A study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men with a larger waist circumference or higher BMI were 50 percent more likely to develop erectile dysfunction, while about half of obese women reported problems with sexual activity and desire for intercourse. , the results of a study published in the journal Obesity.
Women who exercised up to six hours a week, in contrast, showed less sexual stress and resistance to intimacy compared to women who didn't exercise, according to a 2021 study. Exercisers also showed higher levels of desire for sex, greater arousal and stronger orgasms.
Taboo topic
"This is really a medical issue that we should be addressing as part of general health and wellness, but it's still a taboo subject, which it certainly shouldn't be," said Dr. Karin Eilber, a urologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and sexual health expert.
Sex is an important part of being human, and its importance is not only in procreation. Quality sexual activity has a great impact on mental and emotional health, quality of life and the strength of intimate relationships. A number of studies confirm this, indicating that sex and intimacy are important in multiple aspects of well-being, such as feeling understood, cared for and accepted.
Exercise increases circulation or blood flow and helps ensure a healthy circulatory system. And strong, smooth blood flow is the key to arousal.
In men, it helps in erection, and in women, it is crucial for the vaginal environment. When you exercise regularly, you also develop more endurance. This is important for sexual health, because sex - in itself - is exercise. The Mayo Clinic compares intercourse to climbing a flight of stairs, while a National Institutes of Health study says half an hour of sexual activity can burn 125 calories for men and nearly 100 for women, similar to walking at a speed of about three miles per hour.
Once you establish a routine exercise regimen, you feel fitter and leaner. This, in turn, improves self-esteem.
"Nothing is sexier than confidence," said Dr. Eilber. Indeed, a 2019 study published in the Journal of Personality found that women have a stronger interest in men with more confidence, whether that confidence is innate or acquired.
The effect of antidepressants
Under stress, anxiety or depression, your libido can decrease. Depression is particularly often associated with problems with sexual functioning, and the more severe the depression, the worse the problems, according to a 2018 study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry.
The study showed that this is especially true when it comes to sexual desire and satisfaction. Fortunately, exercise is great at combating stress, anxiety and depression, which can translate into a revived sex drive.
Antidepressants are also known to have a negative effect on your libido, Eilber said, so if exercise can help you reduce your dose or eliminate them altogether, all the better. Adopt a regular exercise program and your overall health will improve.
Exercise can even help you prevent serious conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which sometimes require drugs that prevent sexual arousal. These two medical conditions can also damage the tiny arteries in the penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. In fact, erectile dysfunction is often one of the first noticeable side effects of high blood pressure and diabetes.
Bonus video:
