Low Sex Drive (Libido) Causes, Sleep Apnea Link & Treatments | StrideRx

October 30, 2025

Low Sex Drive: Why Does My Libido Fluctuate? Causes, Including Sleep Apnea, and How to Fix It

Let’s be honest, realizing you’ve lost interest in sex, or that your desire is constantly changing, is tough. This medical issue is called low libido or decreased libido . Now, every guy’s desire changes over time; that’s life. But if this low drive becomes a constant source of stress for you or your partner, it is definitely time to get a medical opinion . We often find that a drop in libido isn’t the real problem at all; it’s a symptom that points us toward some other physical, hormonal, or emotional root cause.

Figuring Out What Low Libido Actually Means

So, simply put, libido is your sex drive . When it drops, you just don’t have those sexual thoughts or fantasies, and your interest in sex goes down. You should know that this is super common; roughly one in every five men deals with this at some point . It’s really important to draw a line here: low desire isn’t the same as having trouble getting hard (Erectile Dysfunction). A guy might actually get ED first, and then he starts avoiding sex because he’s anxious about failing; that avoidance makes his libido look low. Also, guys with low libido can still have sex; they sometimes go through with it just to satisfy their partner.

Why Is This Happening? The Root Causes

Your desire for sex is a complex dance between your body’s health, your emotions, your habits, and your relationship status. Getting a handle on all of these factors is how we begin to solve the problem.

Hormones and General Health- This is where your chemistry comes into play. The main sex hormone, Testosterone, controls your function and desire. Yes, T-levels go down as we age; that’s expected. But if your T-levels are genuinely low, generally below about 300 ng/dL, that condition, called hypogonadism, is strongly linked to low desire. A morning blood test is necessary to confirm this. We also see low desire with ongoing diseases: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, and chronic kidney disease often slow things down because of low energy or blood flow problems. Carrying too much body weight, or obesity, can throw off your hormones. Even a small weight loss can help improve hormone production. Finally, we always check for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which is known to affect sex drive.
The Big Disruptor: Sleep Apnea- If your doctor hasn’t asked you about your sleep, they should. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), that disorder where you stop breathing repeatedly at night, is a massive factor. We see a lot of men with untreated OSA dealing with both low libido and erection problems. It hurts your sex drive in a few ways. First, all that terrible, fragmented sleep messes up the body’s hormone clock, causing a big drop in testosterone. Second, the low oxygen levels (hypoxia) you get during the night trigger stress hormones that are basically anti-libido. Third, if you’re constantly exhausted and irritable from poor sleep, you are simply not going to be in the mood.
Feelings, Relationships, and Your Medicine Cabinet- Your mental state is incredibly powerful. Chronic stress raises the hormone cortisol, which directly interferes with testosterone. Depression and anxiety make you lose interest in things, and sex is no exception. Look at your medications; this is a huge one. Your doctor needs to know if you are taking antidepressants (especially SSRIs), some blood pressure medications like beta-blockers, or strong pain relievers, as they commonly cause this side effect. And finally, we all know that if there are problems, fights, or poor connection in your relationship, your desire is going to suffer.

How to Get Things Back on Track

Look, the plan needs to be custom-made for you, based on the specific cause your doctor finds.

If you have Sleep Apnea, treatment is the first step. Using a CPAP machine can actually increase testosterone and dramatically improve your libido. If testing confirms low testosterone, your doctor may prescribe TRT (gels, patches, or shots) to restore desire, but this is only done when T-levels are genuinely low. If a medication is the likely culprit, your doctor can safely adjust the dose or try a different type of drug. Simple, consistent changes matter, too: manage your weight, eat well, and exercise to support healthy hormones . If the issue is in your head or your relationship, counseling works. A Sex Therapist can help you work through anxieties and bad feelings about sex. If your partner is involved, Couples Counseling helps you both improve communication and rebuild that vital intimacy.

StrideRx: Your Private Path to Understanding

If your low sex drive is a constant source of worry, talk to a medical professional. They will do a full health review, a physical check, and run blood tests to find that underlying cause.

StrideRx is a specialized, modern Indian telehealth platform offering confidential, expert care for men’s sexual health issues. Our licensed Indian doctors will conduct a thorough online assessment of your entire profile. We will help you figure out if your low libido is due to hormone imbalance, a side effect of medication, or a physical issue like sleep apnea. We then provide a personalized, evidence-based plan, including necessary prescriptions or referrals.

Lost your desire? Low libido or fluctuating arousal can be signs of underlying issues like stress or sleep problems. Get an expert assessment, discreetly. Talk to a StrideRx doctor online today to understand your low sex drive and find solutions.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.