Reduced sexual performance is common as men age. as men get older reproductive system changes gradually over time. Unlike women, who experience rapid changes during menopause, men undergo a more subtle decline in hormone levels, sperm production, and sexual function.
There are several reasons that a man may experience reduced performance, such as depression, stress, alcohol, fatigue, underlying conditions, medications, and hormonal imbalances.
Read on to learn about the 8 causes of reduced performance in men as they age.
Aging and the Male Reproductive System
Men remain fertile as they age and do not experience rapid changes in their reproductive system as women do. Instead, the male reproductive system changes gradually over time. Some people call this andropause or male menopause.
Changes occur in the testes as men age. Testicular tissue begins to decrease alongside declining testosterone levels. This reduction may create difficulties in achieving an erection, although it does not completely impair sexual functioning. Additionally, the rate at which the testes produce sperm slows down.
The vas deferens, or tubes that carry sperm from the testicles, also become less elastic as men age. The body still produces seminal fluid, but surface cells are lost on the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and epididymis. There is usually the same volume of ejaculate, but fewer living sperm are in it.
However, this does not mean that older men cannot father children. In 1998, the Guinness Book of Records reported that a 92-year-old man fathered a child, making him the oldest man ever recorded to do so.
The prostate gland also enlarges as a man ages. About 50% of men experience benign prostatic hyperplasia from an enlarged prostate gland, which slows urination and ejaculation. The prostate gland goes from the size of a walnut to that of a lemon.
Aging may also affect your sex drive or libido. Testosterone levels decrease at an average of about 1.6% per year, which amongst other symptoms, may lead to slower and less intense sexual responses and orgasms.
However, many of the difficulties surrounding sexual functioning in aging men may stem from illness, chronic conditions, medications, or social stigma. There are a lot of social changes that occur in the idea of men performing. While it may not be the same for everyone, older men are seen as being less likely to enjoy sex, which is simply untrue and can affect a man's confidence.
8 Causes of Reduced Performance in Men
Male sexual function often declines as you age due to multiple factors combined. Usually, health decline and treatments for certain conditions can contribute to sexual dysfunction. However, sexuality and sexual enjoyment are still very important as you age. It is essential that if you are experiencing any sexual difficulties, you speak to your healthcare provider to seek out a possible cause and treatment.
The following causes are common reasons older men experience difficulties performing in bed.
#1 Depression
One of the primary symptoms of depression is the inability to enjoy things as you usually would. This includes sex. Depression affects your mood, energy, and the way you feel about yourself and your body. These factors impact your sex drive. Depression can also lead to weight gain and fatigue, which can affect your performance, as well.
If you believe you may have depression, seek out a doctor. A medical professional can prescribe a combination of antidepressants and cognitive behavior therapy to help treat patients with depression. It may take time for these therapies to yield results, so be patient.
It is essential to prioritize your mental health and speak to your partner about your decreased sexual desire. With time and treatment, you should return to regular sex life.
#2 Stress
Stress causes your body to undergo a series of changes. It triggers the flight or fight response, releasing cortisol and epinephrine hormones. In high levels, these hormones can decrease your sex drive.
In addition, stress can cause psychological effects. Anxiety, depression, and poor mood are often symptoms of stress that can affect your libido. Stress can also cause you to make unhealthy lifestyle choices such as overeating, drinking, or smoking. These choices may also affect your sexual drive.
If you are experiencing stress and it is affecting your sex life, you should seek ways to cope with it. Relaxation techniques such as aromatherapy, breathing exercises, journaling, and meditation are great ways to reduce stress. You will also want to practice self-care by following a healthy diet, exercising, and reducing your alcohol intake.
Relationship issues can also cause stress. To find some peace of mind, you may want to talk with your partner about your feelings or find a licensed therapist to help you work through these issues.
Once you manage your stress, your libido should return.
#3 Alcohol
Drinking the occasional beer is usually fine, but heavy drinking over a long period can lead to low libido. It also can cause low testosterone levels (Low T). Alcohol interferes with a man's ability to feel sexual stimulation by interfering with the signals between the brain and reproductive organs. Heavy drinking can cause you to have sexual problems, such as finding it hard to have an orgasm and premature ejaculation.
If you are trying to conceive, even small amounts of alcohol may affect fertility. Lower testosterone can affect the viability of sperm in ejaculate fluid.
Excessive drinking can also cause issues with your cardiovascular system, such as high blood pressure, which may cause erectile dysfunction.
Alcohol may also impair your decision-making, resulting in sexual habits that may be more risky. If you experience alcohol-related performance issues, you may wish to abstain from or reduce your alcohol intake.
#4 Fatigue
When you don't get enough sleep, it can affect your whole body. Sleep helps you to repair and rebuild cells and regulate appetite, breathing, blood pressure, growth and stress hormones, and your immune system. It is also essential to your sex life.
