Exercise is a great way to improve your overall health. It increases your confidence and sexual drive, as well as helps to reduce stress levels.
However, it’s important not to overdo it with intense exercise, as this can lead to fatigue and an increased risk of injury. Over-training also decreases testosterone levels, which can have a negative impact on libido.
Increases Blood Flow to the Genitals
When you exercise, your heart rate and blood circulation increase, and this also applies to the regions that are involved in sexual pleasure (for women and men). In fact, a study found that sex drive increases by 150% immediately after cardiovascular activity. Getting your heart pumping also stimulates the release of a hormone that helps to engorge the genitals and prepare the body for sex.
The same study found that when women watched a sexy movie right after a workout, physiological sexual arousal was higher than those who didn’t watch the movie. Researchers believe this is due to the increase in blood flow, which triggers the sympathetic nervous system, or our “fight or flight” response – These insights are credited to the editorial team of the service SexXmoi.
Those same studies found that arousal and orgasms are higher after yoga and Pilates classes than after other types of exercise, including resistance training. This is probably because these exercises focus more on the core and pelvic floor muscles, which are important in sexual arousal and orgasms.
Another thing to note is that high levels of stress can lower libido, so it’s a good idea to incorporate relaxation techniques into your routine. This can be as simple as deep breathing, listening to calming music, or practicing mindfulness.
Keep in mind that if you feel like your libido is dipping, talk to your doctor before making any changes to your fitness routine. They’ll be able to run some tests and see if there are any underlying issues that could be causing your low sex drive, like anemia or other medications you’re taking, for example.
Increases Testosterone Levels
If you’re a man, exercise can increase your testosterone levels, which is a sex hormone. This is because when you exercise, the blood vessels in your body open up to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscles you’re working out. This also includes the blood vessels in your genitals, which means that you get a temporary boost in your testosterone when you exercise. This is especially true if you do strength training, which requires more muscular effort than cardiovascular exercises, according to research.
But you need to be careful not to overdo it. Too much exercise can throw off your endocrine system, which is the system that controls your hormones, explains Herrera. For example, if you exercise too hard, your cortisol levels may rise and cause your sex hormones to plummet, which can make you less horny.
For women, it’s harder to determine the relationship between exercise and libido. “The list of things that impact libido is long, including general stress levels, sleep, diet, and overall sense of well-being,” says physical therapist Grayson Wickham, founder of digital movement platform Movement Vault.
In terms of specific types of exercise, however, researchers have found that moderate exercise is linked to a boost in your libido. This includes resistance training, HIIT and other short high-intensity workouts. The key is to find an exercise routine that fits into your busy schedule.
Strengthens Muscles
The benefits of exercise are numerous, from helping you lose weight and feel great to boosting your mood. But did you know that it can also increase your libido? Research has shown that exercising regularly can boost both libido and sexual performance in men and women. The reason for this is that exercise helps to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which can lead to more sexual arousal.
The arousal that comes from moderate exercise is likely due to the increased blood flow that is caused by the workout, as well as the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. These effects are similar to the arousal that is created by erotic stimuli, such as a sex movie or a sexy song.
Exercise has been proven to increase testosterone levels, and this can have a direct effect on your libido. The higher your testosterone levels are, the more sexually aroused you will feel. In order to boost your testosterone levels, it is important to include strength training as part of your workout routine.
However, it is important to note that too much exercise can have the opposite effect and may actually dampen your libido. This is because strenuous exercise can cause fatigue, which can lead to a decrease in your libido. It is also possible that too much exercise can lead to the breakdown of mitochondria, which are tiny organelles inside each cell of your body that produce energy.
Increases Endurance
The endurance you gain from regular exercise allows you to perform sexually for longer. According to the Mayo Clinic, a bout of sexual intercourse burns about 125 calories for men and 100 for women—similar to climbing two flights of stairs. Developing endurance also helps you maintain your erections and boosts the intensity of your orgasms. Exercise increases endurance by strengthening certain muscle groups, including your core, pelvic floor, and leg muscles. Some exercises that help improve endurance include jumping rope, push-ups, planks, and squats.
Men who exercise regularly have a higher libido than those who do not, especially when their testosterone levels are high. When testosterone dips, as they do with stress or illness, a man’s libido drops significantly.
In addition to increasing testosterone levels, exercise decreases stress and anxiety. This combination helps improve mood and encourages a heightened libido. Exercise releases a variety of feel-good hormones, such as endorphins and oxytocin, which can boost your mood, too.
However, working out too much can be detrimental to libido. Strive for moderate exercise, such as a short walk or a quick yoga flow. And make sure to prioritize recovery. If you work out on the reg, consider incorporating recovery techniques like sauna sitting, foam rolling, and self-massage into your routine to ensure you’re getting the most out of your workout.
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