Exercise and Sexual Performance

Your email inbox is probably bombarded with them on a daily basis: Spam adverts offering pills and potions that the makers say will enhance your sexual performance. These supplements promise all sorts of wonderful effects, and no doubt some even deliver them – but always at a price.

Research suggests, however, that exercise is a safer, healthier, and far more effective way of improving your overall sexual performance - and could even alleviate sexual dysfunction.

Body Confidence

We all know that exercise is essential for keeping us fit. But it might also make us feel more desirable! A study published by the University of Arkansas found that physically fit people tend to consider themselves far more sexually desirable than those who get little exercise. And when it comes to sexual performance, confidence is key. If you feel sexy, the likelihood is you're going to perform well.

Other studies, assessing how people rate their sexual performance on a week-by-week basis, have concluded that those who exercise are far more satisfied with their ability in the bedroom. This might well be a combination of the effects of exercise: confidence in addition to better cardiovascular fitness and stamina.

The Chemical Connection

Of particular interest to men, a 2008 study conducted on rats found that animals trained to swim for half an hour a day, five days a week, had higher levels of testosterone and other sex-related chemicals than those receiving no regular physical activity. It is thought that these chemicals can help to reduce erectile dysfunction.

Endorphins are another well-documented type of chemical produced by exercise. Also known as “runner's high”, endorphins are generated by physical activity, and lead to a feeling of happiness and contentment. These feelings are closely related to those of sexual pleasure, and it is thought that by exercising more frequently, our bodies might become better attuned to responding to sexual stimuli. Studies suggest that women in particular can benefit from these endorphins, and that regular exercise can help women achieve orgasm more quickly and with greater intensity.

Exercise Broadens Your Horizons

Exercising for sexual performance isn't just about lengthening the duration of sex. Having the additional strength that exercise brings might enable you to be more adventurous in bed. Stretching, too, is an essential element of any exercise programme, and it might prove particularly beneficial when your partner decides he or she would like to try out one of the more exotic positions to be found in the Kama Sutra!

“Bedroom gymnastics” can be exciting and great fun, but if your muscles are not sufficiently supple for the more demanding positions, you might well risk injury. It is unclear how many pulled muscles and strained ligaments occur each year thanks to over-enthusiastic lovemaking, but anecdotal evidence from hospitals suggests that the figure runs into the thousands.

The Beneficial Circle

So, fitness is good for sex. But just as importantly, sex is also good for your fitness! Sex is a demanding physical activity, and requires a fair degree of stamina from both partners. Regular safe sex is, therefore, a great form of exercise.

But by taking up more conventional forms of exercise, you will almost certainly improve your love life, and feel better about yourself. It's a win-win situation, so why not see what exercise can do for you and your partner?