Adolescence is one of the trickiest phases of human life. It encompasses various physical, psychological and emotional changes that occur specifically during puberty.
Younger men are usually seen to be overwhelmed with the change. Many adolescents are seen to be complaining about low sex drive.
In this blog post, we will shed light on this sensitive topic of low libido in teenage boys while understanding the contributing factors and ways to overcome the challenge.
Teenage: A Critical Phase
Adolescence is marked by rapid transformation when suddenly children feel flustered with enormous exposure and information coming their way. They usually are unable to channel the rage of emotions and do not understand how to handle the change.
Boys start getting secondary sexual characteristics like husky voices and facial hair. They usually start to explore sexuality and may complain of low sex drive in their teenage.
Puberty generally hits boys at around 9 to 14 years and they witness a peak in testosterone, the primary male sex hormone.
Let’s look at the changes boys see during puberty:
Hormonal changes: Male sex hormones start spiking which is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics and influence the body’s sexual response. Most younger men start exploring their sexuality around this age.
Physical changes: Boys usually go through growth spurts and change the way they look during this stage. As mentioned earlier their voice and body composition go through a change which is considered a normal phase.
Emotional changes: Most adolescents go through mood swings and changes in the way they feel. They usually become conscious of their looks and many go through body image concerns.
Factors Affecting Sex Drive in Teenagers
Sex drive is the interest in sexual activity and usually skyrockets in teenagers. They are curious about the concept of physical intimacy and many have an urge to explore the intimacy.
However, this does not hold true for everyone and some might have lower sex drive than the rest of their peers.
The common factors that can cause low sex drive include:
Hormonal Imbalances – Hormones play an important role in transforming a boy to the journey of manhood. The testosterone hormone causes external changes in the physique and affects sexual desire. If for any reason there is a hormonal imbalance, it may lead to a decreased sex drive.
Psychological Factors: Teenage is a complicated stage that is influenced by several factors. It is a time when adolescents usually go through a high tide of emotional and psychological changes.
They might not be able to communicate efficiently and counter issues like stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. If not taken the right measures at the right time, one can even sink into depression.
A teenager may have to go through stress to attain good marks, complete tasks, win competitions, or fall prey to peer pressure. The new sense of attraction to the opposite gender may even create complications that can give them a hard time.
All these factors along with family dynamics and societal expectations can affect their overall well-being and also cause low sex drive.
Body Image Concerns: Teenagers usually go through plenty of changes. Physical appearance is one of the major changes and has a deep effect on confidence. A teenager may easily feel negatively about themselves and keep the feelings to themselves.
Bullying at this age usually leaves a lifelong impression. This feeling of inadequacy can further impact confidence and can result in lower sex drive.
Medications and Substance Use: A few medications usually prescribed for underlying health conditions can also affect sexual desire. Moreover, some teenagers get their hands on alcohol or even substance abuse that can cause harmful effects and low sex drive may be one of them.
Lifestyle Factors: A stressful environment can cause irregular sleep patterns and poor eating habits. It may further affect the way one feels about oneself and project in the way of diminished sexual desire.
A lack of physical activity can also poor hormonal balance and might lead to changes in sexual feelings.
How To Counter Low Sex Drive In Teenagers?
Although people rarely discuss the issue, it may be more serious than it seems. Teenagers are expected to focus solely on studies and not explore sexuality.
However, the truth is that adolescence marks the physical changes that in turn introduce sexual feelings. It is important to strike a balance and help teenagers do the same under the guidance of parents and teachers.
Here is how parents and teachers can help youngsters:
Sex education – Elders should make it a point to provide comprehensive and inclusive sex education to young adults. It is the most important thing you can do to protect children at this age.
They should be aware of various topics like consent, relationships, sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and so on.
It is better if they learn about these things from a reliable source and do not fall prey to temptations at this age.
Boundaries – Youngsters need to learn about setting boundaries from their role models themselves. Help them learn about consent and the ways to set boundaries and say no so that they feel comfortable tackling relationships from early on.
Warning signs – It is extremely common for youngsters to hide their feelings from adults. Therefore, we need to educate children about sexual exploitation and violence and educate them to raise their voices in uncomfortable situations.
At the same time, parents and teachers should notice sudden behaviour changes in young adults and encourage them to share their stories with you.
Open communication – Try to create an environment where teenagers feel comfortable sharing their experiences. Talk about random things with them to make them feel included and show interest when they talk about their life or choices in general. Try to be non-judgemental and supportive throughout the conversations and offer solutions if they ask for it.
Here is how adolescents can help themselves:
Educate yourself: Take the initiative to educate yourself about various topics like sexuality, safe practices, exploring sexuality etc. Make sure you consume the information from reliable sources.
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Healthy relationships – Make ground rules for yourself and do not set the bar too low for the quality of relationships you have. Learn to set boundaries and set your relationships based on trust, honesty, and open communication.
Responsible social media use – Try to understand the reality behind what is projected on social media. Make sure you can differentiate between social media and reality and do not fall prey to the glitz and glamour of the way people flaunt their assets or themselves on online platforms.
Limit your use of entertainment without compromising your studies and mental health.
Positive mindset – Deveop body positivity and be confident in your skin. Learn to love yourself and accept yourself for who you are. Set your goals and work hard towards pursuing same.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle and devote time to physical activity to be able to be fit and have a normal course of sexual development. Having a fit body will help you counter a low sex drive.
Seek support – If you feel less about yourself for any reason, you should feel free to talk to your parents, guardian, and teachers. Also if you have any sexual issues that worry you, talk to your parents and take additional support from a qualified sexologist.
Bottom Line
Adolescence comes with its unique set of challenges and usually needs a lot of care and support to conquer various challenges. Parents and other caregivers play an important role in understanding the challenges and providing effective tools to come out as winners.
Dealing with complexities during this stage ensures the upbringing of healthier adults in society.
Low sex drive in teenagers needs special attention and care and help them cope with various changes they go through in puberty.