The Science of Sexual Satisfaction
Psychological, physical and pharmaceutical factors
There are many known psychological, physical and pharmaceutical factors that affect sexual function. These include:
- Injury to the nervous system (ex. spine)
- Injury to the reproductive system
- Depression
- Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Surgery on reproductive organs, such as a hysterectomy
- Diabetes
- Urinary incontinence
- Endometriosis
- Cardiovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Obesity and large waist circumference
- Hormonal birth control
- Physical activity (2, 4, 6, 9, 11–16, 20–22)
Some factors that negatively affect sexual function are not modifiable, but some can be addressed with behavioral changes or the help of a health care provider. For example, some antidepressants affect sexual function less than others, and getting treatment for depression can improve sexual dysfunction despite SSRI use (17, 18). Similarly, certain treatments for endometriosis has been shown to decrease sexual dysfunction caused by the conditions, while others are less effective (19).
Higher amounts of physical activity been shown to positively affect sexual function (5, 12, 13). In a study of diabetic women, each Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) significantly decreased the risk of female sexual dysfunction by 9% (13). Similarly, in the same study of Iranian women mentioned previously, people who reported exercising several times per week were twice as likely to report female sexual dysfunction than those that reported daily exercise (5). Those who reported rarely/never exercising were three times more likely to report female sexual dysfunction (5).
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