How Stress Affects Your Sex Life and What to Do About It

Who isn't stressed? With everything going on in the world today, it's only natural that we feel stress in our lives. 

Stress can come from any direction, be caused by various factors, and affect us all in different ways. 

Did you know that stress can greatly impact your sex life? It might seem obvious that stress can affect your mood, but it does more than that. 

How does stress affect your sex life?

Stress can affect every part of your body, from your mind, mood, hormones, and even individual organs. 

Our bodies are amazing and are equipped to handle stress in small doses. But, when stress becomes an everyday thing, it can screw our bodies up. 

Chronic stress over a long period of time affects testosterone production in our bodies. Low testosterone leads to a low sex drive and can even cause erectile dysfunction. 

Under normal circumstances, our sex lives are influenced by our hormones. Depending on our monthly cycles, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone naturally increase or decrease desire and sexual pleasure. On the other hand, constant stress causes the adrenal hormone cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, to grow, lowering our natural sex hormones. 

High cortisol levels can also cause weight gain and low energy, which can directly impact our self-esteem and desire to have sex. 

What are some ways to relieve stress?

Stress is inevitable, but you don't have to let it control your life. Here are some ways to relieve stress:

• Practice Yoga and Meditate
• Exercise Daily or Go for walks
• Eat Better Foods
• Lower Your Cortisol Levels Through Supplements or Medicine
• Hug someone you love
• Create Some Form of Art like Coloring, Drawing or Painting
• Keep a journal 

4 Sex Positions for Stress Relief

Even though stress can cause changes in our bodies that lower our desire to have sex, one of the best ways to relieve stress is through sex. I know, its an oxymoron. 

To help get in the mood, try these following tips:

Eat foods that are natural aphrodisiacs. 

Touch your partner more. 

Don't skimp on the fourplay. 

Clear your mind. 

Try these sex positions for added stress relief when you're finally in the mood. 

Top Tip: Don't forget to include some lube! Stress can decrease the amount of natural vaginal lubrication a woman produces. 

Coital Alignment – A type of missionary position where the female partner is on the bottom with her legs only slightly apart. This allows the partner on top to put a comfortable amount of pressure on them, and when penetrated, the shaft will rub against the clit giving the female a better chance at a more intense orgasm. 

Oral Sex – There's nothing more relaxing than laying back, closing your eyes, and enjoying the pleasure your partner is bringing to your body. You could also switch it up into the 69 positions so you both can be pleasured simultaneously. Top Tip: Add your favorite bullet or egg for added pleasure. 

Spooning  – This position allows both partners to lay against each other on their sides in a sensual embrace. The hugging motion will help your bodies produce oxytocin, reducing stress and increasing feelings of emotional connection. 

Yab-Yum  - A popular tantric style position where you sit on your partner's lap facing them with your legs wrapped around their lower back. This allows for an embraced style thrusting with added eye contact. 

To read more about improving your sex life, check out our other articles: 3 Key Areas You Can Master to Improve Your Sex Life and How Masturbation Can Actually Improve Your Life. 

Resources:

• Stress effects on the body (apa.org)
• Libido and Stress - Can Stress Cause Low Sex Drive? – Women’s Health Network (womenshealthnetwork.com)
• How Stress Effects your Sex Life – Common Causes & Symptoms - ForMen
• How Your Sex Life Changes When You're Under Stress—And How To Fix It | SELF
• 8 Sex Positions That May Reduce Stress (verywellmind.com)
• Try This: 10 Solo and Partnered Sex Positions to Reduce Stress (healthline.com)
• Natural Aphrodisiac Foods: A Complete Guide To What To Eat Before Sex (tantricacademy.com)
• The Power of Hugs: Benefits to Your Health - Step To Health
• Sex position - Wikipedia

Hyperlinks Used in the Article:

• https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/adrenal-fatigue-and-stress/stress-and-sex-life/?msclkid=20bac882a61711ecbdce6ff8b06403a9
• https://bedgeek.com/collections/super-selling-lubricant/products/slide-lubricant
• https://bedgeek.com/collections/play-collection/products/new-play-bullet
• https://bedgeek.com/collections/play-collection/products/play-curve-egg
• https://bedgeek.com/blogs/news/3-key-areas-you-can-master-to-improve-your-sex-life
• https://bedgeek.com/blogs/news/how-masturbation-can-actually-improve-your-life