The Male Libido

[jackrabbit]

Oright.

I have just gone through a massive backlog of archives of this site and god does my heart sink at all the sexually frustrated girls not getting it how they want it.

As an expert in endocrinology and the male animal, I wanted to put down my thoughts.

If your man has a low sex-drive, ED or PE - the problem is more than likely chemical rather than psychological. As much as that does play some part - stress, attraction, jealousy etc... the VAST MAJORITY of problems we come across are chemical/hormonal.

I have ample first hand experience from my use of hairloss medicine which left my hormonal profile akin to that of a pre-pubescent boy and learnt loads from experiences in rectifying the problem.

Men and women are subject to varying hormonal cycles throughout their lives which dictate their sexual response.

In men this is particularly acute during adolecense, when the testosterone and high fertility leads to sexual-overdrive during the teen years and into the early 20s. However, as the man ages, the tesosterone/estrogen profile begins to shift, having a negative consequence on his sex drive. At the same time, ratios of other hormones, including progesterone, prolactin, DHT, estradiol etc.. also begins to change. This cause both physiological changes (storing more fat and less muscle etc.) as well as psychological changes (sexual desire, drive, energy, agression satiation).

Women experience similar hormonal changes throughout their lives. It is not uncommon for women to be most sexually active during their 30s when the ratio of testosterone-estrogen in their bodies changes in favour of testosterone. This in turn dramatically increases their sex drive. However, by the onset of menapause, just like in men, some women experience a shortage in testosterone as well as other hormones in their bodies, and as such their sex drive begins to wane.

These are natural cycles evolved in most primates (and other animals) in which sex drive is highest during peak fertility/reproductivity years and then declines into old age. Men undergo a male "menapause" too as they age and their sexual desires wither.

However, in today's society, with the availability of synthetic hormones and the longevity of the population, there are treatments available for both men and women that reverse the evolved "menapause" cycle. Both men and women can take testosterone, growth hormones, prolactin suppressers, DHT derivatives etc. which have the effect of returning the hormonal profile of the individual to somewhat close to sexual prime. As a result, it has become increasingly common, unlike in past generations, for the elderly to maintain a strong sex well into their final years.

Important to note, the male and female sexual response is extremely similar, and the hormonal sex drives are also similar.

Testosterone is the most important hormone for sexual arousal in men and women. It is needed in sufficient quantities as "free testosterone" to start the chain re: sexual desire. Both men and women also need a sufficient level of estrogen, particularly estradiol, for an adequate sexual response. However, this is finally balanced, particularly in men, and too high a level of estradiol will shut down the sexual response completely.

SHBG (Sex hormone-binding globulin) is the most important protein in the body as far as sexual response is concerned. SHBG binds to testosterone and estrogen and prevents the availability of sex hormones in the body (resulting in reduced libido). Remember you need "free tesosterone" for your body to make use of it. SHBG reduces free test.

SHBG is produced by the liver cells and is released into the bloodstream. Other sites that produce SHBG are the brain, uterus, and placenta and vagina. In addition SHBG is produced by the testes. SHBG levels appear to be controlled by a delicate balance of enhancing and inhibiting factors. Its level is decreased by high levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Also, high androgen levels decrease SHBG, while high estrogen and thyroxine levels increase it. Recent evidence suggests that it is the liver's production of fats that reduces SHBG levels. not any direct effect of insulin and specific genetic mechanisms have been found that do this.

Regardless, having a higher tesosteronr-estrogen ratio is incredibly important in maintaining a high sex drive in both men and women. As we noted at the beginning, this ratio fluxuates wildlyl throughout our lives effecting our libidos as we age.

There are however, other hormones which effect sex drive. Prolactin is the sexual satiation drug closely linked to dopamine. It is relased in women to facilitate lactation and is most present after child birth. It also floods a mans brain after he ejaculates stopping him from getting erect again. Generally prolactin in men AND women kills the sexual desire. Prolactin is controlled by dopamine agonists and reuptake inhibitors and medication in this area has the most dramatic effect on male/female libidos.

The other important hormone is progesterone. This hormone is adminsitered to male sex offenders as a form of chemical castration. Very nasty. However, just like estradiol, men and women need SOME to facilitate sexual response, but a tiny bit over and it kills sex drive.

A man can effectively become massively multi-orgasmic with a raging all day long libido (same for women) by intelligently "tweaking" their hormonal profiles.

