“Why is my sex drive so low?” You may have asked yourself this in genuine frustration. And with good reason: low sex drive in men can cause problems with your partner and may even make you feel like a different person.
Low testosterone is one possible cause, but medications, mood, stress, sleep, alcohol and health conditions are common causes too. Here are the most common ones, and what you can do about each.
Medications
If you feel like your sexual desire dropped after you started taking an over-the-counter or prescription medicine, it may not be a coincidence. Several types of medication can affect sex drive:
- Blood pressure medicine. Some blood pressure medications can cause erectile problems because they affect blood flow. Some also increase the body’s excretion of zinc, a mineral linked to healthy testosterone levels [1].
- Antidepressants. These are used for depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other conditions. Many affect serotonin levels in ways that can lower sexual desire.
- Statins and fibrates. These lower cholesterol. Because the body uses cholesterol to make testosterone [2], some researchers think these medicines may affect sex drive in some men.
- Antipsychotics. Used for conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, these medicines block dopamine, a brain chemical involved in pleasure and motivation.
- Benzodiazepines. Commonly known as tranquilizers, these are used for anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms and seizures. Their sedating effect can reduce sexual interest.
If you think a medication is affecting your sex drive, don’t stop or change it on your own. Ask your doctor about options, such as a different dose, a different time of day or a different medicine.
Depression
Depression affects nearly every part of life, including appetite, work, sleep and sex. In one study of people with untreated major depression, more than 40% of men reported decreased sexual interest [3]. Feelings that often come with depression, such as anxiety, low self-esteem and guilt, can make sex less appealing and harder to enjoy.
There are several forms of depression:
- Major depression. Symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, often interfering with work, eating and sleep.
- Persistent depressive disorder. Symptoms that last for at least two years, sometimes with periods of milder symptoms.
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Depression that usually starts in late fall or early winter and lifts in spring or summer.
Treatment helps. Therapy, regular exercise and, when needed, medication can all ease symptoms. If an antidepressant seems to be affecting your sex drive, talk with your doctor rather than stopping it.
Low Testosterone
Testosterone is one of the main drivers of sex drive in men, so when levels are low, desire can drop. Common causes of low testosterone include:
- Age. After about age 30, testosterone gradually declines, by roughly 1% to 2% a year [4]. This is a normal part of aging, not a disease.
- Damaged or infected testicles. Injury, an interrupted blood supply or infections such as orchitis can affect testosterone production.
- Pituitary disorders. The pituitary gland helps regulate testosterone, so a disorder there can lower it.
- Medications and treatments. Opioids and steroids can disrupt the pituitary’s control of hormones [5], and radiation treatment for cancer can damage the testicles.
Not sure where you stand? Take our low testosterone quiz or read How to Tell If You Have Low Testosterone.
Other Common Causes
- Stress and relationship strain. Work pressure, money worries and tension with a partner can all lower desire.
- Poor sleep. In one study, a week of sleeping five hours a night lowered daytime testosterone in healthy young men by 10% to 15% [6].
- Heavy drinking. Alcohol can lower testosterone and dull sexual response. See Can Happy Hour Impact Your T Levels?
- Health conditions. Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are linked to lower testosterone and sexual problems [7].
When to See a Doctor
See your doctor if your desire drops suddenly, if you also have erectile problems, or if you notice other symptoms such as fatigue, low mood or loss of muscle. Ask whether a testosterone blood test makes sense for you. A lab test tells you what a symptom list can’t.
Getting Your Sex Drive Back
If low testosterone is part of the picture, natural support may help as one piece of the plan. Andro400 is built around a 100:1 Tongkat Ali root extract. In a 12-week clinical trial, men aged 30 to 55 who took a Tongkat Ali extract had better libido and erectile-function scores than men taking a placebo [8]. Individual results vary.
Learn more about Tongkat Ali, Andro400’s natural support for libido, or what men over 40 should look for in a testosterone booster.
About the ANDRO400 Editorial Team
The ANDRO400 Editorial Team develops educational content focused on men’s health, healthy aging, natural testosterone support, energy, strength, and body composition. Our content draws on published research and established health information to provide clear, practical resources that help men better understand the changes that can occur with age and make more informed decisions about their health.
References
- Prasad AS, Mantzoros CS, Beck FW, et al. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. Nutrition. 1996;12(5):344–348. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/
- Harvard Health Publishing. How it’s made: Cholesterol production in your body. health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-its-made-cholesterol-production-in-your-body
- Kennedy SH, Dickens SE, Eisfeld BS, Bagby RM. Sexual dysfunction before antidepressant therapy in major depression. Journal of Affective Disorders. 1999;56(2–3):201–208. doi:10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00050-6
- McBride JA, Carson CC 3rd, Coward RM. Testosterone deficiency in the aging male. Therapeutic Advances in Urology. 2016;8(1):47–60. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707424/
- Seyfried O, Hester J. Opioids and endocrine dysfunction. British Journal of Pain. 2012;6(1):17–24. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590093/
- Leproult R, Van Cauter E. Effect of 1 week of sleep restriction on testosterone levels in young healthy men. JAMA. 2011;305(21):2173–2174. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.710
- Tang Fui MN, Dupuis P, Grossmann M. Lowered testosterone in male obesity: mechanisms, morbidity and management. Asian Journal of Andrology. 2014;16(2):223–231. doi:10.4103/1008-682X.122365
- Ismail SB, Wan Mohammad WMZ, George A, et al. Randomized clinical trial on the use of PHYSTA freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the improvement of quality of life and sexual well-being in men. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012;2012:429268. doi:10.1155/2012/429268