Ever feel like you’ve lost your manly sexual vim and vigor? Is your drive for sex in “go” position, but feels stuck in “neutral” lacking energy? Answering “yes” to either question could indicate your sex life has been drained of stamina and vitality, leaving you feeling unmotivated and apathetic. You desire to be intimate with your partner, but your sexual gusto has taken a hit leaving you tired and uninspired.
The good news is your sexual energy is waiting for you to find and reclaim it. It’s there, but it may take some work to uncover where it’s hiding and why. Lack of energy does not mean an end to bedroom activities, but it does mean adopting certain strategies to bring it back to life.
Losing your zeal for sex is often related to a physical, emotional or relationship issue. Let’s take a look at some possible reasons and what to do about it:
Experiencing erectile dysfunction (ED) for the first time can be a blow to a man’s self-esteem. He may have believed it would never happen to him. But when it does, the feeling of embarrassment or worry over how his partner will judge him can be overwhelming. The motivation and sexual energy necessary to perform can quickly be depleted.
What to do:
Any man with ED needs to bring up the topic with his doctor. There are several ED medications that work well along with other options for getting and keeping an erection. It also helps if a man can learn to open up and talk about what is going on. Men should realize they are not alone in experiencing ED and there is help and support out there for them.
Male hypogonadism or low testosterone is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the male hormone, testosterone. Testosterone plays a key role in masculine growth and development during puberty.
One of the most common side effects of hypogonadism is fatigue. Other signs can be loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, hair loss, reduced bone mass, reduction in testicle size, and low sexual energy.
What to do:
Testosterone levels begin to drop about 1% each year beginning in a man’s late 30s and could fall by as much as 50% by age 70. To determine levels of testosterone, a blood test is taken at a doctor’s office. If a man is found to have insufficient testosterone levels, testosterone replacement therapy or TRT can be given by absorbable pellet implants, topical gels, patches, and injections. This therapy can ignite a spark reawakening a man’s sexual energy.
Anyone who has poor sleep knows well the energy zapper it can be. A night of restless sleep results in sluggish behavior the next day. Lack of sleep also increases stress and interferes with how a man’s body and brain is storing and using energy. And, let’s not forget how poor sleep will affect a man’s sex drive.
What to do:
Any man struggling to get a good night’s sleep should discuss this with his doctor. There are several things that need to be investigated. Sleep apnea is one area that should be addressed. A review by their doctor to see if a change in prescribed medications or dosage is needed or if cognitive behavioral therapy could be of help. Or it could simply be that adjusting diet and sleep environment or behaviors is all it takes for improved sleep.
It’s kind of a vicious circle. If you lack sexual energy, likely you’ll lack energy for exercise and vice versa. Yet regular exercise is one of the best natural energy boosters out there. Numerous studies have linked physical activity with improving fatigue, especially among people who are sedentary.
What to do:
All it takes is to take the first step and initiative to get moving – start off slowly and build up to at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous exercise. Brisk walking, bicycling, swimming, tennis, whatever a man enjoys the most, can be the trick to reigniting a lackluster sex life. Focusing on a combination of cardio and weight-bearing exercise is a good start.
Numerous medical conditions can put a damper on sexual energy. Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or thyroid issues can be culprits robbing a man of interest in sex.
What to do:
For men who already have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, they should discuss with their doctor about the problem. For men experiencing less energy for intimacy, but do not have a diagnosis for any medical condition, it may be time for a thorough checkup just to be sure one doesn’t already exist.