Can Stress affect My Sex Drive?

Yes, stress can cause loss of libido (sex drive). When a person is under stress, it doesn’t just affect you psychologically, it can actually affect various BIOLOGICAL processes in your body, including sexual desire and function.

Here’s how stress can affect my sex drive:

Increases in Corstiol

Stress leads to the increase of stress hormones such as cortisol. When Cortisol is persistently elevated, this disrupts the balance of other hormones in the body- including testosterone and progesterone. These hormonal changes can lead to a decrease in sexual desire.

Increased muscle tension and gastrointestinal issues

Prolonged stress may lead to physical health problems such as increased muscle tension, headaches, and gastrointestinal issues for example. These symptoms may make sex feel uncomfortable or painful or just make the thought of having sex less appealing.

Fatigue

Chronic stress often leads to fatigue and exhaustion, depleting your energy or motivation for sexual activity.

Mental well-being

Stress can also have a significantly negative impact on your mental well-being. This can lead to depression and anxiety, reducing your libido.

Managing stress through relaxation techniques, counseling, and exercise will improve your overall well-being and likely boost your sexual desire over time. Some examples of healthy relaxation techniques include meditation, yoga, massage therapy, mindfulness, and focused deep breathing. If libido persists causing significant distress, the good news is that help is available to you. Down There Urology offers the most up to date, evidence-based treatment options to address low libido in all individuals. Book a consultation with us today.