Sexual wellness, which includes balanced hormones, a healthy sex drive and sexual function, optimal blood flow, and addressing medical concerns like menopause, erectile dysfunction, and vaginal dryness, plays a bigger role in your overall health than you might realize.
Improving your sexual wellness can enhance your overall well-being and even contribute to a longer, healthier life, making it just as important as any other aspect of physical or mental health.
Today, we’re diving into everything sexual wellness. We’ll explore why your sexual wellness might decline, modern treatments that can help, and the often-surprising benefits of enhancing sexual wellness (who knew that intimacy could give your immune system a boost and even help prevent heart disease?)
Reasons Sexual Wellness Can Decline
It might be an isolated issue, such as hormone imbalance, but there are often multiple reasons why your sexual wellness isn’t optimal. Understanding the potential causes is an important step toward finding solutions that work for you.
Here are some common reasons why your sexual wellness may decline:
1: Low or Imbalanced Hormones
Hormones being out of balance is probably the most likely reason for poor sexual wellness. These shifts are most commonly tied to aging and menopause, but they can happen at almost any age for various reasons. Environmental factors, poor diet, obesity, sedentary behavior, or even overexercising can all throw your hormones off balance, further impacting sexual wellness.
Sex hormones are crucial for sexual wellness. However, other hormones such as thyroid, mood, and stress hormones must also be in optimal ranges for enhanced sexual wellness.
If any of these hormones are out of balance, it could result in poor sexual wellness:
Testosterone
Testosterone plays a key role in sexual desire and function for both men and women. If levels are low, you can forget about having a sex drive or optimal sexual function. Low testosterone can also lead to weight gain, muscle loss and impact your sleep and mood.
Estrogen
Women rely on estrogen for maintaining libido, vaginal lubrication, and overall arousal. When estrogen levels drop—especially during menopause—it can lead to discomfort, reduced desire, and difficulty enjoying intimacy. Estrogen also helps maintain the thickness and elasticity of the vaginal lining, and its decline can lead to vaginal dryness, discomfort, and even atrophy.
For men, estrogen plays a role in regulating the balance of testosterone. While men produce much lower levels of estrogen than women, an imbalance (either too much or too little) can negatively impact sexual function, performance, and overall libido.
Progesterone
Progesterone is essential for sexual wellness, particularly in women. Too high of progesterone levels can cause fatigue, mood swings, and may reduce libido. On the other hand, low progesterone levels can result in anxiety, sleep disturbances, and diminished sexual desire.
In men, although progesterone is produced in smaller quantities, it plays a role in regulating the balance of other hormones, including testosterone. Low levels of progesterone in men can contribute to low energy, mood imbalances, and reduced sex drive.
Dopamine and Serotonin
Mood hormones like dopamine and serotonin are crucial for both men and women. Dopamine, often referred to as the “motivation” or “reward” hormone, plays a vital role in feelings of attraction, excitement, and the desire for pleasurable experiences. It is also linked to sexual desire and arousal.
Serotonin is important for stabilizing mood and promoting feelings of well-being. However, while serotonin supports mood regulation, excessively high levels can sometimes reduce sexual desire. This happens because elevated serotonin levels can suppress dopamine, a hormone essential for sexual desire and excitement.
Cortisol
Stress and its impact on cortisol further complicate the picture. When cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—is elevated for too long, it can suppress testosterone production, disrupt the balance of mood hormones, and make it harder to feel relaxed or aroused.
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, also influence sexual health. Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) can lead to fatigue, reduced libido, and even erectile dysfunction in men. High thyroid levels (hyperthyroidism) may also cause sexual difficulties, including anxiety that interferes with intimacy.
2: General Aging
Getting older is interesting. You’re wiser and, in some ways, even more confident, but your body doesn’t always get the memo. Aging brings more than wrinkles and gray hair; it brings physical changes that can negatively affect your sexual wellness.
For men, aging often means a gradual decline in testosterone levels, sometimes referred to as andropause. Starting as early as your 30s, testosterone levels typically drop by about 1% each year, which can result in reduced libido, difficulty achieving or maintaining erections, lower energy levels, and fat gain.
