Have you ever noticed how playfully flirty, easily excited, and downright horny you feel during the summer months? That’s because the sun is boosting your libido.
Spending a lot of time outside in the sun isn’t only good for your mental health, raising happy neurotransmitters such as serotonin, but it’s also good for your sexual health. In layman’s terms, a happy head makes for happy genitals.
According to the Central European Journal of Urology, testosterone levels in cold months are lower compared to warmer seasons. Testosterone has proven to follow a seasonal variation which can promote changes in our behavior and physiology, such as relationship status and desire for sexual intercourse.
But to dive deeper into this claim, serotonin is one of the essential neurotransmitters responsible for the feeling of pleasure. This is why you may find yourself lively and smiling after a full day out in the sun. And when you’re happier, you feel more ready for sexual encounters, as feeling stressed can lead to negative feelings about yourself, and a temporary change in hormones that puts a lock on your libido.
Another reason why summer may have you extra horny and ready to play is that when it’s hot outside, skirts get shorter, shirts come off, and bikinis are everywhere. The visual stimulation of that summertime attire sparks thoughts about sex, both consciously and subconsciously. On top of that, individuals take greater care of how they look in the summer by working out more and eating better. Plus, there is sweating, lots of sweating, and being attractive to that is instinctual both because of visual stimulation and the pheromones that it secretes.
Summertime is the season of love, so embrace it. Here are some tips on how to raise the temperature even more:
Getting enough sleep
A study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that the No. 1 reason people or couples report losing interest in sex is because they are worn out by the day.
But there are other physical and cognitive reasons why sleep deprivation leads to low sex drive. When our bodies are so tired due to a lack of sufficient sleep, our brains suppress the production of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Instead, it produces more cortisol, a stress hormone that leads to decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, and infertility.
With that being said, the bedroom should be for sleep and sex only. As such, it’s advised to leave work, TV time, and gadgets outside of the room you sleep in. If that’s not possible, it’s recommended to turn off your electronics—including your TV, laptop, and cell phone—one to three hours before your bedtime.
On that, if you don’t already have a sleep schedule, it’s suggested that you make one that works for you. Remember: aim for seven or nine hours of sleep. If you wake up and still don’t feel rested, you probably need to add an extra hour to your sleep schedule.
Moreover, while better sleep leads to better sex, it’s also true that good sex could lead to good sleep. So if you’re too tired for partnered intercourse, or using your hands to pleasure yourself, consider adding a sex toy to your nighttime routine. A good option could be LASKA from love. not war., a blended toy between a rabbit and a classic bullet with a multi-purpose function.
To further improve your sleep hygiene (yes, that’s a thing) and boost your sex drive, add restful wellness practices that could enhance the quality and quantity of your snoozing hours.
Staying stress-free
Summer brings more daylight hours and time to get stuff done! Thus, having more items on your to-do list can enhance your stress levels.
Stress can have a negative effect on a lot of aspects of health, including sex drive. It can affect sexual dissatisfaction and drop your libido. Increasing the production of the hormone cortisol in the body can limit sex hormones, resulting in lower libido.
One way to stay stress-free is to engage in relaxing and intimate massages with your partner. Massage therapy wakes up your muscles, improves the circulation of blood and lymph fluid, and drains harmful toxins. Even more, it’s been reported to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. An intimate massage can be something new to add to your sexual experience list that you explore with your partner.
After showing your partner’s body love, you can finish off the experience with an orgasm. While it’s by no means necessary to end your intimate massage with sex, if you and your partner feel like it, then have some fun. Use your hands, mouth, and sex toys you have to bring your partner pleasure. Try edging (bringing your partner close to an orgasm and then stopping the stimulation and repeating it multiple times) your partner to further intensify their pleasure. You can add external stimuli such as Fun Factory NŌS, for harder, longer-lasting erections.
Getting fit
Fitness can have many physical and psychological benefits which can in return, enhance sex drive. For example, aerobic exercises improve circulation or blood flow, ensuring a healthy circulatory system. This is essential for arousal. For example, in women, smooth blood flow aids vaginal lubrication and clitoral sensation. In men, it helps erection.
In general, fitness can lead to more frequent and intense orgasms. If a person exercises often, it could lead to a stronger core, pelvic floor, and leg muscles. The stronger these muscles are, the more intense your orgasms can be. It can improve your endurance. Sex in itself is an exercise and as such any additional form of physical activity can help increase a person’s endurance in bed. To further strengthen and engage more of your pelvic floor muscles, consider incorporating kegel balls such as Fun Factory SmartBalls Duo.
Furthermore, regular exercise leads to feel-good hormones that make you feel better about your self-image. The better you think you look, the better you feel. Higher confidence can make it easier to connect and communicate with your partner, leading to more satisfying sex and a better relationship dynamic overall. It can also reduce the risk of dealing with sexual performance anxiety, premature ejaculation, and low sex drive.
Incorporating external stimuli
Adding extra fun toys and accessories can enhance pleasure and add extra heat to your already hot summer sex.
Sex toys can increase your sexual desire and your chances of orgasm, and aid in self-lubrication which, ultimately, impacts your sexual satisfaction and desire for sex. Whether it’s solo or partnered sex, there are various toys in all shapes and sizes that can add that extra pleasure to your life.
Don’t neglect using a personal lubricant such as Sutil Luxe, even if it’s just you alone. Whether it is used during solo or partnered play, lube has many benefits. It reduces friction which in turn decreases discomfort and increases pleasure; it prevents dryness and it can even help to prevent condom breakage. Insufficient lubrication often causes pain during sex, making it difficult to get aroused.
For more, see these summer sex tips from Rebecca Alvarez Story.