex and No-Sex Marriages, lack of sex is one of the strongest stress factors in the relationship. Sex therapists point out the fact that men feel more unhappy about low sexual desire than women. The good thing is that it is not a final verdict; every man can boost his libido at any age.

The causes of decreased interest in sex

There are a lot of reasons behind low sexual desire that are not related to age. It is recommended to make an appointment with your doctor in order to do a full examination. In some cases, the doctor might suggest healthier eating for weight loss or prescribe medication such as viagra or noxitril or other supplements in case you lack stamina and suffer from poor sexual performance. Also, your doctor will check whether you have diabetes, and conditions such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Tell your doctor if you take any meds such as HIV drugs, hair-loss remedies, anabolic steroids, opioid pain reliefs, or antidepressants since they can also be the cause of your decreased interest in sexual activity.

Low testosterone and dopamine levels can also be the reason. Keep in mind, that only your doctor can diagnose you, so don’t self-medicate.

Some men have low sex drive because of their psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, or problems in the relationship. In this case, it is recommended to make an appointment with a psychologist or sex therapist. Regular sessions can help determine your problem, find solutions, manage anxiety, and improve relationship quality.

What you can do about it

If you have psychological issues such as high levels of anxiety or depression, there are some strategies that you can apply without sex therapist’s recommendations. To boost your mental health, you should exercise regularly, practice good sleep hygiene, make some time for yourself. Being overwhelmed can lead to issues in the bedroom, so press a pause button on your life and take a break from work. If you are in a long-term relationship, discuss your problem with your partner; don’t keep it to yourself only.

Also, you need to work on improving your relationship. For instance, you can start doing activities together, especially if you don’t spend enough time with each other during the week. However, you might also want to take a break from each other in case you are together all the time. To increase your sex drive, practice open communication, and plan special dates.

Lack of exercise or poor diet can lead to fatigue and low sexual desire. That’s why you should consider improving your daily nutrition and get a gym membership. It will help you maintain a healthy weight, increase testosterone levels, and minimize stress. Pay attention to your calorie intake and make sure to eat enough protein, carbs, and fat since these products can help optimize your testosterone levels during resistance training.

Feeling stressed all the time and not getting enough sleep can be another reason. So, consider changing your schedule. Quite probably, it is time to go on vacation with your significant other. According to research, sleeping only 5 hours per night can decrease your testosterone level by up to 15%.

To optimize your long-term health, and solve a sex drive problem, find time to sleep at least 7 hours per night. To minimize your cortisol levels (a stress hormone), learn to recognize stressful thinking so that you can be aware of your mental and physical state in every situation. Also, you should spend more time outside, get social, and do activities that will increase your life satisfaction.

You might also rethink and overcome your bad habits such as drinking alcohol or smoking that are linked to a decrease in testosterone production. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heavy alcohol drinking reduces sex drive with time. It is recommended to drink less than five drinks per week.

In addition to drinking, smoking and regular marijuana or opiates use can also have a negative impact on sperm movement and production.

As you can understand, low libido can be caused by different underlying issues. Sex therapists recommend having sex at least two times per week. If you experience low sexual desire, make some changes in your lifestyle: stick to a healthy diet, get regular exercise, and break bad habits.