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What Men Can Do When Their Libido is \"Meh\"
As we age, our bodies just don’t work like they used to...our memory clouds, our muscles ache and we just don’t have as much energy. This lethargy can creep into the workplace, our social life and even the bedroom. It’s perfectly normal to experience a lower sex drive than in your youth. While the decline varies by individual, according to the Mayo Clinic men can maintain significant sexual interest into their 70’s and beyond. However, fifty-three percent of men between the ages of 40-70 experience some level of erectile dysfunction. Beyond a natural, gradual decline, if you experience abrupt changes in your libido, there are a few factors that may be causing the slump.
Medications: 55 percent of Americans regularly take at least one prescription medicine. As we age, it’s increasingly common to take two or more. Often medications can have significant sexual side effects. Several blood pressure medications, such as alpha-blockers and beta-blockers, as well as many antidepressants, can inhibit erections and even prevent ejaculation.
Stress: In times of stress, your arteries can constrict, potentially leading to erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as ED. Also, hormones are highly affected by stress, and a drop in your testosterone levels can dramatically affect your libido. If loss of libido is related to stress or depression, you may find that psychotherapy, behavior modification or medications for ED to be of significant help. And now that Viagra is available in generic (sildenafil), these agents don’t have to break the bank!
Hormones: Aging naturally leads to a decline in testosterone. However, if you have a sudden decrease in libido, talk to your doctor about having your hormone levels checked. There may be a simple solution to get you back to peak performance in the bedroom.
Sleep: Sleep apnea can cause lower testosterone levels, which means you’re less interested in sexual activity. In addition to causing other serious medical conditions, you’ll want to chat with your doctor about testing and treatment.
Weight: Obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol can all cause ED by damaging the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the penis. One-third of obese men with erectile dysfunction were able to address their ED issue by losing weight.
If one or more of these issues are on your mind you should visit your doctor. Many excellent treatments are available for this incredibly common issue. Having an open and honest conversation with your physician can work wonders for your health and wellbeing.
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