The American Sleep Association recommends adults get at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night. However, most adults don't get that much sleep regularly. Several factors can affect your sleep, including too much caffeine or alcohol, using electronic devices before bed, eating before bed, not having a sleep routine, and several medications and medical conditions.
Lack of sleep can lead to erectile dysfunction, infertility, and low libido. Sleep loss may lower a man's testosterone, leading to lower libido. Men who don't sleep well may also produce less sperm or have lower-quality sperm due to low T.
Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. People with sleep apnea often awake with dry mouth, have morning headaches, snore loudly, and sleep excessively during the day. Men with sleep apnea have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which can restrict the blood supply to sex organs.
Sleeping difficulties are also a common part of the aging process. Generally, lifestyle changes can help you get better sleep and improve your sex life.
If you have difficulty sleeping, seek a medical professional and get a sleep study to determine the cause. Better sleep is vital in improving men's health.
#5 Erectile Dysfunction
A report by Massachusetts Male Aging Study recorded that 50% of participants had erectile dysfunction, with that number increasing with men in the 40 - 70 year age range. Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is the inability to keep an erection long enough and firm enough for sexual intercourse.
Regular, healthy men may experience difficulty getting an erection every once in a while, but if you have persistent symptoms, seek medical help. Age-related ED can be a result of a combination of physical and psychological factors that cause atherosclerosis, or thickening of the arteries, that reduces the blood flow to the penis. The following risk factors can be causes of ED:
- Heart disease
- clogged blood vessels
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Parkinson's disease
- sleep disorders
- low testosterone
- And other medical conditions
Having ED can lead to embarrassment, relationship problems, difficulties getting your partner pregnant, low self-esteem, stress, and anxiety. The good news is there are several treatment options for ED.
At Male Excel, we offer generic Erectile Dysfunction medications that perform as well as the name brand at a fraction of the cost. You can bypass the inconvenience of in-person healthcare and get ED medication prescribed online and delivered to your door.
All you have to do is tell us about yourself with an online medical history form. Then, a US-licensed provider will prescribe your dosage. Finally, you'll get your prescription discreetly delivered in the mail. It is important to get treatment to improve erectile function and sexual health.
#6 Endocrine (Hormone) Disorders
Several health conditions may interfere with your sex life. These issues are more prevalent in men as they age. Diabetes, hypogonadism (Low T), thyroid dysfunction, adrenal diseases, and obesity are some of the endocrine conditions that may affect male sexual functioning.
The endocrine system affects the release of hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones control growth, development, organ function, metabolism, and reproduction. Any abnormality or issues with the endocrine system may impair the release of testosterone into the body.
Low testosterone is associated with lower sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, and fatigue, all of which can affect sexual performance.
#7 Side Effects of Medication
Certain medications may affect your sexual performance. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are used to treat depression, but they can cause loss of libido. Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, and Prozac are some of the antidepressant drugs most likely to cause sexual issues.
Heart medications such as beta-blockers, Lanoxin, and Microzide can also affect your sex drive. Clonidine and methyldopa, used to treat high blood pressure, can also cause low libido or ED. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can lead to sexual dysfunction, as well. Some Androgen receptor inhibitors used to treat prostate cancer, opioids, antipsychotics, statins, benzodiazepines, and antiepileptics also interfere with sexual performance.
It is important to discuss your sexual problems with your healthcare provider. They can let you know if your issue may result from your medications. You may be able to find a treatment to help or take an alternative medication to improve your sex life.
#8 Low Testosterone
Men naturally have lower testosterone as they age. Still, testosterone deficiency can lead to various symptoms that affect your quality of life, including:
- Loss of libido (reduced sex drive)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Depression or mood changes
- Decreased mental clarity and focus
- Persistent fatigue
- Loss of muscle mass and strength
- Muscular-skeletal issues, including joint pain
Low testosterone is anything below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Your healthcare provider can perform a blood test to check your testosterone levels. You need to be tested twice on separate occasions to verify the results. Obesity, sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, and HIV/AIDS are the most common reasons for low T in men.
Changes in testosterone affect your sexual desire, but this doesn't mean you'll have no sex drive. It just means there may be noticeable changes to your sexual activity. Low T can affect every aspect of your life and shatter your confidence.
But Male Excel can get you back on track with our Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Our convenient and safe TRT therapy online replenishes your body's optimal hormone levels with a daily dosage that is easily customizable to your body. We offer safe, consistent results that match what your body naturally produces. Our proactive approach to TRT has served over 75,000 patients and can also help you.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy sex life.
Conclusion
Many changes occur as you age, but reduced performance doesn't have to be it. By looking at the underlying causes of men's reduced sexual drive, you can find ways to treat and overcome the issues that are affecting your performance.
Depression, stress, fatigue, alcohol, ED, low T, and medications are common causes of reduced performance in men as they age. The good news is that there are ways to overcome these difficulties and get your drive back. Speak to a healthcare professional to determine what treatments work best for you.
