Low libido · Hormonal assessment · Specialist Urologist
Low Libido: Causes, Assessment & Treatment
Assessment of reduced sexual desire that looks for a cause rather than assuming one — hormonal, psychological, medication-related or physical. Low libido is assessed within our GP-led Men’s Health service, where testosterone, hormones and general health are looked at together.
Men’s health consultation Contact us for current pricing· confirmed before you book
Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment
This page describes low libido and its assessment in general terms to help you decide whether an assessment may be useful. It is not a diagnosis and does not promise a particular result. Suitability, the number of sessions and whether treatment is appropriate at all are decided at consultation. Outcomes vary between individuals and treatment is not suitable for everyone.
Why people come to us about this.
Low libido is often put down to age or stress without anyone checking. Sometimes that is right. Sometimes it is a treatable hormonal problem, a medication side effect, or a symptom of depression that has not been recognised.
What this condition actually is.
Libido means sexual desire, and it varies naturally between people and over time. What matters clinically is a persistent reduction from your own normal that troubles you.
It is distinct from erectile dysfunction, though the two often occur together and are frequently confused.
Assessment looks for hormonal, psychological, relational and medication-related causes. Focal shockwave does not treat low libido; it is included in this clinic because low libido and erectile difficulty commonly coexist.
Book: Low libido: causes, assessment & treatment
Men’s health consultation — Contact us for current pricing. Fee confirmed before you book.
What you might be noticing.
- Reduced interest in sexual activity compared with your own normal
- Reduced frequency of sexual thoughts
- Loss of morning erections, which may point to a hormonal cause
- Fatigue, low mood or loss of motivation more generally
- Reduced muscle mass or increased body fat
- Poor concentration or low-grade depression
- Distress or relationship strain arising from the change
What tends to cause it.
- Low testosterone, which is treatable once confirmed properly
- Thyroid dysfunction
- Depression and anxiety — both common and commonly missed
- Medication, particularly some antidepressants, finasteride and opioids
- Chronic illness, sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnoea
- Alcohol and recreational drug use
- Relationship factors and life stress
- Raised prolactin, which is uncommon but important to exclude
How treatment helps.
Assessment establishes whether there is a hormonal cause, using morning blood tests interpreted properly rather than a single result read in isolation.
Where testosterone is genuinely low and symptomatic, treatment is discussed with its risks and monitoring requirements.
Where the cause is depression, medication or sleep, that is addressed rather than treating the libido alone.
What can cause low libido.
Reduced sex drive rarely has a single cause. Things we routinely consider:
- Testosterone and hormones — genuinely low testosterone, thyroid and prolactin, checked with properly timed, repeated blood tests.
- Medications — antidepressants, some blood-pressure drugs and others commonly lower desire.
- Psychological factors — low mood, stress and anxiety.
- Sleep — poor sleep and sleep apnoea.
- Chronic illness — diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and other long-term conditions.
- Relationship factors — which often need addressing alongside any medical cause.
- Erectile dysfunction — desire frequently falls when erections become unreliable; see erectile dysfunction.
Shockwave therapy is not a treatment for low libido. (read why) Where psychological or relationship factors dominate, our psychology & therapy service can help. Start with Men’s Health.
What an assessment can offer.
Blood tests interpreted in clinical context
Recognition of depression and sleep disorders that commonly present this way
Medication review, since drug side effects are a frequent cause
Honest advice, including when no treatment is needed
What to expect at your appointment.
A calm, professional and supportive experience.
- 1
Consultation (Step 1)
A consultation covering the timeline, your general health, mood, sleep and medication.
- 2
Examination (Step 2)
Morning blood tests where hormonal assessment is indicated — timing matters for testosterone.
- 3
Investigations (Step 3)
Repeat testing before any diagnosis of low testosterone, as single results can mislead.
- 4
Treatment plan (Step 4)
A clear explanation of what the results mean.
- 5
Follow-up (Step 5)
A plan matched to the cause, with monitoring where treatment is started.