Taking a drug like Cabergoline (dostinex) will prevent the release of prolactin following sex. This has been shown to allow men to orgasm several times in a row as well as greatly intensify orgasm and desire. To make the drug even more effective you could take deprenyl (seligiline) which is a nootropic. This "cocaine-like" cell protection drug works on the dopamine level. Dopamine is essential for desire and is effected by cocaine - it makes you want more, just like during sex, when you have to reach for that orgasm and just can't help yourself trying to get there. This is regulated by dopamine (both deprenyly and cabergoline, which increase dopamine, have been implicated in gambling addiction). Dopamine is important in creating desire and an important part of the sexual response. A dose of cabergoline/deprenyl will DRAMATICALLY transform anyone's libido.

You can also have a direct effect on other hormones. This includes taking tesosterone based steroids which has an insatiable effect in a man's sex drive. However, these come with side effects that many wont want to dabble in. For them, i would advice tesosterone boosting supplements (such as tribulus or tongkat) as well as anti-estrogens. Taking a course of clomid or tamoxifen will inhibit estrogen in the body and raise the tesosterone profile. It will also effect the bodies hormonal feed-back mechanism and have an effect in reducing your progesterone - which will also boost your sex drive. Remember your endocrine system is a very very fickle thing, and tampering with it has knock on effects far down the line. Through careful understanding this can be controlled as stated above.

Other important hormone for men is DHT. This is a definitively male hormone and causes the larger muscular sizes in men, body hair, deeper voice etc. It is also responsible for hair loss. And it is also important for libido. Taking Proviron (a DHT derivative) has been show (for men) to massively boost their ego.

This is all the hormonal response. There is also a neuroligical response. PT-141 or bermelanotide has been shown to have a dramatic effect on sex drive. Whilst the other drugs mentioned above effect sex drive indirectly through hormones - bermelanotide directly effects the nervous system and is considered the most potent libido enhancer in both men and women. It is taken intravenously or nasally (but is difficult to find). This will give the man dramatic erections and arousal by effecting his BRAIN on the level of sexual desire.

The final piece of the puzzle is semen production. Having a full sack is one of the reason men need longer before they can have sex again than women (everything being equal). For this i recommend plenty of water (loads) and Zinc supplements (the building block for sperm). There are some great supplements available that can change your guys "pay-load" by the buckets - paravol is one of the most effective, it contains maca.

Viagra, Cialis, l-arganine also have an effect, but this does not work on libido, but only on blood flow to the penis.

Soooooo, all those girls struggling with blokes who aren't horny. Put them on this:

Clomid/Tamoxifen + Tongkat/Tribulus + Cabergoline + Deperenyl + Paravol + Viagra/Cialis + Zinc + (testosterone) + (proviron)+ paravol = MASSIVE LIBIDO WILL HAVE SEX WITH YOU 10 TIMES A DAY GUARANTEED.

I was also going to write about how, on a genetic level, a man needs to be confident of his sexual performance with a woman to feel any kind of sex worth and that this is not to do with "ego" but is a by-product of natural seleection, but i ran out of time.

Your Welcome!!

[Richard S]

Are we impersonating the Men's Health Forum today?

I'll vouch for Maca. I'll also vouch for vitamin supplements with Zinc.

But the thing I'll vouch for most is just getting out there and exercising. And it needs to be multi-faceted, you need to mix weights with cardio and some other discipline like yoga, martial arts, something to address the mind/body problem. I had the best sex of my life when I had all that going.

Sorry Propecia didn't work out for ya, mate...

[jackrabbit]

Are we impersonating the Men's Health Forum today?

I'll vouch for Maca. I'll also vouch for vitamin supplements with Zinc.

But the thing I'll vouch for most is just getting out there and exercising. And it needs to be multi-faceted, you need to mix weights with cardio and some other discipline like yoga, martial arts, something to address the mind/body problem. I had the best sex of my life when I had all that going.

Sorry Propecia didn't work out for ya, mate...

Only certain exercises will increase sex drive - specifically weight training. Cardio will LOWER your serum testosterone level, having a negative impact on your sex drive overall. Weight training will cause a spike in testosterone level, thereby increasing sex drive.

As much as a "holistic" approach is important - it will never be as effective as the pharmacalogical one.

[WildChild]

Wow! What a lot of great information. However I would hesitate to subject anyone to all those drugs, what about side effects and the need for all that to be carefully balanced? My recent ex had testicular cancer, had one testical removed and the other not doing the job, he was on a roller coaster of constant efforts to get the balance right with several of these drugs. It played merry h with his general health and emotional state. It's an expensive and touchy balance.

