8 surprising things that could be killing your sex drive
As much as we hate to admit it, all of us have experienced a decrease in sex drive at some point in our lives. It’s an upsetting thing to endure, because no matter how much you think about sex in your head, sometimes your body can’t follow through. There could be a number of reasons why you don’t feel like having sex. Maybe you and your partner have been on the rocks lately. Perhaps you’ve been dealing with some major stress from other parts of your life, like work or family matters.
There are possibly other less obvious reasons your sex drive isn’t in full force, though. Our bodies are complicated systems, so you’d be surprised at what affects our sex drive. It could be what you’re eating, how you’re sleeping, or how much water you’re drinking. Luckily, most of these things are easily fixed. Let’s not waste any time in identifying what they are, because good sex is waiting for you on the other side.
Here are eight surprising things that are destroying your sex drive.
1. You or your partner is snoring
If you or your SO is snoring every night, that could be a sign of sleep apnea, according to Romy Block, MD, an endocrinologist in Illinois. Having sleep apnea means your body is low on testosterone, and that directly contributes to a low libido, regardless of gender. Besides, it’s not exactly sexy to hear your partner snoring away every night. You hardly feel like jumping their bones.
2. You’ve been eating a lot of processed foods lately
Sorry to rain on your French fries parade, but all that packaged and processed food isn’t doing your sex life any good. Foods that are high in saturated fat will clog your arteries and prevent the blood from flowing down to your sexual organs. That can make it hard for you to get wet, and it can also make it difficult for a man to get an erection. The more wholesome, healthy foods you eat, the more likely your sex life will be robust and enjoyable.
3. You’re eating a lot of meat and fish products
Because most meat is mass produced these days, there are all sorts of industrial waste chemicals that end up in our steak, chicken, or fish. Researchers at Michigan State University claim these chemicals are linked to screwing up the sex drive in many women. If your diet is heavy in animal products, consider cutting down a little bit, especially if you want to improve your sex life.
4. You’re not drinking enough water
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Dehydration is a serious thing, and it can affect you in many different ways. Not having enough water in your system causes brain cloudiness, headaches, and irritability. It also causes dryness in your vagina, because, well, you need water to create lubrication. Another unpleasant side effect of being dehydrated is your breath smells. All that put together does not make a recipe for great sex.
5. You or your SO’s sleep schedule is out of whack
In 2011, researchers at the University of Chicago found that lack of sleep was linked to a drop in men’s testosterone, which contributed to lack of sex drive. This could easily mean that a woman’s sex drive would be negatively affected if she’s not getting enough sleep every night. Keep an eye on how much you’re sleeping, and whether the quality of your sleep is good enough to keep you alert throughout the day. You can’t have good sex if you’re not awake!
6. You’ve recently changed your contraception
A study at the University of Stirling found that some women lost sexual attraction for their partner after they stopped taking the birth control pill. However, there are some women who find their sex drive decreases once they start taking the pill. The fake estrogen in the pill can have an adverse effect on the testosterone in a woman’s body, leaving them not as excited about sex as they once were before. If you notice any changes in your sex life after changing contraception, speak to your doctor immediately.
7. You and your SO eat a lot of sugar before you climb into bed
We regret to inform you that as yummy as they are, all that candy you and your SO are having while you’re watching Netflix has a negative effect on your sex life. A spike in your blood sugar can cause your testosterone to drop by 25 percent, which leaves you with a lot less desire to have sex. If you habitually eat dessert every single night, that could be contributing to your quiet sex life.
8. You’re not eating enough calories every day
If you’re on some sort of diet or detox, or you’re just not eating enough each day, you might find that you have a lot less interest in sex than you did before. When you restrict yourself of calories, your sex drive is immediately affected. Think about it: if you’re too tired to exercise because you haven’t eaten enough, then you likely won’t feel ready to have sex either. Make sure you’re eating a well balanced diet and putting enough calories into your body. Your sex life depends on it!
