Maximising Benefit
It is important to address factors that contribute to your symptoms. If testosterone replacement is contemplated, you want to maximise your chances of improving symptoms.
- Tiredness – This is probably the biggest contributor to loss of libido. This could be because of a physically or mentally demanding job. It may be difficult to juggle several issues at the same time and sex will be the last thing on your mind when exhausted. There will be days when you are less busy and at home. Try to schedule it in without interruption at a time when you are on empty stomach and no previous alcohol.
- Exercise . Exercise is key to health. This is an important goal to consider. Improved blood vessel health, circulation will be crucial in improving blood flow to genitals. Try to build up your stamina so that a busy physically demanding job does not wipe you out. A good measure will be to check if you can climb 4 flights of stairs ( 40 steps) in under a minute. You do need physical exercise on a daily basis. Brisk walking should suffice with intermittent high intensity exercise three times a week. You cannot do a marathon without training and neither can you do sexual intercourse.
- Parking negative thoughts – There may be a number of unhelpful negative thoughts that interfere with sexual activity. You should develop the skills to part these thoughts. A simple step might be practicing writing down issues that are on your mind and deal with it later.
- Food – Food is a reward and once your brain gets a reward, it is unlikely to be interested in more reward. While an empty stomach can be distracting, A heavy stomach can also prevent you from going “into the zone”.
- Alcohol – Unfortunately Alcohol neither increases the desire nor does it improve performance. It has a significant negative impact on both. The only exception is if you have significant anxiety and alcohol reduces your anxiety levels. Here it improves the desire but kills performance
- Foreplay – The time it takes for a person to reach a plateau changes with age. So it might be an idea to allow sufficient time and accept the outcome if penetration does not result.
- performance anxiety. This can occur with a new partner but also if erections have not sustained long enough to reach orgasm.