It’s true that men may spend too much time focusing on their erect penis and perhaps not enough time on matters related to overall penis health. But can anyone really blame a guy? While an erect penis does not define a man, it is a source of pride and a prerequisite for most sexual encounters. Yet sometimes a man experiences periods of lowered sex drive, which can have a serious impact on his formerly reliable penis. Low sex drives happen at various times to many people - but what are some of the causes of this condition?

What is the sex drive?

Everyone talks about the sex drive, but what is it exactly? Often called the libido, the sex drive describes the relative amount by which a person desires to engaging in sexual activity. It is generally affected by three factors: the biological, the psychological and the social. Complications in any of these areas can contribute to a low sex drive.

Causes

Among the causes of a low sex drive in a male are the following:

- Low testosterone. Probably the main cause of low sex drive in men is an insufficient supply of testosterone. The male sex hormone, testosterone levels have a direct impact on sex drive. In general, a man’s "T levels" should be greater than 300 nanograms per deciliter. (Don’t worry about trying to figure that out; it’s a measurement the doctor understands.) If the level is consistently below that, a man should consult with his doctor to determine whether some form of testosterone therapy should be employed.

- Restless legs syndrome (RLS). Restless legs syndrome is a condition in which a person feels an almost uncontrollable urge to move the legs when they are at rest for an extended period of time; this often manifests itself in sleep with lots of movement throughout the night. Some studies have indicated that men with regular RLS are about 50% more likely to have trouble attaining and/or maintaining an erect penis due to a decreased sex drive.

- Hypothyroidism. When a man’s thyroid gland malfunctions and can’t make sufficient thyroid hormone, he is said to have hypothyroidism. One of the effects of this is a decrease in sexual desire.

- Medications. There are some prescription medicines that have a negative impact on the sex drives of some males. There are various reasons for this, but they basically have to do with the way an individual’s body reacts to a specific drug. Some of the medications more commonly associated with diminished sex drive include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, opioids and antipsychotics.

- Social factors. Social environmental factors can often lead to a low sex drive. For example, men who lack privacy in their living arrangements often "push down" their sex drive to avoid acknowledgement of sexual frustration.

- Depression and anxiety. Psychological factors, such as depression, anxiety, stress and worry can play a very big role in a diminished libido. When a person is experiencing psychological factors which are extreme, disinterest in sex is often among the first symptoms.

Working with a doctor to identify causes of low sex drive and developing strategies to deal with them can bring about impressive results.

A man is in a better position to address low sex drive issues and the resulting erect penis challenges if his equipment is otherwise in good shape. Regular use of a top notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) can help with overall penis health. Of special note are those crèmes that include with L-arginine and L-carnitine. The former is an amino acid that plays a significant role in the process by which penis blood vessels are kept open so that the influx of blood for engorgement is possible. L-carnitine is a neuroprotective ingredient that can help ensure the continued sensitivity of a penis which may have previously experienced a loss of sensation.