Lost Libido

[semorglas]

In 2017 had 24 sessions of EBRT and 2 SBRT. Was on Lupron for 18 mos. I have been off ADT almost 2yrs. and have zero libido. Erections came back about a year after ADT. My testosterone is 520 and PSA 0.4 at present. My partner has been extremely patient and I am more upset than he. Will it ever return or is this my life now? I know I should not complain because I'm healthy and doing everything I used to except for any kind of romance.

[Tall_Allen]

Libido is complex, and you've had a traumatic experience that may have more effects than you realize. You may wish to talk to a psychotherapist about it. There may be some techniques you can learn.

[semorglas in reply to Tall_Allen]

I will consider this though I don't have much faith in psychotherapists. I've seen what they have done for other people....absolutely nothing and dragging it out for years.

I do thank you for responding.

[Tall_Allen in reply to semorglas]

There are many different kinds of psychotherapies for all sorts of psychological conditions, and your knowledge of other people's experience with them may have nothing to do with what you might use. When I saw one (for anxiety), we set a concrete goal and timeframe. I was taught techniques to practice that I still find useful. After about 6 months of 1 hr/week, I "graduated" with the problem solved. Clearly, your problem is psychogenic and you won't be able to solve it on your own. Perhaps, you might be better off starting with the attitude that there may be someone out there who can help you.

[Handdrummer777]

Well, it's a good thing your erections came back a year after ADT. And 520 is a nice bit of T.

As Tall_Allen pointed out, the trauma of your PC experience could have had an impact on your libido, which is a complex phenomenon. Glad your partner is patient -- a fine quality to have in a loving partner. And a psychotherapist could indeed give you some exercises or techniques to practice.

The ingredients are there.

Also, if you're usually a top, and there's any ED issue, there is one device that might assist libido, and that's the Elator: It enables penetrative success with variable-to-zero erection.

Something I call the Loop, and offer free instructions on how to make it, is also available. It was indispensable during my 18- mo ADT.

Hope you find the approach/s that work for you and refire that libido!

Good food, supplements , exercise and good sleep all help.

Keep us posted on progress. Good therapists have some incredible stuff to share, and devices can sometimes help too.

[semorglas in reply to Handdrummer777]

I bicycle each morning, go to the gym a few times a week (pre-COVID-19), kayak when permissible. I have always eaten healthy (grains, vegetables, fruits, fish). I maintain my 160 lb. weight being 6 foot. And sleep is one thing I do very well.

Thank you for your advise.

[dadzone43]

As others have already noted, it is complex and multifactorial. There is also great reason to be hopeful, given the return of erections and of hormone levels. I would think about some sex therapy or couples counseling to help lower the hump you are struggling to get over. Unlike psychotherapy, sex therapy is quite specific, quite problem-oriented and often very successful. Good luck. [BTW, I expect a number of us forum readers who lost our erections are quite jealous.]

[semorglas]

No use being able to have an erection if you can't or don't want to use it.