What is low libido?

Low libido describes a decreased interest in sexual activity.
It’s common to lose interest in sex from time to time, and libido levels vary through life. It’s also normal for your interest not to match your partner’s at times.
However, low libido for a long period of time may cause concern for some people. It can sometimes be an indicator of an underlying health condition.
Here are a few potential causes of low libido in men.

Low testosterone

Testosterone is an important male hormone. In men, it’s mostly produced in the testicles.
Testosterone is responsible for building muscles and bone mass, and for stimulating sperm production. Your testosterone levels also factor into your sex drive.

Medications

Taking certain medications can lower testosterone levels, which in turn may lead to low libido.
For example, blood pressure medications:

Depression

Depression changes all parts of a person’s life. People with depression experience a reduced or complete lack of interest in activities they once found pleasurable, including sex.
Low libido is also a side effect of some antidepressants.

Chronic illness

When you’re not feeling well due to the effects of a chronic health condition, such as chronic pain, sex is likely low on your list of priorities.
Certain illnesses, such as cancer, can reduce your sperm production counts as well.
Other chronic illnesses that can take a toll on your libido include:
  • type 2 diabetes
  • obesity
  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • chronic lung, heart, kidney, and liver failure
Sleep problems


A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that nonobese men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience lower testosterone levels. In turn, this leads to decreased sexual activity and libido.
In the study, researchers found that nearly one-third of the men who had severe sleep apnea also had reduced levels of testosterone.
In another recent studyTrusted Source in young, healthy men, testosterone levels were decreased by 10 to 15 percent after a week of sleep restriction to five hours per night.
The researchers found that the effects of restricting sleep on testosterone levels were especially evident between 2:00 pm and 10:00 pm the next day.

Aging

Testosterone levels, which are linked to libido, are at their highest when men are in their late teens.
In your older years, it may take longer to have orgasms, ejaculate, and become aroused. Your erections may not be as hard, and it may take longer for your penis to become erect.
However, medications are available that can help treat these issues.

Stress

If you’re distracted by situations or periods of high pressure, sexual desire may decrease. This is because stress can disrupt your hormone levels. Your arteries can narrow in times of stress. This narrowing restricts blood flow and potentially causes ED.
Stress is hard to avoid. Relationship problems, divorce, facing the death of a loved one, financial worries, a new baby, or a busy work environment are just some of the life events that can greatly affect the desire for sex.

Low self-esteem

Self-esteem is defined as the general opinion a person has about their own self. Low self-esteem, low confidence, and poor body image can take a toll on your emotional health and well-being.
If you feel that you’re unattractive, or undesirable, it’ll likely put a damper on sexual encounters. Not liking what you see in the mirror can even make you want to avoid having sex altogether.
Low self-esteem may also cause anxiety about sexual performance, which can lead to issues with ED and reduced sexual desire.
Over time, self-esteem issues can result in larger mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and drug or alcohol abuse — all of which have been linked to low libido.

Too little (or too much) exercise

Too little or too much exercise can also be responsible for low sex drive in men.
Too little exercise (or none at all) can lead to a range of health problems that can affect sexual desire and arousal.
Getting regular exercise may reduce your risk for chronic conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are associated with low libido. Moderate exercise is known to lower cortisol levels at night and reduce stress, which can help increase sex drive.
On the other hand, over-exercising has also been shown to affect sexual health. In one study, higher levels of chronic intense and lengthy endurance training on a regular basis were strongly associated with decreased libido scores in men.

 Alcohol

Heavy alcohol drinking, or more than 14 mixed drinks in a week, has also been linked to a decrease in testosterone production. Over a long period of time, excessive amounts of alcohol can reduce your sex drive.