Women face their own hormonal changes, especially during perimenopause and menopause, when estrogen levels dip significantly. This can lead to vaginal dryness, reduced elasticity, and discomfort during intimacy—all of which can make sex less enjoyable. Low testosterone is also common in women and can significantly impact libido, energy, and weight management.
Beyond hormones, physical aging can affect blood flow, nerve sensitivity, and muscle tone—all key players in sexual wellness.
3: Stress
This isn’t true for everyone; sometimes, stress can enhance sexual wellness because it causes them to crave the feelings of safety and care that come with physical intimacy.
But for many, especially women, stress can negatively impact sexual wellness. When your mind is overloaded with work deadlines, family responsibilities, or financial worries, it’s hard for your mind and body to focus on anything else—let alone intimacy.
Stress also triggers the release of cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels over time can interfere with the production of sex hormones, making it harder to feel desire or perform. Excess cortisol can also lead to weight gain and fatigue, which impact overall sexual wellness.
Chronic stress can also worsen existing conditions like insomnia, depression, or anxiety, which creates a domino effect, further impacting sexual wellness.
4: Consistent Poor Sleep
If you can barely make it through the day without yawning, you’re not exactly going to feel like turning up the heat in the bedroom. A lack of sleep leads to fatigue and reduced stamina, leaving you too drained to engage fully.
Sleep deprivation also affects hormone production, lowering levels of testosterone and other hormones crucial for sexual wellness. Additionally, not getting enough sleep disrupts your mood, making you irritable, anxious, or even depressed—all of which can dampen your sexual health.
It gets worse… studies have found that chronic sleep deprivation decreases blood flow, including to areas involved in sexual arousal. This will impact your ability to feel pleasure.
Lack of sleep creates a host of issues that negatively impact your sexual wellness. Without proper rest, your body is simply too out of sync to prioritize things like intimacy.
5: Medications
Certain medications can have an unexpected side effect on your sexual wellness. Antidepressants, for example, are known to affect sexual desire and function by altering the balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, which can dampen pleasure and arousal.
Blood pressure medications, particularly beta-blockers, can also interfere with sexual function by restricting blood flow, making it harder to achieve or maintain an erection.
Birth control is another medication that causes many women to have hormone issues and low or no sex drive.
6: Poor Lifestyle Habits
Your daily habits play a significant role in how you feel physically and emotionally, including your sexual wellness. Everything from how you move and what you eat to that nightcap you have can all impact your sexual wellness.
Lack of physical activity can leave you feeling sluggish and fatigued, making it harder to get in the mood or maintain energy during intimacy. Being sedentary can also negatively impact your sexual wellness by throwing hormones out of balance and reducing blood flow, which is essential for sexual wellness.
Unhealthy eating habits, like a diet high in processed foods or low in nutrients, can also negatively impact hormone balance, stamina, and blood flow. Both of these things can also lead to weight gain, which can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being and further impact sexual wellness.
When it comes to alcohol, yes, tequila might make her clothes fall off, as they say, because it can lower inhibitions, make you more relaxed and social, and increase desire temporarily. But excessive alcohol consumption is horrible for your sexual health. Alcohol can impair your ability to perform, reduce testosterone levels, and disrupt hormone balance.
Nicotine can also cause a decline in sexual wellness, as can many narcotics and stimulants, which negatively affect circulation, mood, and overall sexual response.
When you make unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not exercising, eating a diet full of processed foods, using nicotine products, and/or enjoying a few too many cocktails or other substances—it will impact your overall sexual wellness.
7: Chronic Pain or Fatigue
Chronic pain and ongoing fatigue can have a profound impact on sexual wellness. When you’re dealing with physical discomfort or persistent exhaustion, it can be tough to focus on anything other than managing the pain or trying to find rest. This can make intimacy feel like a chore rather than a meaningful connection.
It’s not just about physical energy—these conditions can also affect your mental and emotional energy, leaving you feeling disconnected or detached from your partner.
8: Postpartum Changes
The postpartum period is often filled with a mix of emotions and physical changes. It’s no surprise that sexual wellness can be affected.
After childbirth, your body undergoes significant hormonal shifts that can lead to vaginal dryness, reduced libido, and difficulty enjoying intimacy. Additionally, the physical toll of childbirth can leave you feeling sore or uncomfortable during sex, and let’s not forget being completely exhausted (mentally and physically.)
