According to a new study, men who exercise strenuously may have a lower libido than those with lighter workout regimes. Researchers from the University of North Carolina, USA, surveyed 1,100 men over the age of 18 about their exercise habits and sexual history, including sexual activity, arousal, desire, attractions, fantasies, appetite and more. The men who were surveyed were runners, cyclists or amateur endurance athletes. They were then divided into groups of short and long workouts, as well as light, moderate or intense regimes. Close to 1,100 physically active adult men completed the questionnaires. The scientists used their responses to categorise the men based on both the extent and intensity of their workouts. They also categorised the men according to answers given about their sex lives, creating groups with relatively high, moderate or low libidos. They noted several clear patterns: Men whose exercise routines were moderate or light in intensity or duration were far more likely to report moderate or high libidos than those whose workouts were prolonged or intense, even after taking into account factors such as age.
Anthony Hackney, lead author and a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition, said that strenuous exercise was associated with lower libido and also suggested that if someone was worried about whether his training is affecting their sex life, to try exercising a little less, to see if libido improved.
Though the study did not examine why strenuous exercise might dampen libidos, the researchers speculated that both physical fatigue and lower testosterone levels after exhausting exercise would most likely play a role.
Moderate exercise & sex
While lengthy, intense training may cause you problems in bed, regularly doing certain workouts has proved to have a far-reaching impact on a man’s strength, stamina, endurance and flexibility – all needed for great sexual health and performance. Exercising regularly and consistently also increases testosterone levels in men and boosts the sexual drive. Check these out:
Cardiovascular exercise is one of the best ways to improve your health. Sex might get your heart rate up, but regular exercise can help your sexual performance by keeping your heart in shape. Thirty minutes a day of sweat-breaking exercise, such as running and swimming, can do wonders to boost your libido.
Lifting weights and strength training produces a great deal of testosterone in the male body. Muscle mass increase and testosterone production go hand in hand.
When you lift weights, due to the build up in muscle power and the high amounts of fat being burned, testosterone levels are up-regulated. Just don’t overdo or you will have the oposite effect.
Push-ups, sit-ups, and crunches are muscle-building exercises, which can help lead to better sex by strengthening the shoulders, chest, and abs. Strong upper body can increase stamina during sex.
Doing Kegels would help because these exercises can help endurance and control by toning the pubococcygeus (PC) muscles, which can lead to better sex.
Fast walking, running, and other aerobic activities help your sex life by keeping your blood vessels clear. The result can be stronger and longer erections. In a study of 31,000 men over age 50, Harvard researchers found that aerobic exercise resulted in a 30% lower risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Yoga has been known to increase sexual interest and enhances sexual pleasure. According to a review published in the ‘Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy’, yoga has been reported to stimulate genital blood flow, enhancing erectile capacity. And because yoga is a huge de-stresser, it can stave off low sex drive too.
Fertility issues
Studies have shown that intense training in female athletes can lead to menstrual dysfunction caused by hormonal imbalances due to physical stress. This can affect a woman’s sex libido, as well as her ability to conceive. Says Hackney, the author of the abovementioned study in an advice for couples trying to conceive, “Fertility specialists will often ask a woman about whether and how much she exercises. Based on our data, we think they should also be asking the man.”
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