How can exercise both dissipate sexual urges and improve libido?

Last updated on: June 16, 2009 at 2:37 pm by Natasha Helfer

How can exercise both dissipate sexual urges and improve libido? 2009-06-16T14:37:00-05:00 Natasha Helfer

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I’m a bit curious by something. The original poster talked about using physical exercise (kickboxing) to dissipate her sexual tension. In your response, you affirmed exercise as a method for keeping our sexual urges in check. But I’ve heard from other professional resources that regular exercise and becoming physically fit is a good way to restore flagging libido; that both the chemicals released by the body during exercise, and the improved self worth which results from being physically fit, can increase desire. How can exercise both dissipate sexual urges and improve libido? Those results seem like they should be mutually exclusive.

This is a great question. One of the basic benefits we get from exercise is the release of endorphins (neurotransmitters in our brain that help us regulate our mood and basically feel better). The following is from the mayo clinic regarding benefits of exercise:

It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a rousing game of tennis or a nature hike also can contribute to this same feeling. It’s meditation in movement. After a fast-paced game of racquetball or several laps in the pool, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s dilemmas and irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything that you do. It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. This can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.

So, if what you are dealing with as a single adult is sexual frustration, exercise can most definitely help you handle the stress/anxiety associated with this. It can also serve as a physical energy release which does both the body and mind good.

If however, you now find yourself in a position as a married adult who has lost their libido, is maybe dealing with depression, and/or feels self conscious about their body, exercise is also beneficial.

The following excerpt is also taken from the mayo clinic website regarding the sexual benefits of exercise:

Exercise can put the spark back into your sex life.

Are you too tired to have sex? Or feeling too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Exercise to the rescue. Regular exercise can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there’s more to it than that. Exercise improves your circulation, which can lead to more satisfying sex. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don’t exercise, especially as they get older.

Basically, because exercise is so beneficial in so many different areas of our bodies and psyche, it can help in a myriad of situations we may find ourselves in. In the meantime, it will always improve our overall health.

Thanks for the response to this question. I guess that does make sense.

You’re very welcome!

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June 15, 2009

How sad that so many women don't know how to enjoy sex and their sexuality.

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