Frequently Asked Questions

Question

My husband is suffering from low libido and erection problems. He has tried herbal tablets from XXXXXX but without success. He doesn’t want to see his GP about this but he’s frustrated by his poor response to the tablets. What can he do about it?

Answer

It is important to realise that low libido and erectile dysfunction are separate entities. Low libido describes a low interest in sexual activities whilst erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The conditions may co-exist. Alternatively, one may suffer from low libido but not erectile dysfunction or vice versa.

The causes of low libido (i.e. low sex drive) and also of erectile dysfunction can be multifactorial (see list at the foot of this page). They may include physiological, psychological and psychosocial elements.

One cause that some Doctor’s may overlook (and yet is easily checked) is a low testosterone level. Testosterone and its metabolites (oestrogens and DHT) are absolutely essential for normal sex drive and erectile function. If you have low bio-available testosterone levels then this may be a significant contributor to any problems that you are experiencing with libido, and to a lesser extent erectile capacity. You may therefore wish to measure your testosterone levels using our accurate, anonymous, and prescription free test kits.

If the test reveals that low testosterone is an issue then your husband may benefit from testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). This has been demonstrated to restore sex drive and improve erectile function in many cases. Alternatively, he may wish to implement lifestyle changes to normalise his hormonal profile (weight loss, exercise, stress reduction, reduction of alcohol intake etc.). If he wishes to follow this route then he should test his testosterone and oestrogen levels at baseline and after 3 months of his lifestyle changes.

If he wishes to undertake TRT and yet avoid discussing the issues with his GP then he could consult a private Andrologist or Endocrinologist for TRT treatment. However, we personally believe that it is always wise for a patient’s GP to be aware of their patient’s full medical history. Your chosen Doctor should work with you to investigate the possible causes listed at the foot of this page.

As to the herbal/nutritional remedies I’m afraid that none that we’re aware of have any solid evidentiary support for efficacy in the peer reviewed Western medical literature. As such we cannot recommend their use.

Possible Causes of Low Libido:

endocrine disorders (e.g. low testosterone, hypothroidism, elevated prolactin etc.)
andropause
excessive alcohol consumption
cardiovascular disease
diabetes
anemia
arthritis
chronic pain
stress
not enough sleep
unresolved conflicts in the relationship
a desire to control or punish spouse
sexual orientation conflict or confusion
anger
past sexual abuse
working long hours
depression
family worries
antidepressants
tranquilizers
antihypertensive medications
illegal substances such as heroin, cocaine and marijuana
infidelity

Many of these items may also contribute to erectile dysfunction. Conversely, items such as those below may at first glance appear to contribute solely to erectile dysfunction. However, when one considers that these conditions will undoubtedly have a psychological impact on the patient it becomes difficult to exclude a concomitant impact on libido:

diabetes
nerve damage from surgery (e.g. for prostate disease)
Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis
pelvic trauma, surgery, radiation therapy
venous leakage
Peyronie’s disease

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