Regular, moderate exercise improves sex:
Bacon, C.G et al. “Sexual Function in Men Older Than 50: Results from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study,” Annals of Internal Medicine (2003) 139:161.
Bacon, C.G. et al. “A Prospective Study on the Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction,” Journal of Urology (2006) 176:217.
Brotto, L.A. et al. “Yoga and Sexual Functioning: A Review,” Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy (2009) 35:378.
Dhikav, V. et al. “Yoga in Male Sexual Functioning: a Non-comparative Pilot Study,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2010) 7:3460.
Duncan, JJ et al. “Women Walking for Health and Fitness: How Much Is Enough?” Journal of the American Medical Association (1991) 266:3295.
Esposito, K. et al. “Effects of Intensive Lifestyle Changes on Erectile Dysfunction in Men,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2009) 6:243.
Khoo, J. et al. “Comparing Effects of Low- and High-Volume Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Sexual Function and Testosterone in Obese Men,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2013) 10:1823.
Kim, H.N. et al. “Effects of Yoga on Sexual Function in Women with Metabolic Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2013) 10:2741.
Kim, SC. “Hyperlipidemia and Erectile Dysfunction,” Asian Journal of Andrology (2000) 2:161.
Nikoobakht, M. et al. “The Relationship Between Lipid Profile and Erectile Dysfunction,” International Journal of Impotence Research (2005) 17:523.
Wei, M et al. “Total Cholesterol and HDL Cholesterol as Important Predictors of Erectile Dysfunction,” American Journal of Epidemiology (1994) 140:930.
White, JR. et al. “Enhanced Sexual Behavior in Exercising Men,” Archives of Sexual Behavior (1990) 19:193.
Wuh, H. Sexual Fitness. Putnam, NY, 2001.
Kegel exercises
Claes, H. and L. Baert. “Pelvic Floor Exercise Versus Surgery in the Treatment of Impotence,” British Journal of Urology (1993) 71:52.
Colpi, G.M. et al. “Perineal Floor Efficiency in Sexually Potent and Impotent Men,” International Journal of Impotence Research (1999) 11:153.
Dorey, G. “Restoring Pelvic Floor Function in Men: Review of RCTs,” British Journal of Nursing (2005) 14:1014.
Dorey, G. et al. “Pelvic Floor Exercises for Erectile Dysfunction,” BJU International (2005) 96:595.
Serati, M. et al. “Benefit of Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy in Improving Sexual Function in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pretest-Posttest Intervention Study,” Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy (2015) 41:254.
Sighinolfi, M.C. et al. “Potential Effectiveness of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Treatment for Post-Radical Prostatectomy Incontinence, Climacturia, and Erectile Dysfunction: A Case Series,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2009) 6:3496.
Van Kampen, M. et al. “Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction by Perineal Exercise, Electromyographic Biofeedback, and electrical Stimulation,” Physical Therapy (2003) 83:536.
Risk of heart attack during sex
Dahabreh, IJ and JK Paulus. “Association of Periodic Physical and Sexual Activity with Triggering of Acute Cardiac Events,” Journal of the American Medical Association (2011) 305:1225.
Ebrahim, S. et al. “Sexual Intercourse and Risk of Ischemic Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease: The Caerphilly Study,” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2002) 56:99.
Jackson, G. “Sexual Response in Cardiovascular Disease,” Journal of Sex Research (2009) 46:233.
Lange, L. Love Death: A Retrospective and Prospective Follow-Up Mortality Study Over 45 Years,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2017) 14:1226.
Moller, J. et al. “Sexual Activity as a Trigger of Myocardial Infarction: A Case-Crossover Analysis in the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program (SHEEP),” Heart (2001) 86:387.
Muller, J.E. et al. “Triggering Myocardial Infarction by Sexual Activity,” Journal of the American Medical Association (1996) 275:1405.
Nawrot, T.S. et al. “Public Health Importance of Triggers of Myocardial Infarction: A Comparative Risk Assessment,” Lancet (2011) 377(9767):732.
Sztajzel, J. “Sexuality and Heart Disease,” Rev. Med. Suisse (2012) 8:631.
Strenuous exercise reduces libido
Hackney, A.C. et al. “Endurance Exercise Training and Male Sexual Libido,” Medicine and Science in /Sports and Exercise (2017) epub ahead of print.
Should athletes abstain before contests?
Valenti, L.M. et al. “Effect of Sexual Intercourse on Lower Extremity Muscle Force in Strength-Trained Men,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2018) 15:888.
As fruit and vegetable consumption increases, sexual function improves
Allen, M.S. and E.E. Walter. “Health-Related Lifestyle Factors and Sexual Dysfunction: A Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Research,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2018) 15:458.
Cassidy, A. et al. “Dietary Flavonoid Intake and Incidence of Erectile Dysfunction,” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2016) 103:534.
DellaCamera, P.A. et al. “Sexual Health, Adherence to Mediterranean Diet, Body Weight, Physical Activity and Mental State: Factors Correlated to Each Other,” Urologia (2017) epub ahead of print.
DiFrancesco, S. and R.L. Teneglia. “Mediterranean Diet and Erectile Dysfunction: A Current Perspective,” Central European Journal of Urology (2017) 70:185.
Esposito, K. et al. “Mediterranean Diet Improves Sexual Function in Women with Metabolic Syndrome,” International Journal of Impotence Research (2007) 19:486.
Giugliano, F. et al. “Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Erectile Dysfunction in Men with Type-2 Diabetes,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2010) 7:1911.
