Low Libido in Men

What a lower sex drive means

Libido is your interest in sex. It naturally rises and falls with life events, and a lower drive is a symptom, not a disease. The NHS says there are many possible reasons for a low sex drive and that treating the cause should help. [1]

Common reasons

The NHS lists these main causes: [1]

• relationship problems;
• stress, anxiety or depression;
• sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction;
• some medicines, such as those for high blood pressure or antidepressants;
• drinking too much alcohol;
• long-term conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, an underactive thyroid or cancer.

NIDDK also notes that loneliness, low self-esteem and a negative body image can cause or worsen erection problems, and that many common medicines, including blood pressure medicines, antidepressants and sedatives, can cause ED. [2] In one small laboratory study of ten healthy young men, a week of 5-hour sleep lowered daytime testosterone by 10% to 15%, and the authors note that reduced libido can be produced by sleep deprivation in healthy people. [3]

Is it low testosterone?

Possibly, but not necessarily. MedlinePlus lists low sex drive among symptoms that can occur with low testosterone, together with erection difficulty, infertility, loss of muscle mass and others. [4] Because so many other things cause the same symptom, the Endocrine Society recommends diagnosing low testosterone only when symptoms and signs go together with clearly and repeatedly low blood levels. [5] See Testosterone and low testosterone.

How it is checked

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you are worried about your low sex drive or think a medicine is affecting it. [1] For erection problems, an appointment can include questions about lifestyle and relationships and basic health checks such as blood pressure. [6]

What helps

The NHS table matches treatment to cause: relationship counseling for relationship problems, medicines for erectile problems, antidepressants or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, and a review of medicines or contraception where a medicine is involved. [1] For habits, NIDDK suggests stress reduction, activity, a healthy weight and limiting alcohol, which help ED and general well-being. [7] Pages on Stress and Sleep cover the basics.

Supplements

Many "booster" products promise a better libido: in a survey of 50 of them, 50% advertised improved libido. [8] In a 2026 meta-analysis of herbal supplements for men who had ED, sexual desire scores improved, and ginseng was one of the herbs that did, but evidence for Tribulus and maca was insufficient. [9] Promising but limited: these were trials in men with ED, not in men with low desire alone. See the claim check.