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Do you remember the last time you felt a pang of sexual energy moving through your body? Everyone appeared seemingly more attractive than normal, and you could not help but engage in a few flirtations here and there.
These experiences are connected to our sex drive or libido. Similar to the menstrual cycle, our sex drive constantly vacillates in relation to our hormones.
In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of sex hormones in sexual health, how hormonal changes affect sexual arousal, as well as tips for enhancing sexual satisfaction.
What do hormones do for sex?
Hormones are a group of chemical messengers that regulate many important functions of our body like mood, reproduction, metabolism and development.
Amongst the most important are the sex hormones. These are made in specialized tissues of our body – ovaries in females, testes in males, and the adrenal gland in both sexes. They affect sexual development during puberty, sex drive, reproductive performance, as well as fertility.
What are the 4 sex hormones?
The 4 main sex hormones include estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). That is a lot of hormone names… What do they even do? Let us explore the primary functions of these hormones.
Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are the two main female sex hormones. They play an important role in reproductive development in women. They bring certain changes in females as they go through puberty. Some of these include the enlargement of breasts, growth of body hair, widening of the hips, thighs and pelvic region. The hormones also support menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
Apart from females, both hormones are also released in small amounts in males. In men, estrogen controls libido, erectile function, and the development of sperm. Progesterone, on the other hand, preserves masculinity. It is the raw material for making testosterone, that is the main male sex hormone.
Testosterone
Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. It drives sexual desire and reproductive development in men. Similar to estrogen, the hormone also brings about certain changes in males as they go through puberty. Some of these include the growth of body hair, increase in musculature, deepening of voice and enlargement of the penis. The hormone also supports the production of sperm and supports libido.
Interestingly the hormone also plays key roles in the opposite sex. It is released in small amounts by the ovaries and enhances libido in females. However, the majority of the hormone is used to produce estrogen.
DHEA
DHEA is naturally produced in both males and females by the adrenal glands. In both sexes, DHEA is converted to testosterone. In females, the testosterone, coming from DHEA, is further converted to estrogen.
Which hormone affects sex drive and sexual behavior?
Surprisingly enough, all four hormones discussed above affect sex drive and behavior.
In females, high levels of estrogen improve sexual desire and behavior by enhancing vaginal lubrication. The added wetness reduces friction or any discomfort experienced during sexual activity. Testosterone also elevates sexual desire and performance. It achieves this by increasing sensitivity to sexual touch, driving sexual thoughts, and providing energy for intercourse. DHEA, by being converted to testosterone, is also indirectly linked to drive and behavior. High levels of progesterone, on the other hand, suppresses sex drive and behavior.
In males, high levels of testosterone improve sex drive and behavior in a couple of ways. It increases erectile function and muscle strength. These changes provide the necessary energy for sexual intercourse. The hormone also improves mood which increases interest during intercourse. By enhancing levels of testosterone, DHEA also indirectly improves desire and activity in males. Likewise, estrogen is also a positive regulator for sex drive and behavior. This is because it improves erectile activity and promotes the production of sperm. Surprisingly, progesterone has an opposite effect in males when it comes to sexual desire. Similar to DHEA, progesterone is also a precursor to testosterone, and hence also indirectly promotes libido and sexual activity.
What are the common hormonal changes that can impact sexual desire and function?
As one grows older, our hormonal levels begin to change with lasting effects on sexual desire and function.
Andropause and Sexual Satisfaction
With aging, men often experience a drop in testosterone levels. This age-related drop in testosterone is known as andropause or ‘male menopause.’ However, be aware that unlike female menopause, the symptoms of male menopause take longer to manifest. Key symptoms of andropause include mood swings and irritability, loss of musculature and capacity to exercise, fat redistribution to the abdomen and chest, lack of energy or enthusiasm, insomnia, poor concentration and memory impairments. Many of these symptoms like mood swings, lack of energy and insomnia reduce sexual appetite and satisfaction.
Perimenopause, Menopause and Sexual Satisfaction
Similar to men, women also experience hormonal changes as they age. They experience a drop in estrogen levels as they go through perimenopause and menopause. Perimenopause is the stage just before menopause when the menstrual cycle starts becoming more and more erratic and irregular. When you go without your period for one whole year, you enter menopause. Both stages are marked with hormonal changes with perimenopause marking the beginning of declining estrogen levels, and menopause with little to no production of the hormone. These hormonal changes are linked to vaginal dryness, frequent urination, insomnia, increase in irritability, depression and mood swings. Hence, similar to andropause, symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are also linked to low libido and sexual dysfunction.
What is the role of thyroid hormones and cortisol in sexual function?
Apart from the sex hormones, there are other hormones in the body that can also affect sexual function. Two such examples include the thyroid hormones and cortisol:
Thyroid hormones:
Thyroid hormones are a group of hormones that are released by the thyroid gland. They are mostly involved in regulating your energy levels and metabolism. However, they are also linked to sexual function. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , a drop in these hormones, a condition known as hypothyroidism, can lead to a loss of sex drive. This is because hypothyroidism is associated with a drop in energy levels, fatigue and weight gain – all of which impact your motivation and confidence to engage in sexual activity. In females, it is associated with lower vaginal lubrication which makes sex uncomfortable and painful. In males, it is linked to lower testosterone, trouble ejaculating and keeping an erection.
Cortisol:
Cortisol is a hormone that is mainly associated with stress. While normal levels of the hormone are important for many bodily functions, high levels of it can lead to exhaustion, anxiety and ultimately a poor sex drive. When the body experiences some form of stress, cortisol release is dramatically increased. A lot of energy is directed to support production of the hormone. This repletes energy stores that are otherwise needed to produce the sex hormones for sexual desire and activity.
How can improving hormonal balance positively impact overall sexual wellness and satisfaction?
Reading through the article, one thing that becomes clear is that our hormones play a significant role in sex. Throw them off balance and your sexual desire dips… Keep them in balance and your desire re-ignites. Let us explore the ways in which one can naturally recalibrate their hormones to improve sexual wellness and satisfaction :
- Increase protein intake: Proteins are made of amino acids, many of which cannot be naturally produced in the body. These are needed to produce a class of protein-derived hormones known as peptide hormones. Peptide hormones are important to sexual health. This is because they control both the production and release of the primary sex hormones.
- Exercise regularly: Getting a regular dose of physical activity improves hormonal health. When hormones are released, they circulate in the bloodstream and affect body parts that have the necessary ‘receptors’ or signals that recognise them. Regular exercise increases the sensitivity of these receptors, and hence potentiates the effects of hormones (including those involved in sex).
- Manage your weight: Weight gain is directly linked to hormonal imbalances. For example, obesity is linked to lower testosterone levels in men and reduced ovulation in women. Keeping your weight in check is important to maintain sexual health.
- Sleep adequately: Sleep is one of the most important factors affecting your hormonal levels. In males, sleep deprivation can cause a significant decrease in testosterone production and hence decrease their overall libido. Lack of sleep can also result in heightened levels of cortisol the next morning, which disrupts the tango between estrogen and progesterone. Hence, getting enough sleep is required to keep hormonal levels in check, and maintain good sexual health.
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