How Stress Impacts Your Sex Life

We have all experienced stress. Whether caused by work, school, or personal factors, stress can easily interfere with many elements of your life. But did you know that stress can impact your sex life, leading to low libido? 

Read more from our experts about how stress impacts your sex life!

Decreased Sexual Drive

When we are stressed, a chemical reaction occurs in our brain—also known as the “fight or flight” response—where stress produces too much of the hormone’s cortisol and epinephrine, which can lower libido. Not only does this increase our heart rate and blood pressure, but also decreases the desire to do non-essential functions, like sex. These combined, can also affect the menstrual cycle. 

Distracted Mind During Sex

When you’re stressed, your brain can only focus on one thing: being stressed. 

Having pleasurable sex requires attention, focus, and relaxation. Stress can cause you to have a busy mind and distract you from wanting sex or being present during sex. If you are having sex when you’re stressed or busy thinking of your piling “to do” list, chances are it’s more difficult to enjoy the moment. 

Hoping to turn this around? Having a healthy sex life while controlling stress is possible. Here are a few tips to consider:

• Communicate with your partner. Communicate with your partner often and communicate honestly. Stress and low libido can affect a relationship. This is why it is important to talk with your partner. Having a general understanding of both parties’ feelings and emotions can often allow for more productive solutions. 
• Practice self-care. Taking care of yourself and spending time doing things that you enjoy are great tools for managing stress. Tips for practicing self-care can include regular exercising, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, doing activities you enjoy, meditation or deep breathing exercises, or spending the day or an evening pampering yourself like taking a bath. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Seeking help from a doctor or mental health professional can make very positive impacts on your life. For those with a uterus, stress can also affect your menstrual cycle. It is important to inform your gynecologist about any changes to your period, even from stress. 

If you have further questions about how stress impacts your sex life, reach out to the experts at Avant Gynecology by clicking here or by giving us a call at (404) 352-2850.