In recent years, our understanding of the connection between mental health and sexual health has deepened, revealing just how intertwined the brain, body, and desire truly are. In both men and women, changes in mood, anxiety levels, and stress hormones can profoundly affect sexual desire, performance, and satisfaction. Far from being two separate aspects of health, mental well-being and sexual functioning now appear to influence each other significantly.
One of the strongest findings emerging from current studies is the role of chronic stress. When the body is in persistent “fight or flight” mode, the brain is easily distracted by surrounding stimuli, making the person unable to be present during sex, making them enjoy it much less especially in women. Cortisol, the stress hormone, although with less intensity, contributes moderately to the suppression of arousal and consequent reduction of libido, and less overall interest in sex. Having a positive mental state and subjective assessment of one’s health is associated with better sexual performance.
Depression, too, is proving to be more than a mental state of low motivation and mood. It has been proven to affect sexual function either in sexual desire, satisfaction or performance. In 2022, an analysis of 12 studies showed that over 60% of men and 80% of women with major depressive disorder report sexual impairment. Scientists point to lower dopamine and serotonin levels, two neurotransmitters essential to both pleasure and emotional regulation, as the most likely cause for this. Other common symptoms that occur with depression have also been shown to affect sexual function, including lack of exercise and substance use, such as smoking. This situation is further worsened by the fact that many of the common medications for the treatment of depression have been shown to negatively affect libido and sexual pleasure.
The interrelation of depression and sexual dysfunction is evident in that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a common treatment for some mental disorders, also is effective in treating some types of sexual dysfunction. This indicates some common mechanism, if not origin, for the disorders. New findings offer hope, showing that treating mental health, even through small exercises of mindfulness, restores sexual function naturally. In fact, mindfulness not only restores sexual function but also improves the experience.
Evidence also suggests that positive sexual health indicators are associated with lower depression and anxiety, higher quality of life, and greater life satisfaction among men and women.
This is more than enough evidence to suggest that the mental and sexual health of an individual are interconnected and depend on each other. They are both central pillars of overall health and well-being. The growing self-care movement should not treat them as separate concerns in the care of a person. A mentally well person is more likely to have a more fulfilling sex life. A person with a fulfilling sex life is more likely to have good mental health. And a person with both is more likely to have a better overall well-being.
Writer : Dr. Hosaena Gebru
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