Let’s talk about Libido…
I think the time has come, so let’s talk about Libido. Low libido essentially means low sex drive, but it can also be associated with no sex drive or not being able to get or sustain an erection. However, that issue could also be referred to as erectile dysfunction. They have different terms, but they all come out of the same bag.
This can be a touchy subject for men, and many find it hard (no pun intended) to talk about.
But, if a man is around 50, I’m guessing he has had some issues with his libido at some stage. Indecently, to flip this, sometimes our libido can be too high, the likely issue here would be premature ejaculation, another difficult condition that’s often a bit hush-hush.
I think we can all agree that libido issues can have a psychological component. It’s very easy to feel anxious about sexual performance and for that to manifest into libido problems.
But that’s not what I’d like to talk about today. Like our beloved Olivia Newton-John, I’d like to get “Physical”! Well, at least chat about the physical reasons why our libido might be an issue. More often than not, the initial cause of changes can be physically related, then the anxious or physiological thread comes later.
Now, if we are going to talk about low libido, we need to visit the ever-so-important testosterone. It’s not the only hormone that affects libido, but it’s a big player.
It’s responsible for:
- Muscles and bone mass & strength
- Sperm production
- Development of the penis & testes, especially during puberty.
- Maintaining libido.
The mechanism pathway of how testosterone affects our libido is not completely understood, but there is a clear link between levels of testosterone and sex drive and erectile dysfunction. It interacts with other hormones and neurotransmitters, such as estradiol and dopamine, to regulate sexual function and desire. So, in short, there are some key things that have the potential to reduce testosterone and things that may prevent it from travelling through the body and performing its normal functions. Hence my rant on physical reasons as to why your libido might be low.
Here are some physical reasons why your libido might change:
- Overexertion or endurance training
- Medication
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- Illness, viral or bacterial
- Overweight or obesity
- Sleep disturbance
- Another condition, e.g. painful injury
Many of the points listed above concern blood flow or circulation. Remember my last blood talk about the importance of maintaining good circulation for better health? Well, it’s essential for healthy testosterone.
So, what can you do to help?
Yes, testosterone will decrease as you age (male menopause), or a necessary treatment may impact your testosterone health. But there are also things you can do to help things along the way.
- Protein-rich diet
- Strength training to increase your muscle mass
- Less sugar
- Breathwork to oxygenate your bloodstream and help with stress
- Less alcohol
Anything that will help with circulation and muscle growth will help with testosterone.
If you want to dig a little deeper into this make an appointment…
