Talking about sex drive and sexual performance topics has long been considered taboo. However, thanks to contemporary progressive moments, these topics are now being discussed more than ever before. Sex education is an essential aspect of adulthood, and every person should learn all the nuances associated with this topic.

Sex drive and sexual performance, whether in female or males, plays a massive role in their adult lives. Poor sexual performance and lack of sex drive can lead to an unsatisfied married life for adults. It’s wise to be educated on this issue to prevent future problems. In today’s blog, we will discuss how you can enhance your sex drive and sexual performance.

Sex drive is also referred to as libido¹. It is a person’s desire to engage in sexual activity. Sex drive generally decreases as a person gets older. The sex drive is usually influenced by various phycological, biological, and social factors.

Top 9 Must-Know Causes of Low Sex Drive

As discussed above, the sex drive can be influenced by various biological, social, and psychological factors. Here are the following factors that can contribute to low sex drive²

1. Relationship Issues

Relationship issues can cause low sex drive in both men and women. It is helpful to ask yourself whether you are happy in your current relationship when you diagnose yourself with a low sex drive. Loss of sexual attraction towards your partner, unresolved relationship trauma, and poor communication can all cause this.

2. Sexual Issues

Many biological factors can become a reason for low libido in men and women. You should consider physical problems that might be causing low sexual drive. These physical issues can be ejaculation issues, erectile dysfunction, poor stamina in men, and vaginal dryness in women. Painful orgasms or inability to orgasm can also be a factor.

3. Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety can influence many things, and your sexual drive is one of them. When you are exhausted by work or are stressed out by a particular scenario, your libido tends to go down. In these instances, it’s helpful to work on your anxiety first.

4. Depression

When we are depressed, we become dysfunctional, and normal healthy working is difficult. The same applies to sex drive when you are depressed. Depression can interfere with many aspects of your life. Therefore, it’s crucial to seek therapy when you are depressed.

5. Old Age

As discussed above, getting old generally decreases your sex drive. It’s not guaranteed, but many men and women face it once they get old. This happens due to low estrogen and testosterone levels in women and low levels of testosterone in men. Getting old can also cause mobility issues that may affect sex drive.

6. Pregnancy and Birth Issues

Many women experience low sex drive during and after pregnancy. This happens due to hormone levels, body image issues, or underlying pain caused by giving birth. These issues gradually improve over time; if they don’t, seek help from specialists.

7. Health Issues

If you have any short-term or long-term health issues, they can interfere with your sexual life. This happens due to physical and emotional strain on your body. Common health issues that can interfere with your sex drive are diabetes, thyroid issues, cancer, and surgeries.

8. Side Effects of Medicines

Side effects of certain medications can also cause low libido in men and women. Medication for blood pressure and prostate cancer can have libido-reducing side effects. Several antidepressants and contraception pills also reduce sex drive in people.

9. Side Effects of Drugs and Alcohol

Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation. Drinking too much alcohol can reduce your sex drive and lead to unsatisfied sexual intercourse. Many drugs can have similar effects on your libido.

10. What is Sexual Performance?

Sexual performance refers to how well a person performs during sexual intercourse. People have different definitions of sexual performance depending on their sexual preferences. Typically, how well a person is performing sexually depends on whether the person can satisfy their partner during sexual intercourse. This typically has to do with stamina. The truth is that sexual performance and sex drive are linked to each other. A low sex drive can definitely affect sexual performance for both men and women.

What Causes Poor Sexual Performance?

Many physical factors can cause poor sexual performance³ Many of the same issues that cause low sex drive, such as hormone imbalances, underlying health issues, medicinal side effects, and drug abuse, can cause poor sexual performance. Psychological problems such as stress, depression, and low self-esteem are also to blame for poor sexual performance.

How Can You Improve your Sex Drive and Sexual Performance?

Since sex drive and sexual performance are related, many of the remedies discussed below will improve both sex drive and performance in men and women. Here are the following ways to improve your sexual performance and increase your sex drive:

1. Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

The benefit of using natural remedies to boost your sex drive and sexual performance is that there are no harmful side effects. If you are a healthy person with no physical or mental health issues, you should first try to maintain a healthy diet and incorporate libido-boosting foods and vegetables into your diet. You will slowly see the benefits as you remain consistent. The following are some of the best fruits and vegetables that you can incorporate into your diet for enhanced libido and sexual performance:

1. Black raspberries

Black raspberries can enhance sexual drive_⁴ and sexual performance. They are rich in phytochemicals and also taste very good.

2. Pine Nuts

Pine nuts provide healthy vitamins to your body and promote blood flow to your genitals. Pine nuts contain a high amount of zinc⁵ that can improve your libido. It also contains arginine that is converted into nitric oxide to dilate blood vessels.

