Regular Exercise Lifts Sexual Function in Men and Women, With Benefits Peaking 15 to 30 Minutes Later
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
Regular Exercise Lifts Sexual Function in Men and Women, With Benefits Peaking 15 to 30 Minutes Later
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 16
Summary
Randomized trials found women who did cardio, yoga or pelvic-floor exercise scored significantly higher on desire, arousal, orgasm and overall sexual satisfaction than non-exercisers; studies in men also showed benefits, though evidence was less consistent.
Better circulation appears to drive much of the effect, supporting lubrication, sensation and erections, while exercise also improves sleep, energy and pelvic-floor strength and can reduce stress and self-critical thoughts that disrupt arousal.
15 to 30 minutes after vigorous exercise, women’s genital blood flow rose above baseline in lab studies, after being briefly suppressed immediately post-workout as muscles diverted blood supply.
Moderate, regular activity has the strongest practical case: aerobic exercise has the best evidence, low-intensity sessions may do little, and overly hard training can backfire by leaving the body too sore or fatigued for sex.
Exercise has also improved sexual function in women taking antidepressants or recovering from hysterectomies, and may help people with diabetes or heart disease because it supports the same blood vessels and nerves sexual response depends on.