Sexual desire or libido is an essential part of a man’s life. However, some factors can affect a man’s sex drive, leading to low libido.
Most people attribute low libido to age, stress, or lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive drinking. Although these factors contribute to low libido, there are other surprising factors that kill male sex drive.
1. Medications
Some medications can affect a man’s sex drive. These include antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics, and blood pressure medications.
Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) can interfere with the production and secretion of testosterone leading to low libido. Antihistamines that cause drowsiness, such as diphenhydramine, can affect sexual performance and lead to a low sex drive. Blood pressure medications that reduce blood flow can cause erectile dysfunction leading to low libido.
2. Lack of Sleep
It is common knowledge that lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and stress. However, lack of sleep can also interfere with a man’s sexual performance.
When a man is sleep-deprived, his body produces a hormone known as cortisol, which interferes with testosterone production. Lack of sleep also decreases blood flow, leading to erectile dysfunction and low libido. A study conducted found that men who have poor sleeping habits had lower testosterone levels, which resulted in low libido.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes interferes with the body’s natural ability to produce insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels, leading to poor blood flow.
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Diabetes also interferes with the production of testosterone, leading to low libido. Erectile dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes, leading to low sexual performance.
4. Ketogenic Diet
A ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet designed to achieve ketosis, a metabolic state in which the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.
Although the ketogenic diet is attributed to weight loss, it can harm a man’s sexual performance due to a lack of carbohydrates in the diet. Carbohydrates are essential in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for sexual desire. A study conducted found that men on a low-carb diet had lower levels of testosterone and low libido.
5. Environmental Factors
Environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals, pollution, and pesticides can affect a man’s sexual performance.
Exposure to chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can interfere with testosterone production, leading to low libido. Pesticides such as DDT also interfere with testosterone production, leading to low libido. Pollution, on the other hand, reduces oxygen levels in the body, leading to erectile dysfunction and low libido.
Conclusion
Low libido affects a man’s self-esteem and relationships.
Although age, stress, and lifestyle actors contribute to low libido, other surprising factors such as medications, lack of sleep, diabetes, ketogenic diets, and environmental factors also affect a man’s sexual performance. It is essential to seek medical attention if the cause of low libido is due to an underlying medical condition.
