Erectile Dysfunction vs. Low Libido

Every man experiences some form of sexual dysfunction throughout their life. Many men may attribute a case of ED to too many drinks or anxiety, but that’s where most investigations end. Only when ED occurs several times do most men seek help. You may rush to the doctor for erectile dysfunction pills, but that may not be the best solution. At this point, you have to ask yourself: are you experiencing ED or another sexual problem?

Low libido may be confused for ED and vice versa. It is essential to examine your symptoms carefully to help your doctor provide you with the best diagnosis. You can save money by purchasing your medications through mailMymeds.  Learn more about the difference between erectile dysfunction and low libido below.

What is Low Libido?

Low libido is a general term to describe a lack of sexual interest. It’s not uncommon to lose interest in sex from time to time. A person’s sex drive will vary and flow throughout their life, and this is completely normal. Life events like raising children and old age can decrease your sex drive. But if your lack of sexual interest is beginning to affect your relationship with your partner, you may want to seek the help of a doctor.  ¹

Sex is a huge part of the human experience, and you may feel like something is wrong when you notice that your libido is changing. In some cases, low libido may go away, but it may indicate an underlying health problem. 

Possible Causes of Low Libido

Medications: Some medications may cause low libido and can affect your sex drive. Anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics may lead to low libido. Some over-the-counter drugs can also cause low libido, so if you think that your medication is affecting your sex life, talk to your doctor. 

Depression: If you are depressed, you are much more likely to experience a low sex drive. Depression and sex drive have a complicated relationship because getting treatment for your depression may also affect sexual desire. If your antidepressants are affecting your libido, you may want to try a different medication.  

Chronic illness: If you experience pain and fatigue due to a chronic illness, your sex drive may be affected. Arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and fibromyalgia can lead to sexual dysfunction.  

Lifestyle factors: Some lifestyle habits like alcohol and drug use, obesity, smoking, and a lack of exercise can contribute to a loss of sex drive. ¹

Symptoms of Low Libido

Low libido is typically caused by a combination of several factors that may each contribute in their own way to your low sex drive. The biggest symptom is losing interest in sex completely, and additional symptoms may include:  

• Body and facial hair loss  
• Depression  
• Fatigue  
• Reduced muscle tone 

Understanding Low Testosterone

Testosterone is produced in the testicles and helps build muscles, bone mass, and stimulates sperm production. Testosterone is essential to your sex drive, but your levels will fluctuate during your life. Research has found that when testosterone levels decrease, the desire for sex decreases as well.  

Like estrogen in older women, testosterone levels lower as men age. Older men should not expect to have the same sex drive they did in their early twenties, but a drastic drop in libido may indicate a problem. ²

Testosterone levels peak during adolescence and early adulthood and decline one to two percent a year, beginning in your 30s. The American Urology Association defines low testosterone as less than 300 nanograms of hormone per deciliter of blood.  The diagnosis is made after two total testosterone measurements on two separate occasions in the early morning. ³

Low testosterone is one of the main causes of low libido in men, but it is essential to get yourself checked out to ensure that other conditions or situations do not cause your low sex drive. 

What’s the Connection Between ED & Low Libido?

Low libido and erectile dysfunction may co-exist, but low libido does not always lead to ED. To learn more about the relationship between sex drive and ED, read our erectile dysfunction articles in our blog. If you are experiencing low libido due to depression or stress, you may also experience erectile dysfunction. This typically means that your body is physically able to get an erection, but your mental health is inhibiting your sex life.  

In other cases, you may feel like your sex drive is great but cannot sustain an erection. This indicates erectile dysfunction and not low libido. At the end of the day, you should talk to your doctor to determine the factors affecting your sex life. If you are diagnosed with low testosterone, you may have to examine your medication regime, change your lifestyle habits, or begin testosterone replacement therapy. ⁴

If testosterone therapy does not yield the desired results, you should have another appointment with your doctor for an erectile dysfunction diagnosis. Cialis pills and Viagra may be prescribed to help a man sustain an erection. You can purchase ED meds onlinetoday.

The content in this article is intended for informational purposes only. This website does not provide medical advice. In all circumstances, you should always seek the advice of your physician and/or other qualified health professionals(s) for drug, medical condition, or treatment advice. The content provided on this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.