By Mike Kocsis | 7 minutes read | Last updated: July 21, 2026 Categories: Testosterone
Medically Reviewed by Dr. George Touliatos
Low libido is a common problem that affects 1 in 5 men at some point in their lives. It can happen due to multiple reasons, such as stress, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and drug use.
If your interest in sex has noticeably declined for weeks or months, do not ignore it. A persistent low libido can indicate an underlying issue that requires attention.
In this article, we talk about the main causes of low libido in men. We also mention the best possible solutions to poor sex drive.
Causes of low libido in men
Relationship problems
One of the main causes of low sex drive in men is a troubled relationship.
Many men need to feel emotionally connected to their partner to experience sexual desire and initiate intimacy. But if there is conflict, resentment, lack of communication, or emotional distance between the two partners, desire to have sex can plummet.
In such cases, clear communication or relationship counselling may help improve sex drive.
Low testosterone
Testosterone is a male sex hormone involved in various sexual functions and overall sexual health.
It binds to androgen receptors in the brain to regulate sexual motivation and supports mechanisms involved in normal erectile function. That is why low testosterone levels can lead to reduced sexual desire in some men.
Restoring testosterone levels through healthy lifestyle habits and testosterone therapy may help men restore their libido.
A testosterone blood test is used to analyse your serum testosterone levels and see whether they fall within the normal range.
Health conditions
Studies show that chronic illnesses can cause libido reduction in men. Common medical conditions that lead to decreased sex drive include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Kidney disease
- Sleep apnoea
- Cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Underactive thyroid
- Hormonal imbalance
- Erectile dysfunction
Mental health problems
Psychological problems like chronic stress, sexual trauma, depression, and anxiety can take a toll on your sex life. They can disrupt your hormone levels and alter brain chemicals involved in sexual motivation, resulting in poor libido.
33 to 45% of depressed men have low libido, according to studies.
Consulting a mental health specialist may help you address the underlying psychological issues and improve your sexual well-being.
Poor lifestyle
Your lifestyle shapes your hormonal, physical, and mental health, all of which play an important role in maintaining a healthy sex drive.
Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, using illegal drugs, lack of physical activity, unhealthy weight gain, and poor diet are some lifestyle factors that can harm your sexual function.
Replacing these habits with healthier ones can have the opposite effect.
Pornography
A study found that 16% of men who watched internet pornography more than once a week reported low sexual desire, compared with 6% of less frequent users and 0% of the non-users.
Repeated exposure to such content may desensitise the brain’s reward system; as a result, it may not respond well to real-life sexual stimuli.
Pornography can also create unrealistic expectations about sex, which may lead to low desire to have sex with a life-life partner.
Certain medications
Loss of sex drive can be a side effect of some medications, such as:
- Anti-depressants
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- High blood pressure medicines
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Anti-seizure medications
If you suspect your medication is causing this issue, discuss this with the prescriber. They may recommend an alternative medication.
Aging
Testosterone levels decrease by about 1% each year after the age of 30.
As testosterone plays an important role in regulating libido, this gradual decrease may contribute to a reduced sex drive in some men.
A sudden libido loss is not considered a normal part of ageing and should be medically evaluated.
Age related disease and other health conditions can also make older men lose interest in sex.
How to fix low sex drive in men
In order to restore your sex drive, you first need to identify what is actually causing this issue. Once the root cause is identified, treating loss of libido becomes easy.
Here are popular ways of improving your sex drive and sexual interest.
- Couples therapy if decreased libido is because of a relationship problem
- Hormone therapy like testosterone replacement therapy if hypogonadism is the culprit
- Healthy lifestyle changes, such as having a balanced diet, losing weight (if you are overweight), exercising regularly, etc.
- Psychological counselling
- Quit smoking and recreational drug use
- Reduce alcohol use
- Stress management
Visit your general practitioner (GP) and share with them what you are experiencing without any hesitation. They may conduct a physical examination and run a few tests to diagnose the problem.
Low libido and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may help hypogonadal men restore their low sex drive and improve other low T symptoms.
A comprehensive review concluded that most randomised clinical trials reported significant improvements in sexual desire after testosterone therapy, particularly in men with low baseline testosterone levels.
This is supported by the 2023 TRAVERSE Sexual Function Study, in which researchers followed 1,161 men with low testosterone and low libido for up to 2 years.
Men who received TRT reported significantly greater improvements in sexual desire, sexual activity, and overall hypogonadal symptoms than those given a placebo.
Many other studies have reported similar improvements in libido following TRT
If you suspect your testosterone levels are below normal and you also have associated symptoms, talk to your GP or a hormone specialist.
They will run lab tests and analyse your symptoms to determine whether TRT or another treatment is appropriate.
Conclusion
Men can experience low sexual desire due to psychological issues, hormonal imbalance, physical health conditions, unhealthy lifestyle habits, emotional factors, and relationship problems.
Temporary low libido can occur due to a short-term issue. But if it persists for weeks or months, it may require medical evaluation.
For men with testosterone deficiency, TRT may be beneficial in improving sex drive and other symptoms of low T.
References
Corona, G. and Maggi, M., 2022. The role of testosterone in male sexual function. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 23(6), pp.1159-1172.
Rizk, P.J., Kohn, T.P., Pastuszak, A.W. and Khera, M., 2017. Testosterone therapy improves erectile function and libido in hypogonadal men. Current opinion in urology, 27(6), pp.511-515.
Pencina, K.M., Travison, T.G., Cunningham, G.R., Lincoff, A.M., Nissen, S.E., Khera, M., Miller, M.G., Flevaris, P., Li, X., Wannemuehler, K. and Bhasin, S., 2024. Effect of testosterone replacement therapy on sexual function and hypogonadal symptoms in men with hypogonadism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 109(2), pp.569-580.
Ponce, O.J., Spencer-Bonilla, G., Alvarez-Villalobos, N., Serrano, V., Singh-Ospina, N., Rodriguez-Gutierrez, R., Salcido-Montenegro, A., Benkhadra, R., Prokop, L.J., Bhasin, S. and Brito, J.P., 2018. The efficacy and adverse events of testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 103(5), pp.1745-1754.
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About the Author: Mike Kocsis
Mike Kocsis has an MBA with a focus on healthcare administration and is an entrepreneur and medical case manager for Balance My Hormones which offers medical services in the UK and Europe. Mike has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare sector, much of that working with people who have hormone imbalances. Mike has appeared on podcasts and radio and is an expert speaker on the subject of hormone imbalance. He specialises in Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and with his first-hand experience he has helped thousands of people suffering from low testosterone recover and regain control of their lives. You can follow him on LinkedIn and on the Balance My Hormones YouTube Channel.
Last update: July 21st, 2026
