Too Stressed For Sex?

This was the verdict of Suzi Godson, resident sex counsel at The Times on Saturday 13 March 2010.

The Fight or Flight response to stress focuses bloodflow to important areas like the heart, lungs and muscles and the arteries in the penis actively constrict to reduce bloodflow to prevent erection, causing temporary impotence.

Although she did refer to a new study by the University of Trier which suggests that a cocktail of the stress hormones, which are designed to give us a short term boost of energy to escape from a threat, can actually increase the libido of some men.

The stress hormones affect the production of testosterone and hinders desire. Because men have more testosterone than women, they can compensate, but the effects are more obvious in women, resulting in lost sex drive, less lubrication and consequent inability to orgasm, ovulation problems and menstruation disorders.

However, the hidden side-effects of this in men can be male infertility..

But, there is still hope!

Research carried out into sexual health in Chicago is showing that those couples with higher levels of sexual intimacy are a lot are eight times LESS likely to be tense or depressed and so dealt far better with stressful situations.

So, it’s official. If we kiss and cuddle regularly with our partner, then the symptomsn of stress will affect our emotional well-being far less severely.

Thanks Suzi :)