My experience is sort of similar to yours, but somewhat different. I'm 49, got married at 22, my first provider experience was when I was in my early 30's. I used  (I hate that word, but can't think of anything better) providers at low points in my marriage, mostly to keep my self-worth up, and also to balance out my perception of power. (How many times have you heard of married women using the prospect of an ice-cold bed as a means to get their way?) This would occur about every 6 mo.s to 2 yrs. Last year, my wife (after 25 yrs. of marriage) had a heart attack, and sadly, didn't survive. For about a year  I didn't really feel like seeing any sort of gal, provider or not. I've only developed renewed interest in the last 2 mo.s or so. Has something traumatic happened to you? Believe me, that'll do it!! Maybe, your mind is telling you to take a break, so somewhere down the road it'll seem like the first time. (It did with me). I've found that following feelings with something like this is much better than forcing yourself to stay with familiarity.

Dear Lost Interest,

Interesting issue. You are not saying anything about the rest of your life. Did anything else change? Work? Your feelings about work? Your kids? Your male friends?

Another issue would be if this change causes distress to you. Are you wondering why this happened because you feel upset about your lack of interest? Do you miss seeing providers but just can't muster up the mental or physical energy?

You mention that you "grew close to 2 or 3 providers and considered them friends." In this case, maybe 'familiarity breeds contempt' [a metaphor of course and not to be taken literally.] Maybe you got so close to these providers in particular, that the threshhold of projection and phantasy fascination was reached. In other words, you may know too much about them to be excited by them any longer. The bloom of 'newness' has faded with these ladies, and perhaps also with the whole theme of providers in general.

As to 'normal' adult development in our culture, being in one's late 40s can sometimes cause reflection and a pause in life. People sometimes have parents who are aging and perhaps even sickly or near death. This is the stage in our lives when we begin to retrospect at whatever we have accomplished in life. Many people become interested in deeper and spiritual issues - what sort of life has been lived so far, and where is it going - as well as becoming aware of one's mortality in a very palpable and sometimes painful way. Some individuals become actively religious. With these thoughts, a creeping conservatism may set it. Subconsciously, we fear death because we know it will happen to us. That death fear may take many shapes or forms. There is also a wish for things as they were in the past, a certain kind of nostalgia and a rejection of current values and trends in popular culture. Conversely, some may engage in activities or relationships with younger people in the unconscious desire to extend life, often through sex or love affairs with those whose age difference is considerable.

In addition, being in one's late 40s does have some physical effects. For men, testosterone levels aren't quite as high as they were a mere decade ago. This doesn't mean that you need to lose your sex drive...but your sexual experience may take on a different flavor. The release in itself may not carry the same weight as it has in the past. Maybe the journey is now more interesting than the destination. Also, the impulse to "chase" may diminish. The desire to find new and available providers may simply not be as strong. At some point, "mastering the object" is no longer important, because the 'object has been mastered - over and over again.' It's as if you were to visit an amusement park that gave you loads of pleasure as a child - as you approach the rides, you quickly notice the absence of that thrill, that 'whooosh' in your stomach. There's no longer any mystery or fascination. You see things as they are, filtered by years of experience and repetition. And yes, that can happen with 'the hobby' as well.

Now, if you are happy in accepting that this change has taken place, so be it. It's no worse than realizing you need reading glasses, or that listening to the latest Metallica album no longer is that exciting. You had some good times, you made a few friends [but can you introduce them to your wife, that's the crux ] and nothing adverse happened from it. But you may also find that this is a temporary phase. If your wife's sex drive continues to mismatch yours, maybe you'll be back in the hobbying saddle before you know it.

Just a thought,
the Love Goddess

Very true whtat LG had to say and if I were you, I'd go to my doctor to get a complete blood test and do check your testerone level. It might be fine.
You may be experiencing Male Menopause...  

And while you're there seeing your doctor, don't forget to ask and walk out with as many free samples of drugs you can get.
That's what I do, I ask for Vitamin C, V and L, along with as many sleep aids as my doc will give me.
You may not need nor use them but they will come in handy to barter or trade for other stuff.   Lots of guys have way too much ego or pride to go to the doctor and ask for some erection drugs, not to mention the sleep problems.      

If everything in the blood is ok, I really think you're bored with the girls. Change your routine since it sounds like you might be in a rut. I don't know how you can say your sex drive is healthy if you have zero interest in seeing any providers.
Would it make a difference if they didn't charge you?

We are not robots alhtough we always constantly look back and compare. Our bodies are built that way, to notice and detect change. As LG explained, as we age, our bodies do change and usually not for the better. Ok, some things might be better. But not much.
We do expect ourselves to be the same, every day from last week to last month. But we really aren't.
Why?
Because that's being human and not a machine.

RH

Ever consider the contortion required to satify security safety for the providers can eventually take the edge off or pursuing the hobby.

Whn fun becomes work, it is no longer fun!