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As men approach their senior years, there will come a time where they won’t be as enthusiastic about sexual activity anymore.
And there’s one major reason for this gradual disinterest in sexual desire: a decrease in libido.
A difference in libido can cause complications in a relationship, and a drastic variance can lead to emotional strains between partners.
Low libido isn’t solely the result of aging. Various health factors can accelerate and contribute to a decreased sex drive in men.
Let’s look into libido more, its correlation with age, potential causes of this decreased sexual desire, and ways to increase your sex drive.
What is Libido?
Libido refers to the sex drive or sexual desire of a person.
Libido is not the same from person to person, some people may have a naturally high sex drive, while others less so.
Moreover, having low libido can affect a person’s self-esteem and relationship with their partner.
That is to say, however, not everyone will fall victim to a low libido reading in their 50s or 60s.
Some men may remain sexually active well into their golden years; maybe even decades beyond.
However, on the other side of the spectrum, there are the unfortunate lads who get stricken down by decreased libido in their mid-years.
If you’re reading this and pessimistic about your chances of having low libido readings, fear not.
There are lifestyle changes you can perform to curb the development of decreased sexual desire—allowing you to have a satisfying and healthy relationship with your partner well into your senior years.
What Age Do Men Stop Being Sexually Active?
There’s no magical handbook that forbids men from enjoying forms of sexual activity at a certain age. As mentioned earlier, one’s sex drive differs from person to person, regardless of age.
However, some patterns have been noticed across widespread studies. According to Harvard, testosterone levels tend to dip by up to 1 to 2% each year once men hit 40 years old.
This phenomenon is critical. Having low testosterone levels plays a major role in one’s sex drive since the hormone’s primary function is to regulate sex drive.
While no one age fits all men, there has been a review of studies that have shown some telling results of low sexual desire outlined below:
- Only 10% of men aged 80 or above marked their sexual function as good or very good.
- About 40% of men aged 60-69 have reported having their first case of erectile dysfunction.
- Conversely, about 25% of men aged 50-59 reported having their first case of erectile dysfunction.
- Another study indicated that 13 to 28% of men have reported themselves as having a low sexual drive.
The data is clear. There’s a noticeable variance between sexual desire among men, but the incidences mostly cluster towards their older years, with ages 60 and onwards having the highest probability to develop sexual dysfunction that can affect how often couples have sex.
Potential Causes of Low Libido
Here are some causes that may affect sexual desire and cause sexual dysfunction in men besides age.
Medications
Certain types of medication can cause men to have low testosterone levels. This, in turn, negatively impacts the drive for sex for men.
These medications include:
- Beta-blockers: Regulates high blood pressure
- Corticosteroids
- Morphine: Pain Reliever
- Cimetidine: Helps with GERD
- Antidepressants
If you use any of the above medications, inform your doctor about them so that they’ll provide medical advice for low testosterone.
Depression
Depression is a mental health disorder that contributes to feelings of hopelessness and negativity. With 7.8% of the US population suffering from depression, there’s no denying that this ailment is prevalent in the country.
Men with depression can also develop a reduced lack of interest in their daily duties, even for the things they once found fun and pleasurable. In addition to the disorder, antidepressants may cause men to develop low libido and low sexual desire.
If you suffer from symptoms of depression such as pervasive sadness and a loss of interest in life, seek medical advice from a licensed professional immediately. Depression can be overcome with the right lifestyle modifications and medications.
Sleep Problems
One published study from the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine discovered that men with obstructive sleep apnea have decreased levels of testosterone in their bodies.
The study goes on and details that about 30% of men with sleep disorders suffer from these reduced levels.
While sleep disorders have a profound impact on a man’s libido, even just having bad-quality sleep can be bad for you. A study of healthy young men showed that those who slept less than the recommended 7 to 8 hours per night suffer from a testosterone level decrease of up to 15%.
To combat this, it’s best to pay attention to your sleeping habits and fix them. Reducing blue-light exposure and sleeping in a quiet, distraction-free environment can help you combat sleeplessness.
Stress
Stress is often unavoidable. From family problems to problems at work, modern society barely gives a vast majority of people a break.
If your life is in stress mode all the time, you’ll be more prone to developing health problems such as narrower arteries and restricted blood flow. This can affect your mood and your ability to have sexual intercourse negatively.
Alcohol
While complete abstinence is best, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adult men should have no more than two alcoholic drinks daily.
This way, you’ll not suffer from a reduced sex drive. Heavy alcohol abuse can lead to reduced testosterone production; so strive to drink in moderation.
Ways for Men to Increase Your Sex Drive as They Grow Older
Want to improve your sex life as you age? Here are some of the primary ways for men to increase sex drive:
- Sleep more than 7 hours a night
- Reduce levels of stress
- Eat a healthy diet with aphrodisiac fruits
- Build your self-confidence
- Limit alcohol and nicotine
- Consider testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
If nothing seems to be working, get in touch with a sexual health doctor today to determine if there are underlying causes for your lack of libido.
Take a Medical Approach to Improve Low Libido and Sexual Health Challenges
Low libido is usually a mix of emotional, psychological, and physical manifestations. It can feel demoralizing to be affected by this condition—but there are ways to rise above it.
By changing your lifestyle and having authentic conversations with your partner, you can live a normal life with low libido levels. A medical professional can also provide medical advice and help you reignite your sexual arousal.
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, or premature ejaculation, call the team at Prestige Men’s Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are Tampa’s leading men’s clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.
