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A man’s drive for sex can vary from person to person, and age to age.
One person could be enjoying sex well into their 70s, while another could be struggling with erectile difficulties as early as their 40s.
However, one thing’s for certain. From a general population standpoint, there’s a noticeable trend that surrounds male libido and sexual arousal. As a man reaches a certain age, there will be moments when their impaired sexual desire interferes with their sexual relationships.
In fact, millions of men around the world have bouts of sexual dysfunction, with a good percentage of them struggling in silence out of shame and fear of judgment.
But to rise above the challenges, one must pay great attention to their body.
Through personal examination, as well as medical care, people can identify, address, and remedy the faculties that make them feel distressed and frustrated.
Let’s learn more about the connection between sexual health, age, and libido.
What Age Does Libido Decrease?
According to a recent study, age is considered one of the most significant drivers in decreasing libido in men. As men age, the body changes and becomes less proficient in performing certain functions, from motor skills to cognitive abilities.
The same philosophy applies to sexual abilities. Normally, men experience a spike in testosterone—the male sex hormone that plays a key role in regulating libido—during their late teens to early 20s. This peak range typically sustains up to their late 20s.
Once they reach their 30s, the production level of testosterone decrease by 1 to 2% each year. Subsequently, this affects a man’s libido and desire for sex bit by bit.
The older a man is, the less likely they’d have the desire to participate in sexual intercourse. But that doesn’t mean they’d stop it altogether.
Do Seniors Stop Having Sex?
While the idea of seniors going at it doesn’t sound appealing to a lot of people, the fact of the matter is that it still happens.
A study found that 39% of men aged 75 to 85 are sexually active, with a big chunk of them reporting to be satisfied with their sex life. Another study showed similar results, with 83.7% of males aged 57 to 64 engaging in sexual behaviors.
In the latter study, only 38.5% of men aged 75 to 85 continued to participate in sex, signifying that there’s a decreased interest in the sexual act. But, as mentioned earlier, it varies from person to person.
So, if you find yourself still itching for sex well into your golden years, don’t let an Internet article tell you what you can or cannot do.
However, it’s a definite trend that one’s willingness to participate in sex decreases with age. And it’s not because the romance is dead.
Aside from a general decrease in stamina and energy that comes with aging, there’s a multitude of age-related diseases that may arise.
From heart disease to diabetes, these conditions affect the body’s ability to maintain a healthy amount of blood flow to the penis to help it achieve erections.
Common Causes of Low Libido in Aged Men
Sexual difficulties can happen to anyone, regardless of age. But being old and having poor lifestyle habits puts you at increased risk of developing diseases which can contribute to a worsened health state.
Here are some of the most common causes of libido loss that elderly men are more prone to face.
- Stress: Stress can mentally affect a man’s sexual desire due to increased cortisol levels and decreased sex-positive hormonal production.
- Anxiety: Performance anxiety is usually a secondary factor of ED that can exacerbate symptoms.
- Depression: Men with underlying depression may experience a loss of libido.
- High blood pressure: HBP damages the inner lining of blood vessels, which can constrict and narrow it. This condition, known as atherosclerosis, causes blood flow to be significantly reduced and makes it difficult to get an erection.
- Diabetes: Men with diabetes are also more likely to experience nerve damage, which can lead to ED.
- Cardiovascular disease: This can reduce blood flow to the penis, making it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.
- Age-related hormone changes: Hormone changes can lead to a decrease in libido. As men age,testosterone levels decline, leading to a loss of libido and erectile dysfunction.
If you have any of these conditions, it’s best to have your T levels checked by a doctor. A medical professional will be able to provide guidance to help you recover long term.
Treatment for Low Libido
Having low libido can be distressing for you and your partner. Fortunately, there are ways you can combat it and reclaim your sex life.
Here are two powerful ways you can treat decreased libido.
Live A Healthy Lifestyle
The first step to maintaining a healthy sex life is by living a healthy life in general.
And that will require you to change up your routine in favor of healthier alternatives.
These include:
- Eating a healthy, T-boosting diet
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Minimizing stressors
- Drinking enough water
- Losing weight
- Avoiding vices
Treat Underlying Diseases of Dysfunction
A doctor will also likely want to rule out any potential underlying causes of your low libido.
If your low libido is caused by low testosterone levels, for example, your doctor may prescribe testosterone replacement therapy or acoustic wave therapy to treat it. If it’s caused by psychological factors, they may prescribe psychotherapy by a licensed therapist.
While ED medication is a common treatment for low libido, these pills are generally only treating symptoms of dysfunction. Additionally, be aware that people using ED pills may experience side effects. For a more long-term solution, clinical treatment that targets the underlying causes of sexual dysfunction is strongly advised.
Contact a Local Men’s Health Clinic for a Medical Consultation to Improve Male Libido
A man’s sex drive generally decreases gradually as he ages, and it usually arises from several potential causes.
Fortunately, with the high prevalence of sexual dysfunction, there are also many ways to get help.
If you’re concerned about your libido, talk to a men’s health doctor. Treatments are available that can help improve your sex drive and erectile function.
Contact the team at Prime Men’s Medical Center in Jacksonville now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with an experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are one of Florida’s leading men’s clinics providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, low testosterone therapy, and much more.