The 10 Most Common Everyday Sex Drive Killers for Men

CONSIDER DIALING BACK THE PORN, BUDDY.

No one knows why, exactly, but we're in the middle of a record-setting drought—a libido drought, that is! Yes, Americans are having less sex than ever before. In fact, according to recent research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, we're hopping into bed, on average, nine fewer times per year as compared to 25 years ago. But rather than sitting around and bemoaning this collective dry spell, we decided to figure out what's up. From pills to porn (sorry, fellas), these are the biggest everyday sex drive killers in men.

1. Too Much Sleep

Everyone's heard it a million times (and likely used it once or twice, too): "Not tonight, I'm tired." Well, sorry to break it to you, folks, but that's a fallacious excuse. According to a 2015 study in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, a lack of sleep "enhances erections and lubrication the [following] day." In other words, skip a few hours of sleep, and your libido will go through the roof. What's that saying? "Early to bed, early to…"?

2. Antidepressants

As of 2013, about 17 percent of Americans were on antidepressants or other psychiatric drugs. (That figure is thought to be higher now, but the hard data is unavailable.) And, according to a study in Drug, Healthcare and Patient Safety, sexual dysfunction is one of the most common side effects of antidepressant medication. Basically, one in five Americans may have their sex drive dampened by modern medicine. Thanks, science!

3. Natural Aging

From wrinkles to grey hair, once you hit a certain age, it's more than natural to feel less sexy. Though, according research published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, such feelings directly translate into less frequent sex. The findings indicate that 72 percent of people under 60 are frequently sexually active, while, for those over 60, that figure drops off a cliff—to 57 percent. And before you start going off on how sexual desire naturally slumps with age, know that the Mayo Clinic says most men can keep theirs up "well into their 60s and 70s."

4. Too Much Porn

You'd be forgiven for thinking pornography is a stimulant for sexual desire among men. But, as it turns out, it has the opposite effect—in two, self-defeating ways. According to a study published in the Journal of Sex Research, a regular porn habit can cause decreased sexual performance; naturally, no one wants to do something they're bad at. Further, if men start having sex less and less often, pornography becomes a natural replacement, according to research in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. It's like the least sexy ouroboros of all time.

5. Chronic Pain

The link between chronic pain and dampened sexual desire is a strong one. For one thing, pain can can prohibit all manner of sex positions. For another, according to the Mayo Clinic, chronic pain can bring about a bout (or bouts) of depression, itself a major sex drive inhibitor. Oh, and finally, the pain itself clouds (and diminishes) any sexual pleasure.

6. Diabetes

Research out of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases revealed that diabetes—a condition that afflicts 10 percent of the population—severely impedes how frequently people are having sex. In fact, among men, diabetes brings about a so-called "sexual decline" a decade sooner than natural aging would.

7. A Few Extra Pounds

Everyone wants to shed a few pounds. But here's some added incentive: Losing weight can directly lead to more frequent sex. Researchers at Florida International University found that suffering a negative body image, particularly when it concerns weight, can have a dampening effect on sex drive.

8. Heart Disease

A study in the Journal of Sex Medicine showed that folks with coronary artery disease tend to avoid having sex for fear that the physical activity could trigger heart issues. The researchers studied married couples for two weeks. For those couples in which neither individual had heart issues, sex happened with a 20-percent higher frequency than those who had heart troubles.

9. Low Testosterone

Here's a no-brainer. As men age, their testosterone levels, or T-levels, drop off a cliff. It's natural, and nothing to worry about—but lower T-levels do correlate directly with a reduced libido.

10. Erectile dysfunction.

Yeah, that would make it pretty tough. But don't worry: We've got you covered. (No Viagra necessary.)

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