A healthy sex drive is linked to feeling physically and emotionally healthy. Women can increase their overall health by improving their sex lives.

According to the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, “female sexual well-being is an important part of wellness that is often overlooked. Studies show that approximately 40% of women will experience some type of sexual problem over the course of their lifetimes.”

Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD is a sexual health expert who reports that “Sexually active people take fewer sick days.” By improving your sexual health, you can improve your overall health. A healthy sex life can boost your immune system by strengthening how your body defends against germs, viruses, and other intruders.

The World Health Organization defines sexual health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being related to sexuality. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences.”

Factors That Can Affect Sexual Health

• Stress
• Self Esteem
• Heart Health
• Mental Health
• Hormone Levels
• Medications
• Lifestyle Habits
• Fatigue

There are many factors that influence sexual health regardless of if you have a partner or not. Consider how the following factors integrate into your lifestyle.

1. Prioritize Mental Health

For women, libido starts in the brain. Scientists measure “being in the mood,” by focusing on the ideal balance of neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine. Mental health not only affects mood, it also affects reproduction, because the brain activates estrogen receptors. 

“Women’s excitement phase is above the shoulders, versus below the waist for men,” says ob-gyn Sherry A. Ross, MD, author of She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women’s Intimate Health. Period. “Which is why racing thoughts, depression, stress, or even just thinking about your to-do list are pretty instant mood-killers.” 

Reducing stress and anxiety can improve your sexual health. By practicing calming and relaxing habits, you can increase serotonin and dopamine in the brain, and therefore increase sexual desire. Try the following exercises once per week to create a more pleasurable lifestyle.

• Try the Box Breathing Technique 
• Write down your thoughts in a journal
• Express yourself with creativity

2. Take Care of Your Heart

Heart health and blood flow play a significant role in sexual pleasure. During sex, heart rate increases and blood vessels dilate or expand. That extra blood flow helps to increase vaginal lubrication and insertion during intercourse. Low blood pressure and low blood circulation can decrease libido.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD says that “Good sex is really about good blood flow. That ensures you’re getting the right nutrients to your brain, as well as getting the right stimulus to your sex organs. So improving your sex life means avoiding the things that decrease blood flow (nicotine, drugs, sugar, saturated fat, trans fat, syrups, diabetes, high BP).

In order to protect your heart and improve sexual health, consider following the DASH Diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH Diet is an eating strategy created by NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) . The DASH diet emphasizes eating the right portion sizes and choosing a variety of foods and nutrients. 

DASH Eating Plan

• Eat vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
• Include fat-free or low-fat dairy products, fish, poultry, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils
• Limit foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty meats, full-fat dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils
• Limit sugar-sweetened beverages and sweets.

3. Keep Hormones Balanced 

If you have a very low sexual desire, there may be an underlying condition that’s affecting your sexual health. If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms, your estrogen levels may be low causing hormone imbalance.

Women between the ages of 20 to 40 lose 50% of their testosterone. These levels continue to decline each year. This affects not only sex drive but lean muscle, energy, body fat, mood, sleep and drive and ambition. Low sexual activity may lead to health problems.

The first step is to consult with a provider who you feel comfortable discussing sexual health. The providers at Natural Bio Health are available to discuss your symptoms and your concerns and provide possible alternatives and solutions. Lab tests are an important part of determining the root causes of any dysfunction. A lab test could indicate if hormone therapy may increase your sexual health.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a natural solution to restore hormone balance. The Endocrine Society has defined bioidentical hormones as “compounds that have exactly the same chemical and molecular structure as hormones that are produced in the human body.” 

BHRT Can Be Absorbed in Variety of Methods

Bioidentical hormones are made from plants such as yams. Bioidentical estrogen derived from plant sources (17β-estradiol) is available in pellets, pills, patches, sprays, creams, gels, and vaginal tablets. Micronized progesterone is available in a capsule or as a vaginal gel. 

BHRT Can Be Absorbed Faster

According to Harvard Health, when estrogen is taken as a pill or absorbed in diet, it’s first processed through the liver. This stimulates proteins associated with reducing heart disease and stroke. When delivered by transdermal (skin) patch, estrogen isn’t first processed by the liver and — at the same level of blood concentration — doesn’t have these effects.

BHRT Can Be Customized

Women who cannot tolerate the nonhormonal ingredients contained in synthetic hormone therapy can have compounded bioidentical hormones (CBHT) speciality formulated to their unique body type. Practitioners can prescribe custom dosages based on individual biochemistry and health history.

Contact Natural Bio Health Today

Our team is dedicated to helping you understand the numerous factors that may be preventing optimal health. Learn more about taking control of your health. Join the wellness journey to achieve optimal health, fight disease and boost immune health to combat viruses. Visit naturalbiohealth.com.

Our team of specialists understands our patients’ concerns about office safety during the time of COVID-19. We are proud to offer telemedicine services through video and phone calls. We are also seeing patients in person at our offices, but are abiding by new, strict safety precautions. To schedule your appointment, contact us here. We serve patients in Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Round Rock, and College Station.