YOUR LIBIDO RULES a huge chunk of your life. (Think about it. It does.) But how many of us have a good understanding of it and how it works?
Here are 8 things absolutely everybody should know about their sex drive.
1. First of all, what even is the mythical ‘sex drive’?
It isn’t all in your head – your desire for sex is down to the levels of hormones like testosterone in your body.
It varies greatly from person to person, and can be affected by stuff like your health (both physical and mental), weight, stress levels, and fatigue.
2. Why are men often up for it more than women?
The simple answer is: testosterone. Men have approximately seven or eight times more testosterone in their bodies, therefore, they want more sex.
Recent studies show that women administered high doses of testosterone reported an increase in sexual activity, arousal and desire. So men are just biologically equipped to want sex, lucky sods.
3. But is it true that women get hornier the older they get?
Well, it certainly seems so. A woman’s sexual desire is said to ‘peak’ from the ages of 26 to 32, while men are at their horniest at 18.
For women this is probably linked to a general boost in confidence and sexual experience, though, rather than any major changes in hormones.
And as sex therapistJane Greer tells Women’s Health Magazine, it’s not all going to suddenly stop after your so-called ‘peak’:
It’s not a mountain where it will all go downhill from here; it’s simply at a high point and can certainly stay high.
4. Do men lose their sex drive as they get older?
It’s common knowledge when women hit ‘a certain age’, the menopause barges in and tries to shut things down. But men also experience a bit of this, too.
Men are said to have an ‘andropause’ as a result of a gradual drop in testosterone - some men have reported symptoms similar to those of the menopause like fatigue, loss of sex drive and mood swings.
5. Why do women want more sex while they’re on their periods, or when they’re pregnant?
Ah, nature’s cruelest trick. Make sex the only thing you want, precisely when it’s trickiest to have it.
The desire for sex while menstruating probably comes from the sheer amount of oestrogen and testosterone floating around a woman’s body during ovulation.
Similarly, because pregnancy does a number on your hormones, it ups the ante on your sex drive too.
6. Can taking the Pill mess up women’s sex drives?
Another cruel trick.
Many women find that loss of libido can be a side effect of taking the Pill – studies suggest it could be because it decreases the amount of sexy hormones (like testosterone) present in a woman’s system. Boo.
7. Is it true that eating oysters can get you in the mood?
Certain foods (like oysters, spicy dishes, and eggs) have long been linked to sexual desire. However, this has never been scientifically proven.
So eat them if you want a nice meal, but don’t expect to be automatically ready to swing from the rafters afterwards.
8. Is there any real way to increase your libido?
There is no magic potion you can take to up your sex drive. You can focus on your stress levels, make sure the mood is right, and maybe try to ‘spice things up’ in the bedroom (but not using these godawful sex tips). Good luck!