3. Watermelon

Watermelon is great libido-boosting food⁶ It contains citrulline, which helps promote blood flow to your genitals.

4. Avocados

Avocados work great as libido boosters⁷ as they help enhance hormone production in men. In women, avocados can decrease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome such as fatigue and irritability due to the high amount of vitamin B6. This allows women to have a better sex life.

5. Broccoli

Broccoli contains a high amount of indole-3-carbinol⁸ This substance helps you regulate and break down estrogen, thus promoting a stronger sex drive.

6. Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil is one of the best ingredients to increase testosterone in men significantly⁹ It improves circulation to all the areas of your body and has several other health benefits like preventing colon cancer and heart diseases.

2. Eat Chocolate

Many people don’t know that chocolate has many sexual benefits like other foods. While many other foods on this list improve sexual libido and endurance physically, chocolate mainly benefits men and women psychologically. Consuming chocolate can make sexual intercourse more pleasurable due to its uplifting nature.

Chocolate is rich in  L-arginine¹⁰ The L-arginine is an amino acid that works as an effective sex enhancer. This amino acid promotes blood flow to your sexual organs. This increases your sexual sensation, desire, and sexual satisfaction. Along with that, chocolate also helps the body release phenylethylamine and serotonin¹¹ These chemicals have an uplifting effect on your brain, and your sexual experience is much improved.

3. Eat a Protein-Rich Diet

Having a protein-rich diet is beneficial for your sex drive and sexual performance. Protein-rich foods¹² such as beef, mutton, beef, chickpeas, soy, and fish contain many amino acids. Specific amino acids can work as a testosterone booster, improve your sex drive, and increase sexual endurance.

Contents such as zinc, carnitine, and L-arginine are known for improving blood flow to your genitals. You can find this carnitine and L-arginine in various protein-rich foods¹³ such as chicken, pork, and beef. Zinc can be found in whole-grain foods and milk. Keep in mind that beef and red meat can cause heart diseases.

Therefore, you should eat meat in moderation and aim for a balanced diet.

4. Stay Active

Staying active and getting the required exercise is extremely important for peak sexual performance and a healthy libido. By exercising, you can stay fit and do away with specific mobility issues that might come with staying inactive for long periods. The best way to improve your sexual endurance is to get plenty of cardiovascular exercises¹⁴

You can work on your cardio by running, sprinting, doing HIIT workouts, jogging, and swimming. You can also do Kegels to improve hip mobility. These activities keep your heart in shape as well. Sexual intercourse itself is a cardiovascular exercise. What better way to increase your sexual performance than working on your stamina.

Sexual activities are pretty physical and thus demanding; therefore, you should work on your mobility and stamina to perform better sexually when in the mood.

5. Work On Reducing Your Stress Levels

If stress is interfering with your sex life, you should work on eliminating it. As discussed above, stress can reduce your libido and make you perform not as well during sexual intercourse_¹⁵ Stress can increase your blood pressure, leading to unsatisfactory sexual performance and poor libido.

Exercise and healthy eating will help you with reducing stress. Other forms of reducing stress are spending quality time with your partner, friends, and family members. Talk about your feelings to a close person and seek consolation. Venting has been shown to reduce stress levels in both men and women.

With all that stress out of your mind, you will perform much better in bed.

6. Quit Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and Drugs

Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and drug addiction lead to various health issues and cause harmful side effects when it comes to libido and sexual performance¹⁶ Therefore, you should quit these bad habits if you are an active consumer of these substances. Sometimes, quitting these habits on their own will fix your sex life.

Blood vessels are narrowed by these substances and can even lead to impotence. Quitting alcohol and smoking will also improve your health in other domains of life and will help you become a healthy person overall. If you have trouble quitting these habits, you should sign up for rehab and seek help from specialists.

7. Get The Right Amount of Sleep

Lack of sleep is terrible for many reasons. Sleeping is a natural activity required for every living being since it allows your body to recover and rejuvenate. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue, stress, lack of interest in daily activities, and a reduced sex drive and sexual performance¹⁷ Therefore, you should fix your sleeping schedule to promote sexual longevity¹⁸

8. Masturbate to Improve Sexual Longevity

Men who have issues with lasting longer during sexual activity can benefit by masturbating when alone. Despite all the pseudo-scientific myths around masturbation, it is a healthy activity with mental and physical benefits¹⁹ You can practice sexual intercourse by masturbating alone.

For women, masturbation can relieve menstrual cramps and reduce muscle tension²⁰ This makes engaging in sexual activities more pleasurable and appealing. It will also strengthen the anal and pelvic area while getting better quality sleep.

