Many men seek medical advice when their drive is too low, but can a libido ever be too high?
If you came here wondering “Why is my drive so high all of a sudden?”, know that it’s completely normal for your libido to rise and fall throughout your life. Hormonal fluctuations, changes in medications, and even new lifestyle habits can all impact your desire to have intimacy — no matter what age you are.
While hitting a high point with your libido is usually not a cause for concern, it may contribute to stress in your relationship if your partner has a lower drive than you. A high drive can also cause a problem if it interferes with your daily functioning.
If you’re concerned about your high drive, keep reading to find out what might be causing it, whether there’s such a thing as a “normal” drive, and when it’s time to call a healthcare professional.
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What Is a High Drive (High Libido)?
Your drive, or libido, refers to your desire to engage in intimate activities. This could include partnered intimacy, solo time, adult film viewing, intimate fantasies, or some other form of intimate activity.
A high drive refers to an increased level of intimate desire.
Biologically, your drive is regulated by intimate hormones like testosterone and neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin. However, certain behaviors, psychological factors, and medications can also impact your drive and the biochemicals that control it.
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Is There a Such Thing As a Normal Drive?
There’s no such thing as a “normal” drive. Some people have lower libidos than others, and sometimes, a person’s desire to have intimacy will change over time.
Some research suggests that a man’s drive tends to decline with age. One study found that the drive of middle-aged men (40–60 years old) was three times lower than in younger men (18-29). This is likely due to an age-related decline in testosterone, which can also lead to intimate function problems like ED.
But these figures aren’t set in stone. There are plenty of intimately active seniors with drives that fluctuate just like their younger counterparts.
While it was previously thought that the male libido was more stable than the female libido, one study found that men and women experience similar fluctuations in intimate desire. Their drives are also equally impacted by factors like stress and relationship quality.
If your drive is high, you may wonder if you have hyperintimacy or compulsive intimate behavior. But you shouldn’t assume that there’s an issue just because you’re experiencing a surge in intimate interest.
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Why Is My drive So High All of a Sudden?
Your drive may be higher than usual due to hormonal fluctuations, changes in the medication you’re taking, mental health factors, or even lifestyle habits like exercising more often or getting more sleep.
Your Hormone Levels Are Changing
Many studies have shown an association between testosterone levels and intimate desire.
During puberty, boys experience an approximately 30-fold increase in testosterone production. This may lead to mood and behavioral changes that include a higher libido.
Though testosterone does appear to decline with age, one Australian study found that testosterone peaks at around 20 years of age and remains stable until seeing a “gradual, progressive rise” from the sixth decade onwards. Only after age 80 was there a more significant and steady decline. The study was based on data from over 120,000 subjects, of which roughly half were male.
Several actions can lead to fluctuations in testosterone and, thus, fluctuations in desire and intimate arousal, including starting testosterone replacement therapy and making healthy lifestyle changes like improving your diet, exercising more regularly, and losing weight.
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You’ve Changed Your Medication
Starting some medications and discontinuing others may lead to a higher drive.
One of the common side effects of prescription antidepressants is loss of libido. Therefore, asking your provider to lower your dosage or switch to another medication may positively impact your drive.
Antihypertensive medications for health conditions like high blood pressure can also cause a reduced libido, so coming off these drugs may send your libido soaring again. However, this should never be attempted without your provider’s approval.
Meanwhile, some drugs might increase your libido as an unintended side effect. One example is dopamine agonists, which are prescribed for medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome.
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You’re Exercising More
It turns out that exercising doesn’t just give you bigger muscles — it may also give you a bigger libido.
Research shows that increased physical activity is linked to an increased drive, likely due to increased testosterone levels. Exercise may also reduce your risk of ED by increasing nitric oxide activity, strengthening endothelial function, lowering stress and anxiety, and improving your body image.
Moderation is key though, as intense exercise is associated with decreased libido.
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You’re Getting More Sleep
You already know that testosterone is linked to drive, but did you know your testosterone levels can plummet if you’re not getting enough sleep?
In one 2018 study, researchers discovered that testosterone levels decreased by 5.85 ng/dL for every lost hour of sleep.
Getting more sleep may lead to higher testosterone levels and a higher drive, though sleep quality matters. Studies show that testosterone levels start rising when you fall asleep, reaching their highest point during the first REM sleep and then remaining at that level until you wake up. If there’s a delay before you reach REM sleep, testosterone levels increase more slowly.
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You’re in a New Relationship
If you’re having new and exciting intimate experiences after a dry spell, you may feel more motivated to keep having them. Infatuation with a new partner often leads to increased desire for them, whereas intimate desire tends to decline in long-term relationships, often due to familiarity.
However, it is possible to experience a new lease on your intimate life with a long-term partner. In fact, a 2023 study found that intimate desire increased when partners found a balance between closeness and “otherness.” Otherness could refer to physical distance, personal projects outside of the relationship, and the mental space to recognize your partner as a separate person.
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Your Mental Health Status Has Changed
If you have high stress levels, you probably have a low drive.
Studies show that chronic stress leads to high levels of cortisol, which can suppress the hormones that regulate desire and arousal. Stress can also be distracting, preventing you from being in the moment and enjoying intimacy fully.
Similarly, struggling with depression has been known to reduce intimate desire and function.
If you’ve recently come out of a period of high stress or discovered effective treatment for mental health issues, you may notice an improvement in your libido and your ability to enjoy intimacy.
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I Have a Higher Drive than My Partner. Now What?
If you have a high drive but your partner has a low libido (or even just a lower libido than you), it can cause relationship issues.
Just like men, women experience fluctuations in intimate desire due to a variety of reasons, including hormonal changes (especially during menopause), contraception usage, stress, poor lifestyle habits, and more. It’s also plausible for your partner to have a higher drive than you at different times.
Talking to a therapist and communicating your desires openly and honestly can help you come up with strategies to better deal with mismatched libidos. You can also read our guides on how to spice up your intimate life, how to make intimacy better for her, and how to initiate intimacy with your partner.
You may also want to bring new tools into the bedroom, like a toy you can share or a high-quality lube.
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When to Call a Healthcare Provider
A high drive doesn’t always indicate hyperintimacy or intimate addiction, but sometimes it can.
Some signs that you’re dealing with a bigger issue include:
- You’re engaging in risky intimate behaviors.
- Your intimate life is interfering with your daily activities and work.
- You constantly feel dissatisfied after intimacy and are immediately eager for more.
- You have recurring and uncontrollable intimate fantasies, thoughts, and urges.
- Your intimate life is causing you to feel depressed, anxious, or hopeless.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms or still feel worried about your drive, reach out to a healthcare professional to get the help you need.
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Why Is My Drive So High? A Final Word
Having a high drive doesn’t always mean you have a dysfunction that needs to be addressed. Your drive can fluctuate throughout your lifespan for a number of reasons.
Remember:
- There’s no such thing as a “normal” drive. Some men have higher libidos than others, and sometimes, a person’s desire to have intimacy will change over time.
- A number of factors can increase your libido. Hormonal fluctuations, changes in medication, a new exercise routine, more sleep, a new relationship, and an improved mental state can all increase your desire to have intimacy.
- Mismatched libido can cause relationship strain. If your partner has a low drive or a lower drive than you, relationship issues can arise. Talking to a therapist and communicating your desires openly may help you find ways to meet both of your needs.
This article originally appeared on hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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