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What Causes Low Libido?

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Posted on Tue, 11 Aug 2015
Question: i am 43 years old male having low libido problem. Conducted test and reveal prolactilne level 33.6 ng/ml. please suggest

I have this problem of low libido since last 0ne month. my mail id is YYYY@YYYY
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. V. Anand (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is your problem psychological?

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for the question.

Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates breast development and milk production in women. There is no known normal function for prolactin in men.

The normal values for prolactin in Males: 2 - 18 ng/mL. Your reading is 33.6 ng/ml

People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels:
Chest wall trauma or irritation
Hypothalamic disease
Hypothyroidism
Kidney disease
Pituitary tumor that makes prolactin (prolactinoma)
Other pituitary tumors and diseases

Certain medications can also raise prolactin levels, including:
Antidepressants
Butyrophenones
Estrogens
H2 blockers
Methyldopa
Metoclopramide
Phenothiazines
Reserpine
Risperidone
Verapamil

The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels:
Emotional or physical stress (occasionally)
High-protein meals
Intense breast stimulation
Recent breast exam
Recent exercise

If your prolactin levels are high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast. Have you taken this second test?

In any case, you don't have to worry about high level of prolactin because it has no other function in male body. I strongly believe your stress and anxiety could have triggered the level of prolactin. Also tell me do you take any anxiety or depression related drugs?

All the other test results attached herewith are satisfactory and therefore, organically there should not be any problem with your libido.

I sincerely feel the problem is psychological. I need to determine.Please provide me more information in the follow up question.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. K. V. Anand (39 minutes later)
I m a smoker for last 15 years and quit 15 days back also my job is stressful. Prolactin level 33.6 came after 10 hrs fasting. I have no other medical problem and not taken any medicine in last 10 yrs other than pain killer some time and roxid 150 mg whenever I have viral. Need to know why I have low sexual desire and short erection which was not the case a month back. I have no family issues even
doctor
Answered by Dr. K. V. Anand (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Provide me with some more information please

Detailed Answer:
Dear,
Thanks for the follow up

I can understand you. I already assure you, there is no adverse effect of high prolactin in males. Still your office stress could be a reason for high prolactin.

Forget that aspect. Prolactin does not have any adverse effect on your sexual libido. I understand you do not have any other medical conditions or you do not take any other medicines which could have adverse effect on sexual libido.

Therefore, the only left over angle is psychological, social and family related.

Please answer these questions.

1. How often you engage in sexual activities before one month?
2. In your opinion, how important is sex?
3. Do you engage in sex when you are stressed out?
4. How many children you have? What are they doing?
5. Do you get angry? How often?
6. What is your wife's attitude towards sex?
7. Remember those incidents before that first libido problem you noted. What could be the reason behind that first libido problem? Stress? Quarrel? Please be detailed.
8. Anxiety can cause low sexual libido. Are you anxious about your libido?

Please provide me answers to the above questions. Let me see and analyze.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. K. V. Anand (29 minutes later)
1. How often you engage in sexual activities before one month? Once in a week
2. In your opinion, how important is sex? Not very important
3. Do you engage in sex when you are stressed out? yes
4. How many children you have? two daughters
What are they doing? studying class 9th and class 3rd
5. Do you get angry? How often? yes, often
6. What is your wife's attitude towards sex? she is homeopath doctor very positive,cooperating and understanding
7. Remember those incidents before that first libido problem you noted. What could be the reason behind that first libido problem? Stress? Quarrel? Please be detailed. office stress was going out for 5 days on tour and i failed lose confidence tried 3 more times again after 10 days again failed and now lost out
8. Anxiety can cause low sexual libido. Are you anxious about your libido? YES now in last 25 days very much.

doctor
Answered by Dr. K. V. Anand (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No sex for 15 days...Please.

Detailed Answer:
Dear
Thanks for your follow up

I can see the problem. It is performance anxiety.
You were stressed out at office. During those stressful period, you tried to have sex. You failed because of multiple reasons like stress, lack of interest etc. You became disappointed.

That disappointment created a negative feeling within you. You asked yourself. Will I fail again if I try? To get an answer, you tried again (with the stressful and other situations present). Naturally you failed. Again tried and again failed.

Those failures got etched in your mind. The reason was your stress and related physical weakness. But you attributed it to many thing else. You became overly anxious and you got yourself pathologically checked for problems.

During all these periods, you were trying harder and harder, with the anxiety within you. For sure you will fail.

With the anxiety in your mind, even if you try thousand times, you will fail. I am sure.

Let the anxiety go. Nothing will happen even if you fail again.

Do not indulge in sexual activities for around 15 days. Make sure, 15 days. Then you can try. You will be alright. Do not ask yourself "will I be able to do?".

Say "I am not interested. I will see to it when the time comes".

There are many psychotherapy methods with which we can cure your performance anxiety. But your problem is very simple. The above step will cure you.

You can contact me again for further clarification.

Take care.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. K. V. Anand

Psychologist

Practicing since :1993

Answered : 7324 Questions

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What Causes Low Libido?

Brief Answer: Is your problem psychological? Detailed Answer: Dear XXXXXXX Thanks for the question. Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. The prolactin test measures the amount of prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is a hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates breast development and milk production in women. There is no known normal function for prolactin in men. The normal values for prolactin in Males: 2 - 18 ng/mL. Your reading is 33.6 ng/ml People with the following conditions may have high prolactin levels: Chest wall trauma or irritation Hypothalamic disease Hypothyroidism Kidney disease Pituitary tumor that makes prolactin (prolactinoma) Other pituitary tumors and diseases Certain medications can also raise prolactin levels, including: Antidepressants Butyrophenones Estrogens H2 blockers Methyldopa Metoclopramide Phenothiazines Reserpine Risperidone Verapamil The following can temporarily increase prolactin levels: Emotional or physical stress (occasionally) High-protein meals Intense breast stimulation Recent breast exam Recent exercise If your prolactin levels are high, the test may be repeated in the early morning after an 8-hour fast. Have you taken this second test? In any case, you don't have to worry about high level of prolactin because it has no other function in male body. I strongly believe your stress and anxiety could have triggered the level of prolactin. Also tell me do you take any anxiety or depression related drugs? All the other test results attached herewith are satisfactory and therefore, organically there should not be any problem with your libido. I sincerely feel the problem is psychological. I need to determine.Please provide me more information in the follow up question. Take care.