Also, for many women, the emotional and mental shift in identity and body image can play a role in how they approach sex. These feelings may affect not only desire but also confidence in your body’s ability to fully engage in intimate moments.
9: Emotional and Psychological Influences
Sexual wellness is a dynamic, interconnected part of our overall health. When your mental health isn’t in a good spot, it can influence hormone levels and sexual function, which are crucial to overall sexual wellness.
When our hormones are out of balance, it can directly affect mental health, leading to a decline in sexual wellness. For example, low levels of sex hormones like estrogen or testosterone can lead to decreased libido and energy levels and even affect mood, contributing to anxiety or depression.
Emotional health plays a significant role, too. Stress, anxiety, and depression can lower libido and diminish the desire to engage in intimacy. This happens because the body’s stress response, triggered by elevated cortisol levels, interferes with the production of sex hormones, making it harder to maintain sexual health.
Additionally, relationship struggles and emotional disconnect can prevent intimacy, as unresolved issues or lack of communication impact both emotional and physical closeness. Unresolved trauma, such as past negative sexual experiences, can also block desire and affect your ability to engage in intimacy comfortably.
It’s essential to address emotional or psychological wounds with professional help.
Innovative Sexual Wellness Treatments
If you’re experiencing sexual dysfunction, your sex drive is low, or you just feel like your sexual wellness isn’t as optimal as it could be, there are modern sexual wellness treatments that can help treat many health conditions, including improving sexual function and overall sexual wellness and vitality. Relive Health is a great provider choice for sexual wellness treatments. We have expertise in hormone therapy, peptides, and regenerative medicine.
Most sexual wellness treatments are effective for all genders, but some therapies are more gender-specific. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular sexual wellness treatment options and how they work for each gender.
Sexual Wellness Treatments for Men
Men’s sexual wellness can be influenced by various factors, from age and hormonal imbalances to physical issues like erectile dysfunction.
Treatment will depend on the root cause of your sexual health concern, but here are the most common treatments that can help improve men’s sexual health and function.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Low testosterone levels can lead to a decrease in libido, energy, and sexual performance. It can also lead to weight gain and muscle loss, which can impact self-esteem and confidence– both of which can have a domino effect on sexual wellness.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for men is a safe and effective way to restore testosterone levels to an optimal range to reignite sexual desire and improve sexual dysfunction.
After a comprehensive blood panel, this is achieved by introducing bioidentical or synthetic testosterone into the body through injections, patches, gels, or pellets. With the right dosage and a customized HRT treatment plan, most men can quickly restore their testosterone levels to a healthy range.
At Relive health, we prefer to use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as it mimics the hormones your body naturally produces. To read more about the difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormone therapy, you can read “Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Safe Solutions for Hormonal Balance.”
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy
PRP uses your body’s own platelets to promote healing and tissue regeneration. In sexual wellness for men, PRP is often used to enhance sexual function by improving blood flow and rejuvenating sensitive tissue, which can help address challenges like erectile dysfunction.
And while it’s not directly tied to sexual wellness, PRP is also a popular treatment for hair restoration. For men experiencing balding, hair loss can impact confidence, which may affect sexual self-esteem and overall well-being.
Peptide Therapy
Peptides are small proteins that stimulate the body’s natural processes. There seems to be a peptide for almost everything, with several showing promise for improving sexual wellness in men; particularly in cases of low libido and erectile dysfunction.
Peptides like PT-141 (Bremelanotide) are designed to enhance arousal and sexual desire in both men and women. For men, peptides such as CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are also worth considering. These men’s health peptides show promise in supporting hormonal balance and growth hormone production, both of which are important for sexual performance, stamina, and recovery.
Peptide therapy is available in several delivery methods, with injections and oral forms, such as capsules and troches, being the most popular.
Shockwave Therapy
While not as widely used or studied, shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to stimulate blood flow to the penis, improving erectile function and promoting tissue regeneration.
As long as there isn’t an underlying issue, such as imbalanced hormones, that needs to be treated with HRT, it could be an effective option for men experiencing erectile dysfunction or performance issues.
Sexual Wellness Treatments for Women
Women’s sexual wellness is affected by a variety of factors, including hormonal changes, aging, physical discomfort, and even mental health.
