Menopause/Andropause and sex

It's common for both men and women to experience a gradual decline in libido as they age.

Low libido can be caused by a variety of factors such as hormonal changes, chronic disease, medication, and lifestyle behaviors.

Loss of interest in sex is not an inevitable part of aging. There are effective treatments and interventions that can help restore your sexual vitality.

Good sexual health is fundamentally important as we move into older adulthood. It allows us to create and maintain emotional intimacy with our partner. It helps us manage stress. Being sexually healthy can even reduce our risk factors for chronic disease.

That said, you may find your libido is less predictable or intense than it used to be. And you may be wondering, why is this happening? Keep reading to find out.

Is it normal for libido to decrease with age?

Yes. It’s common for women to experience a drop in sexual desire and function beginning in their late 40s and early 50s. For older men, this shift may not happen until their 60s and 70s. Loss of libido is very individual. Some people may notice a dramatic change, while others notice no difference at all.

When sex drive is low or absent for six months or more—and it causes significant personal distress or relationship issues—it is sometimes referred to as Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD), or Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (MHSDD) in men. People with this condition lack sexual thoughts and fantasies and have little or no interest in sexual activity, alone or with a partner. They are unresponsive to their partner's sexual signals and may even avoid sex entirely.

What causes a loss of libido in older men?

When libido declines significantly in older men, low testosterone may be the culprit. During a process called andropause—a transition similar to menopause for women—testosterone levels start dropping naturally. While many men may not feel any difference in their sexual desire, some may notice a reduction in their libido or problems achieving and maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction). Additional symptoms of low testosterone include loss of body and facial hair, depression, loss of muscle tone, and fatigue.

Low testosterone is diagnosed through simple blood tests. If a man’s testosterone level is low, this condition can be treated with a testosterone patch, injections, gel, or a pellet inserted under the skin.

Certain medical conditions (obstructive sleep apnea, for example) can cause a loss of testosterone as well. In some cases, it’s the treatments for these conditions that affect testosterone. For instance, prostate cancer often requires chemotherapy, which may lower testosterone levels during the treatment period.