Age and Libido: Is your drive normal?

We all know that our sex drive changes as we age, as naturally, libido and age are closely linked.

Whilst it’s obvious that as teenagers, our hormones and in turn our sex drive can experience a spike, it’s not necessarily a downwards spiral as we get older.

In terms of hitting your peak, it’s mostly common knowledge that a woman’s sex drive peaks much later than a man’s. According to research, the female sex drive tends to increase as fertility declines, then takes a dip after menopause.

However, it’s also important to note that everyone is different. Your sex drive is unique to you and can be determined by a number of factors from brain function to hormones and even beliefs and attitudes towards sex. As well as this, your health, stress levels and long-term hormonal changes can also play a part.

We’ll be taking a closer look at how your sex drive changes over time, as well as what is expected of our libido at different points in our lives.

Age and libido

There is no doubt that the peaks and troughs of libido with age can differ greatly between men and women. For women, female hormones, birth control, pregnancy and menopause all play a role in their sex drive. These factors alone can cause their sex drive to fluctuate.

However, for us men, the primary factors include our testosterone levels and overall health. While we talk about testosterone as a “male hormone”, women also have a small amount of it too.

Testosterone and sex drive

We all know that as we age, our testosterone levels start to decline. Whilst this isn’t usually an overnight drop, this gradual decline can affect our sex drive. This is completely normal. And of course, there are some things you can do.

Before choosing to go through testosterone therapy, it’s important to take a look at your overall health, as this is what could be affecting your T-levels, and also look into ways to give them a natural boost. But we’ve got more on that later!

Also Read: How to keep your partner happy

However, since testosterone plays an important role, it’s crucial we pay attention to this primary male hormone and the way it affects our sex drive. But before we look at what affects your T, let’s take a quick look at sex drive, testosterone and age.

Libido through the ages

Throughout your lifetime, there are a variety of factors that can affect your sex drive. Of course, we know by now that we experience a huge spike in our teens, but how does that differ as we get older?

20s

With T-levels peaking at the age of 18, your 20s are typically when your testosterone levels are at an all-time high. While your T-levels do start to naturally decline as you get older, this is very gradual – which means you’re unlikely to notice these changes until later in life.

Typically, your T is high enough in your 20s for a rampant sex drive.

30s

For many women, their 30s is when their sex drive peaks. For men, your T will start to decline through your 30s, which could make a change in your sex drive noticeable.

Also Read: We heard you want to boost your libido

The chances are, you’re unlikely to notice! Keeping your 30s full of a vibrant libido.

40s

So what does that mean for your 40s? Well, studies show that the decline of T may speed up to around 1% per year until the age of 40, so it’s not unheard of to notice a slight dip in your sex drive in your 40s.

In your 40s, you may start to notice that your erections aren’t quite as hard as they once were, and you may not be feeling quite as frisky as you did in your 20s or 30s. Again, this can differ from one guy to the next.

50s

In terms of age groups, this is where both sexes may notice a dip in their sexual interest. During your 50s, you’re likely to have less frequent sex than in your 20s or 30s for example.

For men, you may start to notice some physical changes, including:

• Lower quality erections
• Reduced ejaculate volume
• Less orgasmic pleasure
• Lower overall sexual function / erectile dysfunction

The change in your sex drive isn’t necessarily directly linked to your testosterone levels, however, as much of it is to do with your overall health. Deterioration in your general health can affect your mood, libido and performance in the bedroom. Plus, if stress comes into the mix, it’s no surprise you’re not feeling quite so frisky.

60s+

As we hit our 60s and beyond, there are a variety of health factors to consider, many of which can impact your sex drive. Put simply, anything that affects your general health can also contribute to a dip in your sex drive and sexual performance.

Also Read: 10 ways to give yourself (and your partner) a boost

However… All is not lost! As this doesn’t mean that you will definitely – or 100% expect to – experience zero sex as you get older, nor should you necessarily expect to have no sex drive at all. In fact, studies have suggested that many couples in their 60s continue to lead active, satisfying sex lives.

So, what is it that can potentially impact your sex life in your 60s?

• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Stress
• Body image concerns

What can you do to increase your libido?

The good news is, there are plenty of things you can do to fight back against erectile dysfunction and a drop in sex drive, including:

• Increasing your activity levels – This helps to optimize your overall health, as well as improve blood flow, stamina, self-esteem and even fight ED by keeping obesity at bay
• Look out for foods that improve blood circulation – This includes raw oysters, avocados, strawberries, watermelon, garlic, onion, leeks, spinach and plenty more
• Paying attention to libido-crushing factors – This may mean reducing your alcohol intake, avoiding soy and soy-based products, limiting saturated fats and trans fats and steering clear of licorice root

What else can you do to keep your sex drive in check?

• Manage your stress levels
• Improve your quality of sleep
• Work on communication with your partner
• Take Viasil

The bottom line

And that’s it! Remember, everybody’s sex drive is different. It’s about managing yours and keeping on top of your overall health – resulting in a healthy sex drive.

While some elements of ageing cannot be avoided, there are a number of things (that we talked about above!) that you can do to improve your lifestyle and general health.

Have you thought about how Viasil may help? Viasil is a 100% natural male performance enhancer, which utilizes safe and natural ingredients to fight back against ED, for longer-lasting sex and sexual confidence. Order yours today for fast acting results.