Exercise and Your Sex Drive: Yep, We’re Going There.

What if I told you your workout might help you get laid? I meannnn, I ain’t gonna guarantee it…..but it got your attention, didn't it? Surprisingly though, I’m not completely full of shit!

There’s actual research showing exercise may have an effect on how often you want sex, how your body responds and whether it’s actually even any good.  And not just in a “Exercise makes you feel better about yourself” kinda way either.   We’re talking blood flow, physical response, hormones and orgasms.

So yes, we’re going there.

Let’s Start With Blood Flow

Exercise is good for your cardiovascular system.  Over time, it can improve the way your blood vessels function and your body’s ability to move blood where it needs to go.  And during sex, there are some fairly…ah-hem…specific places that it indeed needs to go.

For men, cardiovascular health and erectile function are closely connected.  For women, increased blood flow to genital tissue plays an important role in the physical response to sex.

This is all very normal physiology.  It’s just considerably more interesting when we’re not talking about blood flow to your calves.  So yes.  Cardio has benefits below the belt too.

Remember that the next time you’re pissed about those 90 seconds on the assault bike.

And Apparently Timing Matters

Mk…here’s where this gets good.

Researchers have actually had women exercise for about 20 minutes and then measured their physical response to sexual stimuli afterward.  And they found that acute exercise can increase genital response under certain conditions.  One study found an increased response about 15 minutes after exercise.  So your body may actually respond differently shortly after a workout.

But someone took this event further.

Another study involved women experiencing sexual side effects from antidepressants.  Researchers compared exercising immediately before planned sexual active with exercises at a different time.  Exercising immediately beforehand improved sexual desire, and in women who were already experiencing sexual dysfunction, it improved overall sexual function.

So the protocol was basically:  Work out.  Have the sex.  Report back.

I mean, I’ve participated in worse studies.

But Blood Flow Doesn’t Mean You Actually Want Sex

Your body being physically capable of having sex and your brain being remotely interested in participating are two very different things.  You can have excellent circulation and still think…mmm…no thanks.  Sex drive is more complicated than blood flow.  Your brain, hormones, nervous system and energy levels all get a vote, which is why everything can be working exactly as it should and you can still have zero interest in using any of it.

Exercise can influence some of those things too.  Regular physical activity has been associated with better sexual function in both men and women, and it can also help with stress, mood and sleep.  No, going for a walk isn’t foreplay.  Even though good blood flow can help with the “how,”  it doesn’t necessarily take care of the “do I even want to?”

It’s Not Just About Wanting It Either

Here’s where it gets even crazier…A recent review looked at controlled exercise studies in women and found improvements in desire, physical arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and pain during sex.  So, basically, exercise has been poking around in just about every part of your sex life.

Before anyone gets too excited, the researchers rated the overall certainty of the evidence as low because studies were pretty different from one another.  So we are absolutely not at the point where I can prescribe 3 strength sessions a week for better orgasms.

Even though that would give a “performance review” a whole new meaning.

Does Being Stronger Make You Better at Sex?

There is not, unfortunately, a peer-reviewed strength program specifically designed to make you better in bed.

I checked.

Purely professional.

What we do know is that strength training improves muscular strength, endurance and physical capacity.  It can also improve the way people feel about their bodies, even without dramatic changes in appearance.  And I don’t think we need to stretch the science too far to say stronger legs, hips, glutes and core probably aren’t a disadvantage during physical activity.  Whatever that activity happens to be.

There is also no established sex-specific rep range.  Although I feel like 70 is one too many.

Moving on.

Before You Start Training Seven Days a Week

Because if exercise might improve something, somebody will immediately decide that more exercise must improve it more.  Absolutely not.

High training loads combined with inadequate calories and poor recovery can lead to low energy availability.  That can affect reproductive hormones and sex drive in both women and men.  So if you’re training constantly, adding cardio, cutting calories, sleeping like shit and wondering why sex has dropped somewhere below separating a bag of mixed bird seed by seed and counting the bristles on your toothbrush on your list of things you’d like to do…mmmmm yeaaaa…that may not be random.

Your body has a limited amount of energy.

Keeping you alive: important.

Repairing muscle: Important.

Basic physiological functions: important.

Getting you laid: apparently not as important.

A drop in sex drive alongside persistent fatigue, declining performance, poor recovery or menstrual changes is worth paying attention to.

Sometimes the answer isn’t another workout.

Sometimes you need to eat and sit the f*ck down.

And Sometimes Exercise Has Nothing to Do With It

There isn’t a correct amount of sex you’re supposed to want. Sex drive varies from person to person and can change throughout your life.  Medications, hormonal changes, perimenopause, menopause, depression, anxiety, pain, medical conditions, sleep and relationship factors can all affect it.

The important question isn’t how your sex drive compares to someone else’s.  It’s whether something has noticeably changed for you and if that change bothers you.

If it has, talk to your healthcare provider.

So, Will Working Out Get You Laid?

Again.

I cannot guarantee this.

What I can tell you is there’s actual research showing exercise can affect blood flow, desire and sexual response.  Aaaand apparently, even “when” you exercise might make a difference.

So if you’ve made it this far and are now wondering whether you should test the theory…I meannnn…really at this point it’d be irresponsible not to.

Ya know…for research purposes.