There’s a Connection Between Your Gut Health and Your Sex Life
1. What are the causes for lack of libido?
Libido and sexual arousal in both genders, but more specifically in women is for the most part, grounded on intimacy involving the interaction of several components, including physical trust, belief system emotional well-being, previous experiences, self-steam, physical attraction, lifestyle – and the current relationship.
In addition, a wide range of illnesses, such as thyroid disease, arthritis, diabetes, neurological disorders, hormonal changes and physical changes, such as in menopause and pain during exercise can cause low sex drive and/or inability to reach an orgasm. Medications, prescribed or over the counter, can also kill a woman’s libido.
And then there is lifestyle- although a glass of wine can get both men and women in the “mood” for sex, too much alcohol can actually have the opposite effect and not only kill your libido, but make you sleep, which can be devastating intimacy.
In addition, other issues, such as the ones listed below can also lead to low libido or diminished sex arousal:
- Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression
- Stress, such as financial stress or work stress
- Poor body image
- Low self-esteem
- History of physical or sexual abuse
- Previous negative sexual experiences
- Lack of connection with the partner
- Unresolved conflicts or fights
- Poor communication of sexual needs and preferences
- Infidelity or breach of trust
2. Here’s one cause that’s surprising?
Like most conditions, Sex too starts in Your gut. As Hippocrates put it “All disease begins in the gut.” In addition, to common GI related conditions, such as bloating, gas, acid reflux, bad breath, diarrhea, etc. that I see often see in my office, low is surprisingly to most libido as being directly connected to imbalance of the gut flora (dysbiosis). Even though most us do not necessarily think of our intestines or acid reflux when think of possible causes of low libido or decreased sexual arousal, it is actually one of the main causes of why we are “not interested” in sex as would like to.
The gastro-intestinal track, aka our gut system, indeed plays a major factor that has many unexpected effects on our ability to respond and perform sexually. This is so because the gut contains billions of bacteria. These gut baciteria is to our digestion and mertabolism what a beehive is to honey: Good working hive = great honey; well –balanced gut bacteria = optimized gastrointestinal function and better sex! These bacteria are responsible for producing hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which are essential for sexual health.
3. What’s the connection between your gut health and your libido?
Gut bacteria are to our digestion and metabolism what a beehive is to honey: Good working hive = great honey; well –balanced gut bacteria = optimized gastrointestinal function and better sex! These bacteria are responsible for producing hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which are essential for sexual health.
- Digestive Health: Unbalanced Gut Bacteria and lack of good probiotics
- Over use antibiotics and other medications
- Sedentary life style
- Disease, including autoimmune
- Mental Health and Mood
- Hormone
- Vaginal Health
- Weight Proportionate to Height
- Increased Energy
4. What could be the reason you don’t have a healthy gut? Bad diet (sugar and processed food-based diet)
5. What are 4-5 ways to help?
- Balance your gut health,
- Eat a healthy diet and moderate your alcohol intake
- Exercise more often
- Do you inventory of your relationship: Are you really happy or just pretending that you are?
- Work on your self-esteem and body image, if applicable.
6. Is there anything your partner can do?
- Love you unconditionally
- Help you feel that intimacy is more than just having sex
- Encourage you to make the changes outlined here, free of judgment, but instead assuring you that yes, you can.
- Be the change that he/she expect of you
7. Does this have anything to do with anxiety/depression? How does that come into play?
Yes… see gut and depression explanation
Edison de Mello, MD, PhD is the Founder of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine. You can schedule an appointment by calling 310-451-8880 or emailing us at info@akashacenter.com.
