Should i get an implant if I have zero libido?

[Topo22]

Long story short, in 2016 i got super sick, like I was poisoned basically, i think it was black mold but never totally sure. Later thought it was lyme disease. I was about 3 years into this hell of suffering extreme insomnia, night sweats, headaches for months, crazy anxiety, depression, joint pain, and much more that everything changed for me. I had moved, was getting better very slowly. Still has intact strong sex drive the whole time. I had improve tremendously. I discovered that antibiotics helped me (thus lyme hypothesis). I had 4 or 5 courses of antibiotics In a year in 2019. It was during my last course (Augmentin) that one day my libido turned 100% off. Like a light switch, i remember exactly where i was standing when it happened.

That was 6 years ago, since that time zero libido
i relied on viagra mainly, which worked super well, i had tons of sex even though i had zero libido. I have orgasmed every day just about since as it still feels good and i think its good for me. But in the last year viagra mostly quit working as well as cialis. I can still perform if i take 50mg cialis and 100mg viagra together but not always.

The thing is, i don't think anything is physically wrong with my penis unless viagra damaged it maybe, i can still get erect to mastubate but it takes a lot of stimulation and isnt usually all the way hard. In other words i would never attempt sex like this even if i technically could barely. One interesting note is that 3 years ago i contracted herpes 2 and during my initial outbreak my libido came back 100% just for a week, then back to zero.

I thought my drive and function would eventually come back and honestly viagra was working so well i just wasnt that worried about it. But now that I'm almost dead in the water sexual I'm asking questions. For the record i never took steroids or psych drugs or finsteride etc. I've tested my hormones 4 times in the last 12 months. My testosterone ranges from 800 to 1400 (naturally) my sex binding globulin is always high (50-70) free T is always in normal range, prolactin normal, and my estrogen is lowish 15-26. I'm not depressed, i workout, I'm mid 40s, dont smoke, dont drink, I'm not fat or super low body fat (21%).
Basically I'm here because I'm doing a few tests that i expect to fail and then ill be faced with some hard descisions. I plan to take HCG to boost my estrogen up a bit and see if maybe my super high SHBG is binding it up too much and in general to see if i experience any libido changes. If that fails, i will try Adderall to to see if boosting dopamine has any effect. I'm currently testing bupropion with no postitive effects. If all that fails i may test a dopamine agonist like cabergoline or pramipexal. But im not expecting any of these to spark my libido again which is why I'm here.
If i cant be horny and as a result cant perform then maybe i should just get an implant and at least solve one of those problems. At least that way i can entertain the idea of having a partner (currently single) but i guess the gamble is that i can orgasm now solo and it feels as good as ever but I'm afraid of losing what little i have left trying to gain more.
I know the people in this group have a world of knowledge and I'm all ears for any thoughts, advice any of you may have to help me plan out my strategy.

[indeed]

Hello mate,

Sorry to read about your struggles.

In my opinion, if your dick still works with pills even if you lack horniness, definetly do not get an implant. Implant is a very very radical step, especially since you are young (ish).

The low estrogen / high SHBG could certainly be a big factor here. Definetly experiment with trying to fix that! (Boron could help lower your SHBG). Low estrogen definetly can make you lack libido.

Personally I also had success with the "Angion Method" (can find it on reddit) before my implant. Wish i would have stuck with it

Also injections are still an option.

Good luck

[Topo22]

Hello mate,

Sorry to read about your struggles.

In my opinion, if your dick still works with pills even if you lack horniness, definetly do not get an implant. Implant is a very very radical step, especially since you are young (ish).

The low estrogen / high SHBG could certainly be a big factor here. Definetly experiment with trying to fix that! (Boron could help lower your SHBG). Low estrogen definetly can make you lack libido.

Personally I also had success with the "Angion Method" (can find it on reddit) before my implant. Wish i would have stuck with it

Also injections are still an option.

Good luck

I appreciate your response, i realize i have cards to play so to speak, but I've been reading enough here to know that sooner or later I'll likley be out of practical options when the pills stop working, I'm already at a point where I am avoiding sexual contact because I'm not sure if they will work and clearly they are declining in efficacy. I'm willing to try shots but i dont think I'd actually use them vs just going full monk mode. Many of the men here regret not getting an implant sooner which makes me tempted to just get on with it after running a series of tests to rule out any possibilities of recovery.

Its been very interesting though not having a sex drive these last few years, i think it made me oddly more sexual, like i was trying to jump start things or refusing to lose. Viagra allowed me to have everything but my natural sexual hunger, but it seems those days are over. I learned so much about women and attraction when my own drive wasnt clouding my judgment. I learned that nearly 100% of women willing to go one 1 date with me are also willing to have sex with me. I never would have figured that out if my sex drive was pushing my interactions. I've learned to rely on my curiosity as a replacement for drive but its pointless if my dick is not functioning reliably.
Sex drive is connected to virtually all interactions and motivations men have. When its gone it becomes obvious and it takes a long time to be internally balanced again in terms of motivation and interactions. To some degree its a blessing to not be burdened by sexual hunger, it does simplify things but its similar to how being dead removes your urge to breathe. Its strange and i dont like like it. I miss being alive fully and properly motivated and tempted etc.

[cbinspok]

I wouldn't go a surgeon, head to a doctor get the referral to a sexual therapist. good luck brother.

[LGXDownunder]

Man, I'm so sorry you've been through all of that, especially at your age. It sounds like one tough journey. One thing I'm trying to understand more clearly. You state zero libido as the primary issue. Libido is your sex drive/desire for sexual activity. Yes it's influenced by a bunch of things such as hormones, physical and mental health, lifestyle and so on. And it sounds like you are doing everything better than most of us. But if I'm understanding it correctly you also seem to be saying that you can still orgasm, possibly with some difficulty, and it feels good?

An implant will solve any erectile problems you may have but that's its only purpose. You will be able to perform like a porn star but it isn't designed to increase your desire for sex. That said my own libido has increased significantly, I think due to improved sexual confidence from being able to produce an almost instant and persistent erection on demand. I also find that I seem to have a mental connection between inflating my implant and a desire for sex. If you can still orgasm reliably I would expect that an implant shouldn't affect that in the long term. However there are risks with any surgery and some guys can have ongoing loss of sensation/numbness or other negative side effects. Some temporary loss of sensation, usually localized, is fairly common but seems to return within 6 to 12 months for most. I had some numbness above my penoscrotal incision for months but it has now mostly gone, and it has never affected my ability to orgasm. But Initially I couldn't orgasm from sex at 8 weeks post op due to discomfort, as I was still healing. That changed dramatically over the following months. I'm now like a horny teenager and climax every time. Implant outcomes are generally positive but no one can predict your results 100%.

I'm definitely a cheerleader for implants as it has been life changing for me. But I don't want to influence you that way if other solutions can work. Something to consider at your age is that current IPP longevity is variable and can typically be anything between 5 and 20 years. So you would need to be prepared for x number of future revision surgeries based on unknown factors. Also I don't know if your past health issues could increase infection risk. Something best discussed with a very experienced and competent surgeon if you decide to go down that path.

[wolfpacker]

Have you tried not orgasming every day? That may be too often for your refractory period to build up a libido again. Depends on the person