Here are a few of the most popular modern treatments available for females hoping to restore sexual confidence, comfort, and function.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Like men, women’s hormone levels—especially estrogen and progesterone—can fluctuate throughout life. This can lead to changes in libido, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and discomfort during intimacy, all of which can affect sexual wellness.
Testosterone is also a critical hormone for women. Many women think testosterone is only important for men, but it plays a vital role in energy levels, libido, and overall sexual function in women, too.
Whether you’re entering perimenopause, already menopausal, or experiencing low sex drive or other common female sexual health issues due to hormone imbalances, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the gold standard for restoring hormonal balance in women.
There are a lot of myths about female Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) that simply aren’t true. Female HRT is a safe and effective way to balance hormones, alleviating many sexual wellness concerns like low libido, dryness, and discomfort during intimacy.
Getting started with HRT is really simple. A hormone therapy expert will order a comprehensive blood panel to get a clear picture of your overall hormone health. Then, they will then create a custom HRT treatment plan that provides your body with the exact hormones it needs.
The hormones used can be bioidentical or artificial. At Relive health, we prefer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as it mimics the hormones your body naturally produces.
Whichever type you choose, the hormones can be introduced through injections, patches, gels, pills, or pellets. Each method has its own set of benefits and drawbacks which will be discussed during your consultation.
Peptide Therapy
Peptides are naturally occurring molecules that play a crucial role in many biological processes, including sexual function and satisfaction. Peptide therapy is a safe and effective way to introduce key peptides into the body, targeting tissue regeneration, improving natural lubrication, and enhancing sexual wellness.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is a peptide commonly used by women with sexual health concerns, designed to boost arousal and address hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Another popular peptide for sexual wellness is Thymosin Beta-4, which is believed to support tissue healing and cellular repair—particularly beneficial for women experiencing changes due to hormonal imbalances or menopause.
Peptide therapy is available in several delivery methods, with injections and oral forms, such as capsules and troches, being the most popular.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy
Struggling with reaching orgasm? If so, you’re not alone. This is a problem many women of all ages face. Fortunately, specific forms of PRP therapy—a regenerative treatment that uses concentrated doses of platelets to promote healing and tissue repair—show promise in enhancing sexual pleasure and function.
One of the most popular options for women is the Orgasm Shot (O-Shot®). This natural sexual wellness treatment uses platelet-rich plasma to rejuvenate vaginal and clitoral tissue, improving sensitivity and increasing the ability to achieve orgasm.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
This procedure targets vaginal health by improving tone, elasticity, and moisture, often addressing issues like vaginal dryness and atrophy, which can occur due to menopause or other hormonal changes.
Surgical procedures like vaginoplasty or labiaplasty are considered more invasive options for vaginal rejuvenation, but there are also non-surgical treatments available. These include methods like laser therapy, radiofrequency treatments, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which can help improve vaginal tone, elasticity, and lubrication without the need for surgery.
A Spa Day
Hear us out on this one. No, getting a facial, laser treatment, Botox, or dermal filler doesn’t directly improve sexual wellness. However, confidence does correlate with how desirable and attractive a person feels, especially women.
So, book that hydrafacial with a PRP add-on and follow it up with a little BOTOX and filler or even a laser skin resurfacing treatment. Sometimes, prioritizing self-care and enhancing your appearance can be just the boost needed to boost your sexual confidence and, in turn, your overall sexual wellness.
Why Sexual Wellness Matters
We’ve all seen the funny memes floating around saying sex burns more calories than going on a run, or how about the one that claims sperm is packed with protein? There are even influencers or celebrities raving about the skincare benefits of semen!!
While most of those claims do not have much scientific truth to them, they do highlight something very real: sexual wellness has a broad impact on overall well-being.
When sexual wellness is in a good spot, the benefits ripple through your body and mind, improving things you might not even realize. Here are a few interesting ways that improved sexual wellness can positively impact your life.
Optimal Sexual Wellness Improves Immune Function
Want a more resilient immune system? There’s an “O” for that! (And we’re not talking about orange juice.) A healthy sex life can serve as an unexpected but powerful tool in maintaining a strong, resilient immune system.
Regular sexual activity is shown to enhance immune function by increasing the production of antibodies, helping the body fight off infections more effectively. So, next time you’re feeling a little under the weather, remember—getting “a little closer” can help your body stay strong.
