Your libido is the driving force behind your lust for having sex. It is something that you rely on greatly, as it affects your mood and ultimately your abilities in the bedroom. When your libido, something that you may also refer to as your sex drive, start to decline, you may start noticing other effects as well. Suddenly your erections may not seem as “powerful” as they used to be. They might not even last as long as they used to last.
In many cases, a dip in your sex drive now-and-then can be linked to something insignificant. You might have had a rough day at work, with stress levels peaked during the entire day. In turn, you don’t feel like having sex when you get home. All you can think about is dinner, a shower, and then hitting your bed really hard.
There are, however, cases where your low sexual drive may be caused by something else. In these cases, simply getting a good night’s rest or taking a day off to wind down and relax may not be the solution to the problems you are facing.
Testosterone is an often-overlooked factor that plays a part in the regulation of a man’s sex drive. At the same time, a low sex drive does not guarantee that you have low testosterone levels circulating through your blood. This is also where it gets more complicated, as having a low serum testosterone level also does not mean you will suffer in the bedroom.
Let’s take a closer look at this complex relationship between your sex drive and your serum testosterone levels.
The Connection Between Your Testosterone Levels And Sex Drive
Testosterone is a sex hormone, often termed a male sex hormone, but is also found in a woman’s body. The hormone is responsible for many functions, and it starts to play a role in the development of a person even before they are born. At puberty, the hormone starts to play an important role again, and when a man hits adulthood, testosterone continues to produce a number of crucial functions in his body.
Why Is Testosterone Important?
In one clinical publication, scientists explain that testosterone plays a role in some of the following functions and body parts:
Maintaining a healthy bone mineral density and bone strength- Assisting with the distribution of fat and maintaining a muscular body composition
- Keeping muscles and the body generally strong
- Ensuring cognitive function can be maintained at optimal functionality
Maintaining a healthy bone mineral density and bone strengthThere are other functions that the hormone plays in the body as well.
What Happens When Testosterone Levels Are Reduced?
When testosterone levels start to drop toward the lower end, then many adverse events may start to develop in your body. Some of these events may be experienced as a symptom, while others may rather gradually develop, ultimately leading to a complication.
Low testosterone in men has been associated with a reduction in the HDL cholesterol levels within the man’s blood. Prostate-related problems may also start to develop. Other health-related problems that have been associated with a low level of testosterone in the blood system include:
- Reduced muscle mass
- A loss of muscle strength
- Lethargy
- Bones that become brittle
- Depression
- Impaired cognitive functioning
Low Testosterone As A Possible Cause For Poor Sexual Desire
In addition to all of these issues, a loss of sexual desire is another factor that has been associated with a drop in testosterone levels. This is primarily because testosterone is known to regulate sexual desire among men, which means when levels of the hormone become low, the function it usually plays in the specific parts of the brain that helps to stimulate your sexual desire may become impaired.
In one scientific paper, the authors explain that testosterone is a hormone that is involved in the entire process of a man’s sexual response. This leads to an obvious conclusion that a connection most certainly exists between sexual desire and testosterone, but, while they do confirm this link, they also advise that men need to consider other possible causes for a change in their sexual desire as well.
Other Factors That Affect Sexual Desire In Men
There are other factors that can cause a man to experience low libido and they should not be ignored.
In one study, low sex drive among men, together with erectile dysfunction, are linked to the presence of type 2 diabetes.- A study in the ESC Heart Failure Journal reports that up to 87% of those patients diagnosed with heart failure experience problems with their sex lives, with a low sex drive being a particularly common problem reported. Men often also complain about poor erectile function.
- According to a review paper in the Journal of Medicine and Life, obesity also has a major adverse impact on the reproductive axis of the male body and may lead to a decrease in a man’s sexual function. Sexual functions that may be affected include both his libido and his erectile function.
In one What Should You Do?
When you experience changes in your sexual desire, understand that testosterone might be playing a part, especially if you are over 40. Do not, however, automatically assume that testosterone is the cause and start looking for ways to boost your testosterone levels. Consider all possible causes, analyze your own life, and identify the specific issues that may be having an impact on your libido.
Conclusion
When your testosterone levels decline, so can your sex drive, but this is not a link that happens to every man. Thus, when you do experience consistency in your low libido, consider having a check done to determine your level of circulating testosterone. When testosterone levels are low, consider opting for an appropriate solution. Determine the cause and then act accordingly.
