In one study, salivary testosterone levels were analyzed before and after sexual activity, as well as on days when participants did not engage in any sexual activity. Testosterone was found to be highest after sexual activity, and lowest on non-sexual days.
Testosterone has been shown to enhance physiological sexual responding, and also to increase response to erotic stimuli. However, there is no evidence to support that it increases libido in women.
It’s Not Necessary
Whether you’re a man or woman, you experience arousal differently. In women, parts of the vulva swell and in men, the clitoris and penis become erect. The feeling of arousal makes it hard to focus on other things and can lead to sexual fantasy.
However, these feelings can also cause problems, such as dyspareunia (pain in the genitals), or interfere with sexual activity. Arousal can also be caused by medication (particularly SSRIs, antidepressants and some anti-seizure medications) and alcohol use. It can also be a symptom of mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, and even trauma.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it may be helpful to talk to a specialist in sexual health or a gynecologist. If it’s due to trauma, a trauma therapist or psychologist can help you process the event and heal.
For most people, sex doesn’t have much of an impact on testosterone levels. In fact, abstaining for seven days can increase a person’s testosterone to a similar level as having sex. However, this doesn’t mean that sex is necessary for healthy arousal or hormone levels.
It’s Not Fast
When it comes to sex and testosterone, the claim that abstaining from intercourse increases your hormone levels is overstated. You’d have to go quite a while without having sex for your testosterone levels to fluctuate significantly. And you’d also have to be quite young to reach those levels in the first place.
What does affect your hormone levels is a combination of factors that include both physiological and subjective arousal. Physiological arousal includes physical changes such as increased blood flow to the genitals, vaginal engorgement, and erections. Subjective arousal includes the feeling of being sexually turned on, which can be triggered by external stimuli like pictures, touch and being touched, and one’s own fantasies.
In addition, a variety of things can interfere with the normal arousal process such as performance anxiety and negative body image. Using a mindful approach to sexual arousal such as Sensate Focus, can be highly effective for those with difficulties in this area. Hormonal shifts (such as during menopause, pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth) and chronic health conditions can also decrease sexual desire and arousal. If this is the case, a medical professional should be consulted to get a handle on the underlying issue.
It’s Not Easy
For both men and women, the ability to feel sexually aroused can be affected by many things. Mental health issues, relationship difficulties, and sex disorders can all negatively affect arousal. Even physical changes, like the use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, can reduce arousal.
It’s also important to remember that arousal is not the same as an erection. A man can wake up with an erection but not feel sexually turned on, and a woman can be sexually aroused without having an erection. The key is to have your mind and body working together.
When a person feels sexually aroused, the blood vessels in their genital area become dilated. If they have a vagina, this causes the labia and clitoris to enlarge. If they have a penis, this causes an erection. This arousal can be intensified by kissing, touching, and using sex toys.
Some people who have trouble feeling sexually aroused might benefit from using a lubricant or masturbating to stimulate the erogenous zones. For females who have low libido, talk to a doctor about prescription drugs such as Addyi (flibanserin). Those who are in perimenopause or menopause might want to consider hormone treatment to decrease vaginal dryness and increase arousal. For both sexes, prolonging foreplay is also an excellent way to get in the mood.
It’s Not Safe
Sexual arousal describes the physiological responses our bodies undergo in preparation for sex, or when we are exposed to sexual stimuli. It includes a series of physical responses, including increased blood flow to the genitals, engorgement of the nipples and vulva, swelling of the testes, vaginal lubrication, and a subjective experience of feeling “turned on.” The physical stimulation can come from internal or external sources. Mental stimuli, such as the thoughts of sex or fantasies, can also lead to arousal.
It’s important to remember that just because you feel physically aroused does not mean that you want sex. In fact, research shows that it is possible to be physically aroused without wanting sex. That’s why it is important to always practice enthusiastic consent.
Another reason why it’s important to separate the two is because it’s not always safe to masturbate. While it may help reduce stress and anxiety, it’s not always healthy to do so if you don’t actually want to have sex. Masturbating doesn’t increase your natural testosterone levels and can actually lower them, especially if you do it on a regular basis.
Your general mental health has a big impact on your sex life, too. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, certain medications — specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) — can negatively affect your sex life by interfering with sexual arousal. If you’re experiencing a loss of sexual interest, it’s best to talk to your doctor to explore treatment options.
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