Prioritizing Sexual Wellness Keeps Your Heart Healthy
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “My heart skips a beat or flutters when I’m with them.” While that is just a metaphor many people use to describe the physical reaction they experience when they’re excited or in love—it really can happen.
Turns out that falling in love or being intimate with someone you care about or are attracted to doesn’t just make your heart flutter—it’s also really good for your heart (yes, even if they end up breaking it).
Studies show that regular sexual activity can improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and support overall cardiovascular health. So, maintaining a healthy sex life doesn’t just feel good; it can also help keep your heart healthy.
Strengthening Sexual Wellness Promotes Stress Reduction
Have you ever had one of those days where all you want to do is run home and shut the world out? This is a common feeling for women, as stress can often dampen the desire for intimacy. Not so much for men, who tend to use sex as a way to unwind and decompress after a long day.
Ladies, the fellas might be on to something here. Your sexual wellness, which includes having a healthy sex life, has some serious stress-busting benefits. Sexual activity triggers the release of endorphins—your body’s natural feel-good hormones.
Some modern treatments, such as peptide therapy, can also promote stress reduction that leads to improved sexual wellness.
Improved Sexual Wellness Promotes Better Sleep
If you’re looking to improve your sleep naturally, focusing on your sexual wellness is a great place to start.
Starting with intimacy. We get it—it’s late, it took forever to get the kids to go to sleep, you still have work to do, dishes are in the sink, and your mind is racing with everything you have to do when you wake up. But making time for intimacy can help you wind down and sleep much better.
Sexual activity also triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes relaxation and calm. This leads to deeper, more restful sleep, which is essential for your overall health and wellness. It also releases the hormone prolactin, which induces a relaxing effect.
Make intimacy part of your bedtime routine at least a few times a week and enjoy the benefits of that post-orgasmic wave of sleepiness and a good night of solid rest.
Optimizing Sexual Wellness Improves Mood
Feeling easily irritated? In a random funk? Just not feeling like yourself? A healthy sex life can work wonders for your mood! Sex triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, two key chemicals that help lift your spirits and promote a sense of happiness.
Boosting Sexual Wellness is a Natural Pain Reliever
Intimacy can act as a natural painkiller, triggering the release of endorphins, which can alleviate discomfort. This can be particularly helpful for headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches.
If you are taking other natural approaches to improve your sexual wellness, such as ozone therapy or peptide therapy (ziconotide, ARA290, Semax, Selank, and DSIP are all peptides being investigated for their potential to treat different types of pain) – these can also naturally relieve pain, improving overall sexual well-being.
Enhanced Sexual Wellness Increases Self-Esteem and Confidence
Enhanced sexual wellness from having a healthy sex life is great for your self-esteem. Feeling desired and connected to your partner during intimacy can significantly boost confidence.
Also, modern sexual wellness treatments such as PRP facials and hair restoration can give your self-esteem a boost, resulting in better overall sexual wellness.
Maximizing Sexual Wellness Supports Mental Clarity and Focus
When you focus on sexual wellness, your cognitive health will thank you. Sexual activity helps release tension and improve mental clarity. The relaxation and endorphin release that comes with intimacy can leave you feeling more focused and grounded.
Additionally, if you’re optimizing your sexual wellness with peptide therapy or HRT, you’re supporting your brain function as well. These treatments help regulate hormone levels, which can improve mood, memory, and focus, contributing to a sharper, more energized mind throughout the day.
Final Thoughts on Sexual Wellness
Sexual wellness plays a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. Prioritizing your sexual wellness doesn’t only improve your sex life, it’s an investment in your overall health.
By addressing hormonal imbalances and other factors that impact your well-being, you can enjoy a better quality of life—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Embracing modern treatments like hormone therapy, peptide therapy, and PRP can support these aspects, promoting better energy, mood, and overall vitality.
At Relive, we specialize in personalized health and medical aesthetics, including sexual wellness treatments. From hormone therapy for men and women to PRP, peptide therapy, medical weight loss, IV vitamin therapy, ozone therapy, and more, our solutions are designed to enhance your well-being and quality of life.
Click here to find a Relive Health clinic near you and let us help you optimize your sexual wellness with modern treatments and solutions catered to you.
