The reasons that many of us exercise are varied – some we freely admit, while other reasons may be more private. While some of the most important reasons may relate to physical and psychological health, most of us would have to admit that one of the primary reasons for exercising is to look good – and to be sexually attractive. But do you know that research shows that beyond simply helping us attract mates, exercise improves our sex lives in all sorts of other ways?
Scientific studies are continually finding correlations between exercise and sexual activity. Many of the findings seem intuitive: exercise creates healthy bodies, and healthy bodies function well in all aspects, including sexually. The psychological benefits of exercise such as improved confidence and self-esteem translate to the bedroom as well.
Generally speaking, healthy living, exercise, and a good sex life are all related. Both exercise and sex can reduce stress. Exercise gives people energy and facilitates a good night’s sleep, and people perform their best sexually when they are well-rested, relaxed, and in good shape. A sedentary lifestyle, a high-cholesterol diet, and behaviors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are bad for the cardiovascular system… and bad for sex.
“It makes sense,” says Dr. Ira Sharlip, a spokesman for the American Urological Association. “People who are fit are likely to have lower cholesterol, lower body weight, and better general health. They are likely to have fewer sexual problems.”
Since it is a physical activity, sex itself can be considered a form of exercise. It requires energy and burns calories. Cardio endurance helps keep a bedroom session going, while muscular strength and flexibility make variety the spice of life. “Sex once a day helps keep the doctor away,” advises Dr. Neil Baum, New Orleans urologist and author of Impotence: It’s Reversible. “It’s better than an apple.”
Psychologically, exercise raises one’s level of contentment and fosters confidence and an elevated mood. Of course, these feelings have positive sexual repercussions. Furthermore, exercise gets people into shape, and being in shape makes people feel sexy; this leads to a greater interest in sex and better sex overall.
For men, medical studies show a direct link between exercise and proper erectile functioning. A paper appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association demonstrates how exercise improves a body’s cardiovascular system which in turn improves sexual potency, and an article from the Annals of Internal Medicine explains how older men who exercise have more active sex lives and more frequent erections than men in the same age group who don’t exercise.
Dr. Baum explains that “the greater the function of the cardiovascular system, the greater the sexual function is.” For his patients with erectile dysfunction, Dr. Baum recommends 30 to 60 minutes a day of aerobic exercise such as jogging, swimming, or cycling—anything that elevates the heart rate.
Research shows women also benefit sexually from a strong cardiovascular system developed through exercise. A University of Texas at Austin study found that women who exercise have a 169% increased blood flow to their sex organs compared to when they were inactive. Vaginal blood flow is linked to sexual arousal.
In March, the L.A. Times reported on a University of Arkansas study which found that college students who are physically fit think of themselves as more sexually desirable than students who exercise less. A correlation exists between exercise and a positive sexual self-image for both men and women.
So, if your reasons for exercising regularly are to look good, keep fit, ward off medical problems, or reduce stress, you can add maintaining a good sex life to your list. And if you’ve been trying to convince your partner or friends to exercise with you, tell them about the sexy connection to exercise. It could help convince them to get going. As every advertiser knows, sex sells.
Virginia “Gini” Davis is a licensed Physical Therapist and owner of Crescent City Physical Therapy with 3 locations in the New Orleans area: Uptown, Metairie, and Hammond.