What about the use of diet, exersize and a good emotional balance in all this? Personally I've noticed, approaching menopause, that I'm hornier than ever (and that's saying something!) when I'm exersizing regularly, eating well and feeling positive I have NO 'symptoms' of menopause. BUT if I slip, start getting sloppy in my eating habits, don't get out to run or walk or fall into a funk - I start getting hot flushes, my energy levels drop and I feel and look different. It doesn't take much to turn it around either. A day of eating well and a good run will do it! I would assume something similar is true of a mostly healthy male as well?

As complex as the interaction of this is, it's a wonder any of us are functional! But really, as a healthy woman I find my mental state is probably the biggest factor for me sexually. So what can we women do to help and encourage the men in our lives to better health, quality of life and sex? I, for one, am always open to learning!

[Hopeless Dork]

Jack Rabbit, thank you for taking the time to provide such an informative and readable post! You are right, there are far too many relationships struggling because of the women stating their husbands aren't providing enough sex and I think that this will go a long way into helping many of them understand what some possibilities are.

I think way too many women associate a mans lack of desire to ravish her at every opportunity as an indicator that they don't love them or find them attractive and I think you pointed out some other relationship saving possibilities.

I can see refferring to this post in helping a woman with these concerns for a long time to come.

[HappyUpNorth]

Hi thank you for the post I have been looking for some of the products you list, and have had trouble finding a place or website to buy them, could you point me in the right direction? more specifically the ones listed below.

Clomid/Tamoxifen + Cabergoline + Deperenyl + Paravol + (testosterone) + (proviron)+ paravol

[marycate]

Very interesting post jackrabbit, must say I take the holistic approach of Wildchild and richard S.
My husband and I have an outstanding sex life, I usually cum 4 times and husband twice a session, guess we have sex 4 times a week.
He has Maca, zinc and eats very well we have low carbs high vege and lots of low fat protein. We drink lots of water and work out several times a week. We also horse ride and do martial arts 3 times a week.
Both our lives have been transformed by looking after ourselves and it does take time and money. Like Wildchild I have lost peri menopause symptoms with everything I do to keep healthy. I feels more sexy now than any other time in my life, guess husband does too.
Every one will do things their own way but feel very strongly that so many people just sit back and accept their "Lot"
There is so much we can do to improve our sex lives and most people just give up.
I have been with my husband since I was a kid of 17 at high school and our sex life is better now than at any other time in our lives, husband is 53 and I am 48. So guess the message is look for what ever answer is best for you and believe you can make things better!

[golden_nemesis]

Hi thank you for the post I have been looking for some of the products you list, and have had trouble finding a place or website to buy them, could you point me in the right direction? more specifically the ones listed below.

Clomid/Tamoxifen + Cabergoline + Deperenyl + Paravol + (testosterone) + (proviron)+ paravol

These are prescription drugs, so make an appointment with your doctor.

[jackrabbit]

Wow! What a lot of great information. However I would hesitate to subject anyone to all those drugs, what about side effects and the need for all that to be carefully balanced? My recent ex had testicular cancer, had one testical removed and the other not doing the job, he was on a roller coaster of constant efforts to get the balance right with several of these drugs. It played merry h with his general health and emotional state. It's an expensive and touchy balance.

Absolutely. I wouldn't recommend anyone follow the advice i laid out above. I was just pointing out what's available and why it works. Messing with your endocrine system or stacking various pharmaceuticals that could easily have adverse interactions is highly unadvisable. I will add tho, being as wreckless as i am, i've partook in all those listed above and i can vouch for their effectiveness.

What about the use of diet, exersize and a good emotional balance in all this? Personally I've noticed, approaching menopause, that I'm hornier than ever (and that's saying something!) when I'm exersizing regularly, eating well and feeling positive I have NO 'symptoms' of menopause. BUT if I slip, start getting sloppy in my eating habits, don't get out to run or walk or fall into a funk - I start getting hot flushes, my energy levels drop and I feel and look different. It doesn't take much to turn it around either. A day of eating well and a good run will do it! I would assume something similar is true of a mostly healthy male as well?

Having a healthy diet and regular exercise is the foundation of everything. Normally, you need nothing more.

As complex as the interaction of this is, it's a wonder any of us are functional! But really, as a healthy woman I find my mental state is probably the biggest factor for me sexually. So what can we women do to help and encourage the men in our lives to better health, quality of life and sex? I, for one, am always open to learning!

