When you first get together with a new partner, the sexual side of the relationship often comes easily. This is often referred to as the ‘honeymoon phase’ of the relationship, but most couples find that as work pressures mount, and with the arrival of children on the scene, sexual wellness and wellbeing start to become a bit of an issue.
In fact, around 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men in the United States report that they are suffering from some form of sexual dysfunction, and the figures are much higher when dealing with those who are over 50. One study that was carried out solely on menopausal women revealed that almost half of them felt a decrease in sexual desire after going through the menopause, for example.
Lots of issues can contribute to this problem, including stress, smoking and imbalanced hormones. The good news is that there are ways to recapture the sexual spark in your relationship, although they do take work.
Firstly, try finding a photo of your significant other and spending a period of time looking at it. Research has shown that those who look at photos of their partner have increased dopamine in their brain, which boosts libido.
Staying fit and keeping off any excess weight can also be an important one. Not only will you have a better body image and feel more confident and sexy, but body fat actually inhibits testosterone production in men. Aerobic workouts also increase blood flow to the genitals.
Certain foods can also be used to improve your libido, such as tomatoes, pomegranate juice and broccoli. These are known as aphrodisiacs. On the other hand, dairy products and any type of baked goods are well known libido killers, so avoid those.