9. Spend Time in The Sun

Did you know that spending some time outside in the sun can help you boost your libido?²¹ Going out is a great activity. You can exercise in a nearby park under the sun to get the most out of it. Spending time under the sun will allow your body to release a higher level of sexual hormones.

Conclusion

Sex drive and sexual performance are more or less connected to each other. There are ways to work on both at the same time. In summary, you should work out, fix your sleeping schedule, eat healthy foods rich in protein, and go out more in the sun so you can promote blood flow to your genitals. Our D’oxyva device can help you achieve that in no time as it allows for smooth blood flow. 

It will also be helpful to talk to your doctor regarding any issues you might be having in your sex life.

References

[1] “Libido.” Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/libido

[2] “Loss of libido (reduced sex drive).” NHS. Last reviewed: 06 January 2020. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/loss-of-libido/

[3] “Sexual Dysfunction in Males.” Cleveland Clinic. Last reviewed 10/14/2019.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9122-sexual-dysfunction-in-males

[4]  “Black Raspberry facts and benefits.” Health Benefits Times. https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/black-raspberry/

[5] “Loss of sex drive: The surprising nut that can boost your libido.” Express UK. Last modified Oct 30, 2020. https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1354300/loss-of-sex-drive-diet-boost-libido-pine-nuts

[6]  “Can watermelon help with erectile dysfunction?” Medical News Today. Last modified December 27, 2017. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320440#:~:text=Watermelon%20is%20a%20natural%20source,erection%20when%20he%20is%20aroused.

[7] “Food for Your Libido: A Valentine’s Diet to Boost Your Sex Drive.” Penn Medicine. Last modified January 18, 2017.https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2017/february/food-for-libido#:~:text=Avocado%20contains%20the%20vitamin%20B6,libido%20a%20little%20more%20indirectly.

[8] “Is Indole-3-Carbinol also good for Testosterone?” Provita. Last modified August 27, 2020.  https://provita-nutrition.ca/i3c-good-for-testosterone/

[9]  “OLIVE OIL ‘BETTER THAN V IAGRA’ AT SLASHING IMPOTENCE.” Independent. Last modified 30 August 2018. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/olive-oil-viagra-impotence-sex-life-men-performance-a8513936.html

[10]  “WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY: SEXUAL BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATES.” Life. Last modified 07 July 2018. https://guardian.ng/life/world-chocolate-day-sexual-benefits-of-chocolates/#:~:text=Increases%20blood%20flow%20to%20sexual,increases%20sensation%2C%20desire%20and%20satisfaction.

[11] “The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance.” British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. First published 10 July 2012. https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2012.04378.x

[12] “7 Foods to Help Boost Your Sex Life.” Healthline. Updated on August 13, 2020. https://www.healthline.com/health/7-foods-enhance-your-sex-life#meats

[13]  “Nutrients for Peak Sexual Performance.” Health Central. Last modified February 27, 2013. https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/nutrients-for-peak-sexual-performance

[14]  “Better Sex: Workouts to Boost Your Performance.” Healthline. Updated on October 10, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/better-sex-workouts-boost-performance#:~:text=There’s%20scientific%20evidence%20that%20exercising,for%20sexual%20health%20and%20performance.

[15] “Low Sex Drive: Common Causes and Treatment.” Healthline. Updated on April 1, 2019. https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone/conditions-that-cause-low-libido

[16] “Does smoking affect your sex life?” Patient. Last reviewed 12 October, 2021. https://patient.info/news-and-features/does-smoking-affect-your-sex-life#:~:text=Sex%20drive%20down,sex%20drive%2C%22%20Abdeh%20explains.

[17]  “Effect of 1 Week of Sleep Restriction on Testosterone Levels in Young Healthy Men.” JAMA network. Last modified June 1, 2011. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1029127

[18]  “The impact of sleep on female sexual response and behavior: a pilot study.” The journal of sexual medicine. Published on May 1, 2015.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25772315/

[19] “How often should a man release sperm?” Medical News Today. Published on October 8, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326586

[20] “What Are the Health Benefits of Masturbation?” National Women’s Health Network. Last modified Nov 12, 2019. https://nwhn.org/what-are-the-health-benefits-of-masturbation/#:~:text=But%20like%20anything%20that%20feels,anal%20area%2C%20and%20better%20sleep.

[21] “Sunbathing makes you horny! Exposure to sunlight enhances romantic passion by boosting the release of sexual hormones, study finds.” Daily mail. Last updated 25 August 2021. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9926477/Exposure-sunlight-enhances-romantic-passion-boosting-release-sexual-hormones.html#:~:text=Getting%20out%20in%20the%20sun,higher%20levels%20of%20sexual%20hormones.