Many people agree that when we exercise, we feel more confident and our sex drive increases. Here are 10 ways exercise can improve your sex life.
1) Exercise gets your blood circulating.
Both male and female erectile tissue fills with blood when someone is turned on sexually and ups the sex drive. In order to fully experience genital arousal, good circulation is essential.
2) Exercise improves sexual performance.
In one study, "88 percent of women and 69 percent of men who exercised four to five days a week said their sexual performance was above average or much above average," reported MarieClaire.com.
3) Exercise stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.
Research has shown that genital arousal is linked to SNS stimulation. This energy causes the heart to beat faster.
4) Exercise helps women with orgasms.
According to MarieClaire.com, "studies have shown that women who frequently exercise become more quickly aroused and can reach an orgasm faster and more intensely."
5) Exercise leads to improved body image.
Research shows that people who exercise have an improved body image, compared to those who don’t exercise. It’s attributed to being more comfortable with your body, which leads to better sex.
6) It just makes people feel sexier.
When you have improved body image, you feel sexier. A study showed that more physically fit men and women rated their own sexual desirability as higher than their less active counterparts.
7) Testosterone, endorphins and adrenaline create a potent sex cocktail.
The increased sex drive that comes with exercise has been linked to higher testosterone levels in both genders. Long workouts also release endorphins and adrenaline. Called the “runner’s high,” wrote Fitness.com, these chemicals create a feeling of pleasure and well-being.
8) It adds options to your sexual playbook.
The more you exercise, the more your strength and endurance increases. This in turn allows you to try (and achieve) different sexual positions that require greater strength and physical control.
9) It helps you relax.
Exercise helps the body to deal with stress in a more effective way. When we’re stressed, cortisol rises, and we can experience fast and heavy breathing and a rapid heartbeat. When we exercise, we get the benefits of the physical components of rising cortisol without the anxiety or worry that comes with stress.
10) It helps people stay sexually active as they age.
MarieClaire.com reported on a study where 60-year-olds who exercised frequently said they have the same amount of sex and sexual pleasure as people decades younger. For those who exercise a lot, their sexual age could be years younger than their chronological age.
Sources:
Kelly, Maura. "5 Ways That Exercise Improves Your Sex Life." Marie Claire. 16 Mar. 2010. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.
http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/a3887/sexual-exercise-ways-to-improve-your-sex-life
Tamarkin, Sally. "10 Ways Exercise Makes Your Sex Life Better (According To Science)." BuzzFeed.com. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/sallytamarkin/lets-get-physical#.cx4PZxZD2
"The Top 3 Ways Exercise Boosts Your Sex Drive." Fitnesscom RSS. Web. 31 Aug. 2015.
http://www.fitness.com/articles/1019/the_top_3_ways_exercise_boosts_your_sex_drive.php
Reviewed September 4, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith