Men’s sexual health - the Male Libido

The Male’s Passion

Libido simply means sexual desire. It is man’s erotic arousal and wish, or intense physical or sexual attraction or craving. It can also be classified as the urge to create life. It is naturally manifested through sex.

However, it is also technically considered to be the free, creative or psychic energy an individual has to put toward personal development, or individuation. Sigmund Freud coined the term and pointed out that libido is the instinctual energy or force that can come into conflict with the conventions of civilized behavior. He further claimed that libido has to be transformed into socially useful energy, through the process of "sublimation."

A man’s libido is different from that of a woman as a man tends to respond to spontaneity, visual stimulation like pornography, and just having a willing partner whilst the latter prefers being romanced, talking, intimacy and lots of time spent with their partner before the sex stuff happens. A man does not seem to be affected by a bad day or fatigue when it comes to sex however there are prevalent cases on men having low libido because of certain factors that affect their interest in sex.

Reduction in libido however can also be the result from psychological causes such as loss of intimacy, stress, distraction or depression. Apart from these, loss of libido may also be derived from the presence of environmental stressors such as prolonged exposure to elevated sound and high levels or bright light.

Although the loss of libido is rare to men, there are physical and psychological causes that are common and more often neglected. Among the physical causes are alcoholism, abuse of drugs, anemia, hyperprolactinaemia, obesity, prescribed drugs particularly Proscar (finasteride) a tablet used for prostate problems and other antidepressants and recreational drugs, low male hormone level (testosterone) and any major 'generalized' disease, such as diabetes. On the other hand, the more common issues about depression, stress and overwork, sex hang-ups, latent gayness, serious relationship problems with the wife/partner are the attributes of psychological causes.

So far, there hasn’t been any magic remedy or cure for the loss of libido on men however there are a lot of commercial pills and creams that alleviate the diminishing sexual desire. But what’s more recommended by physician are proper nutrition, rest and exercise, moderation on vices and more importantly, re-establishing intimate connection with the partner.