5) Fatigue – We work, play and then we take care of people, do projects, handle business and then are only too glad to fall into an exhausted sleep. Fatigue, whether through work, illness or even athletic competition, can sap libido.
Depression and Hormones
It’s often said that the sexiest part of the body is the brain. That’s particularly true if it’s not providing enough of the sex hormones that drive desire. If it happened without warning, it could be a sign of something serious. A doctor will have to conduct a detailed exam and patient history as well as run some lab tests to be certain of the issue.
Once any underlying medical issues are ruled out, it’s time to focus on stress and depression. Talk therapy is one way to help, and in combination with antidepressant medication, can help sufferers climb out of the valley caused by this chemical imbalance.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a little-known libido killer because it can cause extremely low testosterone levels. First, the doctor will have to diagnose the sleep issue, and then lab tests can determine whether testosterone is low enough to warrant testosterone replacement therapy. That may help restore the sex drive to normal levels.
Doctors can advise whether medications may inhibit the libido. Many drugs have little-understood effects on hormones, so it’s important to be candid about what drugs are being consumed, both legal and illegal, if that is the case.