Can stress affect a man’s sexual interest?

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend of three years have had our ups and downs, he’s stuck by my side. He’s a nice guy who avoids conflict and is an over thinker. So in the relationship I dominate in sex because he always wait for me to initiate or anything, at times he will initiate. We don’t get a lot of privacy but we see one another every weekend and we always have sex or I give him head. This weekend we hung out and work has been stressing him out I mean he’s been upset and his entire mood has been affected due to the situation. He vented to me what happened and was upset so the mood was changed but I supported him so we took care of business and watched a long movie at the theaters afterwards he was tired and it was cold and raining and he said he was gonna head home. I asked him if he wanted to do anything else he said no he wants to head home now. I thought okay he didn’t ask but I know he’s tired and stressed. He’s affectionate bought me flowers, holds my hand during the movie. He’s 29 year old male is this normal?

[Rosexøxø]

Mmm I don't know if people got this right or not.

I guess I’ll agree, and add this as an exception ☝️:

He will be overly sexual even if disinterested, if

his sexual tendencies are

a.) a legitimate habit/ routine

b.) a coping mechanism

otherwise any male under true stress and apart from the a and b factors-

will NOT be as sexually active, if any at all.

I wouldn’t worry about it, if I were you.

Everyone does also have different sexual drives.

He also seems more sentiment than sexual.

I feel like the roles are possibly slightly reversed in this relationship.

I wasn’t to say just sexually but it could very well be both sexually and socially.

Continue trying to be understanding of him, and consider letting him help you at times, or suggest things to you, and be open to it, so he doesn’t, like- lose his voice/opinion/ persona.

Best to you both! Not worried for you two, whatsoever!

[Anonymous]

Stress, anxiety, depression, antidepressants, alcohol, bad diet, coca~cola, are all passion killers.

My man had problems when we first meet getting hard and staying hard. He had a bad experience where he couldn't get an erection and was very anxious about it.

Even viagra didn't help at first but eventually we were sleeping naked together one night and I was woken up by him thrusting inside me, he came quick but was hard again probably because of the viagra. We did like 5 times that day. Eventually he didn't even need the viagra anymore.

[Reece12345]

This can be totally normal. This is just a tough time for him. You've been very kind in that you're there for him and are very supportive.

I think things will get better on his side when his situation changes. I would have a talk with him to get a better idea of what's going on from his end.

[Reece12345]

Thanks for the MHO!

[abc3643]

You asked this question the other day in a different form.
Guys, Why does my boyfriend act this way towards sex? ↗

Yes, stress can impact sexual interest a great deal.

[coachTanthony]

Absolutely. Erections require some concentration and if you are stressed over something else it's hard to get in the mood so to speak lol

[Kori1236]

Completely normal. Think about when you’re stressed; how your interests and inhibitions change. Stress also affects everyone differently. Some hyper focus others shut down. And stress can contribute to ED. Give him a bit of time to decompress and he should go back to normal once the stressor passes.


When I’m stressed I have trouble sleeping to the point I have to eat a couple edibles to bring on sleep and even then it’s a hit or miss. Last year during the summer months I was planning a move, my stress level was at an all time high, I stopped playing video games, stopped reading, and even went MIA on a lot of my friendships because all my energy was focused on finding a job, finding an affordable rental and getting everything set up for school.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Anxiety and stress can absolutely effect sexual desire. Most of our desire comes from hormones, for men mainly testosterone and progesterone, but production of those hormones can be slowed in the face of cortisol — the hormone that causes anxiety, stress, and triggers fight-or-flight mode, meaning that it slows or cuts off production to all “non-essential” functions to focus on the thing causing cortisol to be made, in this case your boyfriend’s job.

[AMS700CX4u2]

Well Said.

[ArrowheadSW]

Yes definitely. I especially noticed this in my mid-twenties when I had a very stressful job. I had a girlfriend but my mind was often consumed with how bad my job was and how I was going to find another job that was better. It wasn't the greatest time in my life that's for sure.

[BubbaSparkx]

Yes, if a man is constantly belittled, picked on or ridiculed, then they will not be in the mood to do anything, but wallow in self-pity and give up. What man wants to be a machine while being insulted all the time. Women don't want that either.

[TaureanBull81]

Mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety can affect how your brain signals your body's physical response. In the case of an erection, stress and anxiety can interrupt how your brain sends messages to the penis to allow extra blood flow.

[thegreenyogi]

I can only speak by my personal experience. I am in a relationship with a guy that has ADHD and depression and suffers a lot with stress and anxiety and when he has his lows it does have a huge effect on his sexual desire so I would say that stress can have a very strong impact where that is concerned.

[AMS700CX4u2]

SSRI 's can do a number on him too. SNESI's " can have the opposite effect. Should you desire a pregnancy SSRI's can cause a miscarriage and otherwise hinder implantation Just saying.

[thegreenyogi]

I'm also aware of that. My partner is also a doctor.

[AMS700CX4u2]

More information is better than none. Careful

[Confusedashell123]

I’m going through this expect my guy is only 26. We found out he has a low amount of testosterone though so that could be a factor too. Can happen to young guys. It’s really hard and makes you question yourself I know. I went from having sex with my ex like 7 times a day sometimes to once a week. If you love them you just have to find a way to deal with it. It’s not easy though.

[lightbulb27]

yes especially so for an introvert.

The cure for that is exercise and meditation to cut the stress, increase blood flow... and that leads to...

[Lowiu]

Yes when my boyfriend was super stressed at the end of university he wanted sex only super rare and when he wanted it was more like a fast fucking and not slow and romantic

[SnowedIn]

It absolutely will affect his sexual interest and ability.

[Adam1978]

Stress is certainly a sex killer. You don't get into the mood.

[B0nerD0nor]

Stess, anxiety, and pressures of life all affect many aspects of our lives especially sex.

[OfDeath]

So you don't live together and he didn't want sex before he left?

Something is off.

[Mangospacho]

Yes, stress is a distraction and distractions are unsexy.

[BLP11520]

Certainly, work or a company going out of business can kill sexual appetite

[Rathoreshivraj]

Yes they do
When guys are in real trouble
Sex doesn't matter

[Summeroflove]

Seems like it’s all about sex

[Jhunitor]

Yes obviously.

[spartan55]

Completely.