Giugliano, F. et al. “Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Sexual Function in Women with Type-2 Diabetes,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2010) 7:1883.
Maiorino, M.I. et al. “Effects of a Mediterranean Diet on Sexual Function in People with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: The MEDITA Trial,” Journal of Diabetes Complications (2016) 30:1519.
Mykoniatis, I. et al. “Sexual Dysfunction Among Young Men: Overview of Dietary Components Associated with Erectile Dysfunction,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2018) 15:176.
Studies showing that weight loss improves sex
National Weight Control Registry: http://www.nwcr.ws
Janik, M.R. et al. “Female Sexual Function Before and After Bariatric Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study and Review of Literature,” Obesity Surgery (2015) 25:1511.
Khoo, J. et al. “Comparing the Effects of Meal Replacements with Reduced-Fat Diet on Weight, Sexual and Endothelial Function, Testosterone, and Quality of Life in Obese Asian Men,” International Journal of Impotence Research (2014) 26:61.
Kolotkin, R.L. et al. “Sexual Functioning and Obesity: A Review,” Obesity (Silver Spring) (2012) 20:2325.
Martin, C.K. et al. “Effect of Calorie Restriction on Mood, Quality of Life, Sleep, and Sexual Function in Healthy Non-obese Adults: The CALERIE 2 Randomized Clinical Trial,” JAMA Internal Medicine (2016) 176:743.
Mora, M. et al. “Weight Loss Is a Major Contributor to Improved Sexual Function After Bariatric Surgery,” Surgery and Endoscopy (2013) 27:3197.
Wing, R.R. et al. “Effect of Intensive Lifestyle Intervention on Sexual Dysfunction in Women with Type-2 Diabetes: Results from an Ancillary Look AHEAD Study,” Diabetes Care (2013) 36:2937.
Wingfield, L.R. et al. “Change in Sexual Dysfunction Following Bariatric Surgery,” Obesity Surgery (2016) 26:387.
The American Psychological Association survey, Stress in America
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2010/national-report.pdf
Studies showing the sexual benefits of meditation and stress reduction
Brotto, L.A. et al. “A Mindfulness-Based Group Psychoeducational Intervention Targeting Sexual Arousal Disorder in Women,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2008) 5:1646.
Brotto, L.A. et al. “A Brief Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Improves Sexual Functioning Vs. Wait-List Controls in Women Treated for Gynecologic Cancer,” Gynecologic Oncology (2012) 125:320.
Silverstein, R.G. et al. “Effects of Mindfulness Training on Body
Awareness to Sexual Stimuli: Implications for Female Sexual Dysfunction,” Psychmosomatic Medicine (2011) 73:817.
Alcohol “provokes the desire, but takes away the performance.”
Macbeth. Act 2, Scene 3.
Studies on the sexual impact of smoking
Biebel, M.G. et al. “Male Sexual Functioning and Smoking,” Sexual Medicine Review (2016) 4:366.
Cao. S. et al. “Association of Quantity and Duration of Smoking with Erectile Dysfunction: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2014) 11:2376.
Choi, J. et al. “Dose-Response Relationship Between Cigarette Smoking and Female Sexual Dysfunction,” Obstetrics and Gynecology Science (2015) 58:302.
Harte, C.B. “Concurrent Relations Among Cigarette Smoking Status, Resting Heart Rate Variability, and Erectile Response,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2014) 11:1230.
Verze, P. et al. “The Link Between Cigarette Smoking and Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review,” European Urology Focus (2015) 1:39.
Insomnia Statistics
Roth, T. “Definition, Prevalence, Etiology, and Consequences,” Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (2007) 3(5 Suppl): S7.
Poor sleep quality impairs sexual function
Smith. L. et al. “Sleep Quality, Duration, and Associated Sexual Function at Older Age: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2019) 16:427.
Sleep apnea and sexual dysfunction
Budweiser, S. et al. “Sleep Apnea is an Independent Correlate of Erectile and Sexual Dysfunction,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2009) 6:3147.
Budweiser, S. et al. “Long-Term Changes of Sexual Function in Men with Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Initiation of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2013) 10:524.
Hanak, V. et al. “Snoring as Risk Factor for Sexual Dysfunction in Community Men,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2008) 5:898.
Kalmbach, D.A. et al. “The Impact of Sleep on Female Sexual Response and Behavior: A Pilot Study,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2015) 12:1221.
Koca, T.T. et al. “Evaluation of Sleep Disorder and Its Effects on Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome,” Turkish Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2016) 13:167.
Liu, L. et al. “Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2015) 12:1992.
Petersen, M. et al. “Long-Term Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment on Sexuality in Female Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea,” Sexual Medicine (2013) 1:62.
Petersen, M. et al. “Sexual Function in Male Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea After 1 Year of CPAP Treatment,” Clinical Respiratory Journal (2013) 7:214.
Steinke, E. et al. “Determinants of Sexual Dysfunction and Interventions for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review,” International Journal of Clinical Practice (2016) 70:5.
Zhang, X.B. et al. “Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Hormone Levels in Men with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure,” Archives of Sexual Behavior (2016) 45:235.
Sleep duration
Kalmbach, D.A.et al. “The Impact of Sleep on Female Sexual Response and Behavior: A Pilot Study,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2015) 12:1221.
Meta-analysis of 92 studies of lifestyle and sexual function
Allen, M.S. et al. “Health-Related Lifestyle Factors and Sexual Function: A Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Research,” Journal of Sexual Medicine (2018) 15:458.
