Every year, over 90% of people make New Year’s resolutions, but typically, less than 10% of them achieve their goals.  Some of the most common resolutions often involve improving diet and exercising more.  While everyone knows that these lifestyle changes improve health, what they may not know is that exercise can also boost the quality of their sex life.

For women, a short, vigorous workout in the gym (as little as 20 minutes), can lead to a vigorous workout in the bedroom, too.  The hormonal boost from intense exercise can increase arousal by over 150%!  Not only are women more aroused after exercise, but they also experience increased genital bloodflow, which, in turn, can improve the quality of the intercourse that they have.  Just don’t wait too long to “workout” with your partner as these boosts are generally short-lived.

For men, exercise can increase testosterone by up to 15%.  Weightlifting is particularly beneficial for increasing testosterone production, especially with heavier weights.  In addition to improved sexual drive associated with testosterone production, testosterone can increase muscle mass and decrease adipose (fat) tissue.  When fat loss is from the abdomen, penile bloodflow increases as can erection length (less covered by adipose).  Men shouldn’t fully neglect cardio, though, as atherosclerosis and hypertension can result in erectile dysfunction if not prevented.

For both men and women, improved self-image from weight loss and increased muscle tone often results in desire to share their new, sexy look with their partner (how about lights on in 2020?).  By being more comfortable with oneself, stress from being intimate is often lessened, thus allowing for more enjoyment of (and desire for) sex.  Lastly, as fitness increases, insulin resistance decreases, and the suppression of sex hormones by high insulin levels also ends.  With normal sexual hormone function, arousal and excitement happen more readily, and now that strength and stamina are increased from regular exercise, a person often has more energy to act on those urges.

So, here’s to a healthier 2020.  Keep making those resolutions for a fitter you, but when your exercise routine gets a little stale or your life gets busy, a healthy heart or lower cholesterol isn’t your only reason to stay active.  Remember that getting sweaty in the gym can lead to getting sweaty with your significant other, too!
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Dr. Nick

Now that I have your attention, let us explore this interesting subject.  I’d like to focus this discussion on the issue of sexual dysfunction (sex is not what you would like it to be for one or more reasons).  There are many components that contribute to this problem.  Some of these can be related to the relationship; some related to physical causes, some have to do with traumatic events in a woman’s past such as a rape or assault.   The most important thing for you to remember is that there is help for you whatever the reasons are.  Sometimes you can discuss these with your partner, and sometimes that is not an option.  The topic of sexuality can be a hard one to initiate, regardless of who you are trying to ask for help.  A good option would be to discuss your concerns with your GYN provider.  Let’s talk about some things that might help you broach the subject if they don’t ask you first.  A few of the sexual dysfunction disorders are listed below.   Hopefully if any of these ring a bell with you, I want to encourage you to ask your GYN provider about it.  There are ways of helping you and your partner work through these concerns.  You deserve that help.  

For those affected with Female Orgasmic Disorder, it would affect 75-100% of occasions of sexual activity.  It consists of marked delay in, marked infrequency of, or absence of orgasm, markedly decreased intensity of orgasmic sensations, and it causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

Sexual Interest/Arousal disorder would be of at least 6 months duration and have any 3 of these indicators, which may include absent/reduced frequency or intensity of interest in sexual activity, sexual/erotic thought or fantasies, or initiation of sexual activity. The patient is typically unreceptive to a partners attempt to initiate intercourse, notes decreased sexual excitement/pleasure, and may have reduced genital and/or nongenital sensations.  It must also cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.

Genito-Pevic Pain/Penetration Disorder can be lifelong or acquired (maybe related to one partner and not another, or didn’t use to be a problem with this partner and now it is), and can be mild to severe in nature. Symptoms have persisted for more than 6 months.  It involves persistent or recurrent problems with one or more of the following: vaginal penetration during intercourse, marked vulvovaginal (pain outside or inside the vagina) or pelvic pain during intercourse or attempted penetration, marked fear or anxiety about penetration, or muscles of the pelvis tighten just anticipating penetration.  

Some sexual concerns are more common at different stages of life; initiation of sexual activity, physical changes related to different types of birth control, postpartum and menopause changes, which can affect you both physically and emotionally. There are changes and adjustments that come with a severe injury or a major disease process such as cancer. These are just a few of the issues that may be causing you concern, and there are many more that we could talk about.  

There is now a drug approved for the treatment of female sexual desire disorder, but before that is prescribed for you it is important that you discuss your situation thoroughly with your care provider.  Not everything is fixed with a prescription.  Sometimes you may need someone that can describe the wide range of normal  anatomy to you, sometimes  information is the best, sometimes specific suggestions are helpful.  There are lots of books and videos that are educational that we can recommend.  There is information about personal lubricants, which are ok for use in the vagina, but options some may not be safe for you.  You may need to be evaluated for an infection or with an ultrasound to assess pain if that is a part of your concern. 

The bottom line is to talk with your GYN provider about your concerns, and together you can develop a plan to help improve your concerns.  A healthy sex life is important to your quality of life.  Share your concerns and get the help you deserve.  Thanks for reading!

Margaret Leverett, WHNP-BC
2305 Coronado
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
208-535-9009