The mind is the most important erogenous zone. However, the "mechanics" of sexual response are complicated and desire is massively mediated by the chemicals in your body as well as the thoughts in your mind. I would say that the way you think has a direct baring on the chemicals in your body and vice versa, and so (along with diet and exercise) psychological health is another "foundation" before you dabble in pharmacological solutions. However, sometimes it just plane comes down to hormones and neurotransmitters. And the information i posted was meant as a commentary on the"magic-pill" "i want it all!" society in which we live.

The interactions are complex and it IS a wonder whether any of us are healthy at all. But, you must remember, our bodies are designed and evolved to behave a certain way, and more than anything the body is good at its job in regulating these hormones. You will have "natural" cycles of increasing decreasing sex drives throughout your lives - genetically determined.

The way i look at it, it's like a skinny guy over-coming his genes and juicing himself with steroids to get big. You genetically have a low sex-drive? Well i got some pills that'll sort you out...

The ethical concerns at this kind of "fixing yourself" is another matter. We have an innate sense of entitlement and there are industries dedicated to daealing with what societies deems as "deficiencies". Most peoople with "problems" would readily buy into it. Ultimately it's a question of whether you think you have a problem that needs fixing.

[jackrabbit]

Jack Rabbit, thank you for taking the time to provide such an informative and readable post! You are right, there are far too many relationships struggling because of the women stating their husbands aren't providing enough sex and I think that this will go a long way into helping many of them understand what some possibilities are.

I think way too many women associate a mans lack of desire to ravish her at every opportunity as an indicator that they don't love them or find them attractive and I think you pointed out some other relationship saving possibilities.

I can see refferring to this post in helping a woman with these concerns for a long time to come.

If i had an agenda with the OP, it was point out that sex drive is not an innate part of somebodies self-identity but has complex mediating factors out of most people's controls - unless of course you actively chose to take control of them.

For whatever reason, however, it's almost impossible to seperate sexuality from identity. Partly social/cultural reasons, but more than anythign, i think, genetic reasons.

It's like you say that many women associate a man's lack of desire with their own self worth. I know when i was on the hair-meds and the first time i realised i had an issue, alone with a girl first time in the bedroom - even though i was the sexual aggressor and escalated everything ripping clothes off - when she saw i was having "difficulties" first thing she said: "is it me??? i'm fat aren't i??? it's cos you think i'm fat!!!" lol

I can only speak on behalf of male kind, but i think these "emotions" are natural.

There's a lot of talk on these forums about the "precious male ego", which to an extent im' sympathetic with, but i think that attitude does a disservice to what a man actually goes through with this.

From an evolutionary point of view it is necessary for the man to know that his children are genetically his - that he is not rearing someone elses child and that his genes are indeed the ones being secured for the future. This is not a conscious position he takes, but its the culmination of all his seperate thoughts when entering a "pair-bonding" situation. His brain is built to act and perceive things that way, and without his control, releases chemicals that drive him to act "jealous" or "posessive" or "depressed" because of this.

We do not chose our emotions. The best we can do is try to control them.

I'd hazard a guess that women have their own "ego" issues - particularly being desirable to the man they are with, which is evolutionarily essential for her survival, especially during pregnancy and child rearing. His loyalty is paramount to her as well.

That's just simplifying things, but i hope to make clear how it is of paramount importance for a man to feel his woman is SEXUALLY SATISFIED by him before he can feel comfortable. In fact, a man's concern about his woman's sexuality is one his most primary worries - which is why you will see men getting incredibly jealous if his woman has sexual dreams/fatnasies, masturbates without him etc. And i the reason why male social domination is manifested as the complete subjugation of female desire. It's a source of massive insecurity for men. Again, this has a genetic explanation. We all have our natures, and speaking as a man who has had several wisdom teeth removed, we are built rather shoddily and imprefectly.

We are social animal and our social bonds are crucial to our mental well being. Even if it is only chemicals, these chemicals are potentiated with what's going on outside.

As much as i would describe myself as a "feminist" ultra-liberal indivdual, when i had my issues, it was impossible for me to control my emotions. I rationalised that it was my natural hormonal cycles, that it doesn't say anything about me as a person, that there's more to life than sex - but despite trying to overcome my "ego", i couldn't control the fact that i woke up every day with this wierd resentment of my girlfriend and her high sex drive.

It's not something i could talk about either and confronting my gf's drive and talking to her about it just makes it worse - acknowledging a handicap that you deep down feel you're unable to control. Feeling like half a man, inadquate, low sense of self-worth, that nothing can pull you out of.

Oh, except all the drugs listed above. Shits like magic. Helps you conform to social norms and feel good about yourself! Mmmmmmm!!!!