Low Sex Drive? Know 10 Likely Reasons Behind It

A low sex drive is a common issue faced by people at some point in life. Low sex drive in men and women can happen due to a wide variety of reasons. It can happen with any gender and at any age. It is usual not to feel like having a sexual relationship if you are going through a tragic situation in life.

The priorities might be different and physical intimacy takes a back seat. It usually gets better with time when the situation improves. However, if that is not the case and you cannot pinpoint the exact reason behind the lack of sexual desire, you should consult a sexologist. 

Low sex drive in men can lead to a sense of shame and guilt. Avoiding sex most of the time can make their partner question the relationship. It gets frustrating for both partners and can take a toll on the relationship. Low sex drive in women is more familiar than in men, but both genders can go through low libido. The reasons can be similar irrespective of gender. 

10 Reasons Behind Low Sex Drive 

1. Health conditions

Compromised health can take attention away from physical intimacy. Sexual health is the outcome of cardiovascular, neurological, and hormonal balance. Any disorder that rocks the balance can lead to low libido.

Some common conditions affecting the sex drive are diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, high cholesterol, HIV, etc. It needs medical attention, and treating the underlying disorder mostly resolves the low sex drive. 

2. Medicines

A few medicines can affect the testosterone levels in the body, which causes low sex drive in men and women. Common examples are antifungals, antidepressants, steroids, painkillers, and hormone therapy.

It is crucial to present accurate medical history and report all the medicines you are consuming to find if the medicines are causing the low sex drive. Switching medicines can help you get better. 

3. Aging

As normally pointed out, a dip in sex drive is a part of aging. While it normally happens to everyone, you can still regain the vigor if you want to. Decreased sex drive is usually seen in men above 40 years of age.

If you feel it’s not you and you want to stay active in bed, you can consult a best sexologist doctors for further help.

4. Stress

 Stress is the major contributor to compromised sex life. Overstressing about everything has become a part of almost everyone’s life. The work schedules are hectic, and everyone is running to make more money and fame. Cutthroat competition at every level in life can overstress people. Irrespective of the fact, if your stress comes from a professional or personal space, you need to counter it well on time.

Learn ways to cope with stress, and you can do whatever works for you. Staying happy should be the goal. Excessive stress is bound to take all your time and energy, making you fatigued when you are with your partner. Stress can cause physical symptoms and might exacerbate medical conditions. It is crucial to manage stress and give due time to your partner. 

5. Mental Illness

Stress can be a contributing factor to mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Depression makes everything less attractive, and low libido is one of the signs of depression. Antidepressants could further make the situation complex as they also cause low libido.

It is crucial to consult a sexologist and take an expert opinion on the situation. Managing the condition can improve the sex drive. 

6. Lack of Confidence

Low confidence could make it harder to initiate sex. One can have less confidence in themselves due to body issues. Body shaming can make one feel unattractive.

Not approving of your own looks can make you avoid sex. The fear of rejection or being mocked by the partner may be the main reason to avoid physical contact. 

7. Bad Habits

Indulging in bad habits like excessive alcohol consumption can affect the reflexes and might deplete testosterone levels. Overall, alcohol consumption can affect sex life.

In the same way, smoking is harmful to health and sex life. Smoking tends to restrict the blood vessels affecting the blood supply, and can also result in low sex drive in men and women alike. 

8. Sleep Disorders

We give little to no importance to sleep and often neglect getting ample sleep. Lack of sleep, in the long run, can affect all bodily functions, and sex life is one of them. Less sleep is equivalent to less rest and will make you tired during the day.

Lack of sleep also elevates the stress hormone cortisol levels, which further affects the sex drive. Sleep disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA) can also lower testosterone levels, which lowers the sex drive.

9. Erectile Dysfunction

The inability to get or maintain an erection can make a man conscious. It can lead to a lack of confidence and anxiety, which is a never-ending loop. Therefore sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction can also affect the sex drive in men. 

10. Hormonal Imbalance

Low testosterone levels can happen due to several disorders, infections, inflammation, and tumors. Low testosterone levels due to any reason can directly affect the sex drive. Moreover, disorders like a liver failure that increase the estrogen levels in the body can also cause low sex drive. 

These are the 10 top reasons for low sex drive in men. Some reasons are common for low sex drive in women too. Other reasons can be a lack of quality time and relationship difficulties. You should consult a sexologist to study your entire medical and personal history and reach an accurate diagnosis. Finding the exact reason is the path to the right treatment. 

What can you do to improve your sex drive?

Eat Healthily

You need to be physically agile to lead a healthy sex life. Food is an important part of your well-being. Include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Rely more on whole foods, nuts, legumes, fish, and eggs for fulfilling the nutritional requirements.

Stay away from packaged food and takeaways. Cook fresh meals at home with raw ingredients to attain the best health. 

Exercise

It might seem too mundane to mention exercise as the remedy for every problem. It, however, holds true for many health issues. Being physically fit can help you treat a lot of imbalances, and low libido is one of them.

Sweating out in the gym or brisk walking can make a lot of difference. It is scientifically proven that exercise helps in targeting sexual dysfunctions, and sex drive is one of them. 

Spend Quality Time

It is okay to hit monotony and not give the required importance to sex in long-standing relationships. It can be devastating for the future of your relationship.

It is crucial to stay attracted to your partner at all times. To introduce the spark back, the easiest way is to spend a good time together. Indulge in your favorite activities that remind you of the love you two had for each other.

A good relationship will always need your time and effort. Give that amount of importance to your relationship to sustain the charm. Feeling attracted will help you overcome a low sex drive. 

Foreplay

Everyone knows about foreplay, but how many actually take the time to do it? Not many, for sure. That is the reason sexual intimacy does not seem interesting anymore. Spend some time on each other’s bodies before hopping into the act.

It will create all the difference in the amount of pleasure you will feel during sex. Work on giving each other the best time of life, and in turn, you will have a great time. Focusing on foreplay will make sex more enjoyable and will counter the low sex drive in men.

It is equally important to spend due time on the woman as most women would need clitoral stimulation to feel pleasure. It helps in addressing the low sex drive in women too. 

Supplements

Include certain aphrodisiac food items in your diet to reap the benefits. These food items include chocolate, herbs, figs, and bananas. It can increase levels of serotonin, which will help in uplifting the mood. Watermelons are high on L-citrulline and can also help in improving the sex drive.

A cup of coffee has caffeine, which increases blood supply and improves sexual performance. Various food items can help you improve your libido. 

Bottom Line

Low sex drive in men could be due to multiple reasons. Usually, there are no straight answers to sexual dysfunction, and you need a little more help in finding the exact cause. Low sex drive in women alike could be due to various factors. It is wise to consult a sexologist if the libido does not improve in a few weeks or months.