Curating scientific evidence from separate interviews and clinical reviews, 121doc has dug up five factors that can, and do, wreak havoc in people's sex lives.

1. Blood pressure medication – Swallowing hypertension pills can sometimes have a negative impact on sexual desire and may also lead to erection problems by restricting blood flow to the genitals, warns consultant cardiologist at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Graham Jackson.

2. Iron deficiency – According to West London doctor Radha Modgil, iron deficiency can cause severe fatigue besides affecting blood circulation to different organs, the penis included.

3. Non-prescription cold and flu treatments – Over-the-counter pills and supplements that are commonly used as remedies for cold or flu can decrease libido, cautions male sexual health specialist John Tomlinson from the Sexual Advice Association.

4. Refined carbs–The British Diabetic Association advises sexually active people to steer clear of refined carbs that can cause a spike in blood sugar, eventually resulting in loss of vigour and energy. Helen Bond of the BDA says to minimise the risk of impotence it's better to have wholegrain breads than white bread as the latter is considered to be stuffed with refined carbs.

5. Potbelly–A paunch never helps a man stay up and ready for sex because it interferes with healthy functioning of the liver, causing a drop in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), says endocrinologist Dr Mark Vanderpump of the Royal Free Hospital, London.