Transparent pricing
Clear fees with no hidden costs — from our published price list.
- Shockwave — low libido & sexual wellnessPer sessionfrom £180 / session
- Psychosexual consultationfrom £180
- Male hormone profileTest onlyfrom £124
- GP consultationConsultation & examination£140
Low libido has a cause — let’s find it.
Hormones, medication, sleep, mood and relationships assessed together.
Men’s health consultationContact us for current pricingBook a confidential consultation View fees Call 020 7916 0029
Before you book.
Referral
No GP referral needed. You can book directly.
First appointment
An assessment with Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist. Treatment follows only if the assessment supports it.
Where
Whitechapel, East London. Whitechapel station is on the Elizabeth line, District, Hammersmith & City and Overground.
Fees
Published in full on our price list.
Privacy
Consultations are private and confidential. You are entitled to a chaperone at any appointment, at no cost.
How we assess and treat
- 1
Assessment
A detailed consultation, medical history and examination where appropriate.
- 2
Investigate
Relevant blood tests, imaging or further investigation where clinically required.
- 3
Explanation
A clear explanation of the likely cause and the treatment options available.
- 4
Treatment plan
A personalised plan — medication, lifestyle advice, procedures, shockwave or follow-up, depending on the diagnosis.
Meet your clinician
Your Specialist Urologist
Assessment and treatment are led by Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist — no GP referral needed.
Dr Kishore Bahl
Specialist UrologistGMC-registered Specialist Urologist with over 30 years of medical experience, leading specialist urology and men’s health assessment and focal shockwave therapy. English & Hindi.
Questions people usually ask.
Is low testosterone the usual cause?
It is one cause but not the commonest. Depression, medication, sleep problems and relationship factors are all frequent.
Why do blood tests need to be in the morning?
Testosterone follows a daily rhythm and is highest in the morning. An afternoon sample can read misleadingly low.
Will I be offered testosterone treatment?
Only if testing confirms genuinely low levels and you have symptoms. It requires monitoring and has implications for fertility, which we would discuss.
Is low libido the same as ED?
No. Libido is desire; ED is the physical ability to achieve an erection. They often occur together but need distinguishing.
Can shockwave help?
Not for libido itself. If erectile difficulty coexists, that may be a different matter.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can book directly with us.
Is everything confidential?
Yes. Consultations are private and your records are kept in line with UK data protection law. Nothing is shared with your GP, employer or partner without your consent.
How soon can I be seen?
Appointments are usually available within the same week, and we are open 7 days a week, 9am–7pm. Call 020 7916 0029 for the earliest slot.
Where is the clinic?
97–99 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1DT — a few minutes’ walk from Aldgate East and Whitechapel stations, and easy to reach from the City, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Bow and Stratford.
Related treatments.
A range of specialist men’s health services under one roof.
Shockwave Therapy for Erectile DysfunctionNon-invasive, drug-free focal shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction of vascular origin — offered after as…from £250 per sessionLearn more →
Psychosexual ConsultationConfidential consultation for sexual difficulties where psychological and relationship factors are involved &a…Learn more →
Sexual Health & RelationshipsConfidential consultation covering sexual health, function and the relationship context around it — …Learn more →
Conditions we see & patient information
Doctor-reviewed guides from our Health Insights library, with private assessment at our Whitechapel clinic in East London.
Men’s health · Whitechapel, East London
Speak to a specialist.
Speak to Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist, about whether this treatment is appropriate for you.
Men’s health consultationContact us for current pricing
Fee confirmed before you book. No GP referral needed. Open 7 days, 9am–7pm.
Men’s health · East London
Men’s Health Clinic in London — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf
Our men’s health clinic at 97–99 Whitechapel Road, E1 cares for patients from across London and the Docklands — including Aldgate, the City, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford and Bermondsey — a few minutes’ walk from Aldgate East and Whitechapel stations.
- Same-day appointments
- Private & discreet care
- Easy access in East London
No GP referral needed. View full prices.