Is it Erectile Dysfunction or Low Libido?
Posted: September 23, 2022
If your sex life isn’t what it used to be, you might just chalk it up to normal aging. However, if you’re suffering with sexual dysfunction, it’s important to discuss your symptoms with our providers. You might have a condition like erectile dysfunction (ED) or low libido. Both of these health issues are often treatable to help you enhance your sex life.
There are treatment options available for both erectile dysfunction and low libido to help you improve your sex life.
While ED and low libido can cause many similar symptoms and both can interfere with a healthy sex life, it’s important to know the difference between the two. They often have different causes and different treatments, so you should work with our doctors to determine the cause of your sexual problems and find treatment solutions that work well for you. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between erectile dysfunction and low libido, as well as different ways to manage each.
Differences Between Erectile Dysfunction and Low Libido
Erectile dysfunction and low libido are two common types of sexual dysfunction in men and are often mistaken for each other. Both can reduce how much sexual activity you engage in and can have lasting impacts on your relationship and quality of life. However, there are key differences that you should know.
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is where you’re unable to get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. You want to have sex and you have the proper stimulation, but despite all that, your penis doesn’t become or stay erect enough for sexual intercourse. ED is incredibly common, and your risk for it increases as you age. Some surveys even estimate that about half of all men in the U.S. suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction.
Now, men may experience problems getting or keeping an erection from time to time. This is usually no cause for concern. However, if the problem is persistent and interferes with your sex life, then talk to our providers about your symptoms to see what treatments might help you.
Low Libido
Low libido is basically low sex drive. It’s a decreased desire or interest to have sex. For example, you might have the proper stimulation, but might feel like you’re not in the mood. You might also not feel like initiating sexual activities with your partner as often as you used to.
Like with erectile dysfunction, occasional low libido is usually not something you need to worry about. It can happen from time to time, like if you’re stressed at work or fighting with your partner. When it becomes chronic and causes you distress, that’s when you should talk to our team about your symptoms and the treatment options.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
If you’re suffering from erectile dysfunction, there may be many different causes, including physical and psychological issues. For most men, physical issues that affect blood flow to the penis are the culprit for ED.
Some common causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Sleep disorders
- Alcohol use
- Drug use
- Tobacco use
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship problems
- Medication side effects
- Chronic health conditions like:
- Diabetes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Liver cirrhosis
Because there are so many different potential root causes for ED, it may be necessary to identify underlying conditions to treat erectile dysfunction.
What Causes Low Sex Drive?
Low libido in men may also be caused by many different physical and psychological factors. It even shares many causes with erectile dysfunction. Like with ED, identifying the cause can help our team provide treatment solutions that work effectively for you.
Some common causes of low sex drive in men include:
- Low testosterone
- Side effects from medications, including
- Antidepressants
- Beta blockers
- Statins
- Anticonvulsants
- Antipsychotics
- Opioids
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship problems
- Sleep disorders
- Chronic illnesses
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options
If you’re suffering from ED, there are several erectile dysfunction treatment options available to help you improve your symptoms and sex life. Our providers work with you to provide customized treatment options based on underlying causes and tailored to your lifestyle.
Some ED treatments we may recommend include:
Lifestyle Changes for Erectile Dysfunction
In many cases, lifestyle changes are able to improve your erectile dysfunction symptoms. Therefore, we may recommend taking some initial steps before moving on to other treatments like medications.
For instance, we may recommend:
- Reducing stress in your life
- Quitting tobacco
- Reducing or eliminating alcohol use
- Eating healthier
- Exercising regularly
- Creating healthy sleep habits
- Losing weight
These small steps can have big impacts on many of the physical and mental causes of erectile dysfunction.
Medicines to Help ED
If lifestyle changes don’t work, then we may recommend erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra or Cialis. There are many different types of medications for ED, including medicines that inhibit the PDE5 enzyme, which can make the muscles in the penis relax too much for an erection. Usually, medications for erectile dysfunction are designed to increase blood flow so that you can get an erection with the proper desire and stimuli.
Low Libido Treatment Options
There are also many treatment options for men experiencing low libido. Like with ED, lifestyle changes may be able to increase your libido. Following healthy habits like those we listed for erectile dysfunction can also increase your libido. If those don’t work for you, then we may recommend other treatments, such as medications to increase your sex drive or treatments for underlying conditions that might be causing low libido.
Medications That May Help with Low Sex Drive
Sexual desire is a pretty complex process that happens in the brain. In the past, there weren’t a lot of treatment options available for low libido, unless there was a treatable condition causing it. However, today there are treatment options like PT 141 peptide therapy. This treatment option uses peptides that bind to receptors in your brain and nervous system to increase sexual desire and arousal. Many men notice significant improvements in their sex drive after starting PT 141 treatments.
Treatments for Low Testosterone and Other Underlying Conditions
In other cases, the providers at our men’s health clinic may recommend starting by treating other conditions you may have that might be contributing to your low libido. For instance, a really common health issue that can wreck your sex drive is low testosterone. If you have low testosterone and decreased libido, then we may recommend testosterone replacement therapy to help with your symptoms.
How Our Men’s Health Clinic Identifies Root Causes of Sexual Dysfunction
If you’re experiencing ED or low libido, it’s time to take action by talking to our providers about your symptoms. Our teams can help you get to the bottom of what’s causing your sexual dysfunction and what might be contributing to it.
When you visit one of our convenient locations for help, we start with a comprehensive health assessment. This includes details about your symptoms, medical history, as well as a physical exam and blood work. All this can help us understand what’s happening so we can provide a treatment plan that helps you.
Visit Our Team at Low T Center for Erectile Dysfunction and Low Libido Treatments
Our providers at Low T Center are committed to helping you feel your best through quality health care. We make health care convenient, affordable, and simple so you can address your health as a whole. Whether you’re suffering from sexual dysfunction, low testosterone, or sleep problems, find total care at our clinics across the nation. Contact us to make an appointment today!
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Disclaimer: This article is made available for general, entertainment and educational purposes only. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Low T Center. You should always seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.