Let's Talk About Sex: the Comprehensive Relationship Between Blood Sugar and Libido
You are what you eat…
This statement is inaccurate because we are not about to turn into a pizza or a head of broccoli, but also has some truth to it. Diet impacts women’s health in a variety of ways, including sexual desire.
If the thought of getting it on has no appeal or maybe even stresses you out, you are not alone. People who have chronically elevated blood sugar such as women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or insulin resistance are more likely to lack libido and sexual satisfaction. Research shows that excess body weight, chronically elevated blood sugar levels, anxiety and depression are all contributors to difficulty of arousal. Yet, even lean women with PCOS have low libido compared to women without PCOS or insulin resistance (1).
There are several components that may be the cause for your low sex drive if you have PCOS or insulin resistance (or both). Research evaluated by the American Diabetes Association contribute difficulty to in arousal and trouble reaching orgasm can be contributed to poor blood flow, nerve damage, and imbalanced hormones from unmanaged elevated blood sugar levels(2). This does not mean that if you have insulin resistance you will struggle to become aroused, but it does indicate the first step to a better sex drive is to get your blood sugars under control.
Another factor that can impact libido is mood. Anxiety and depression are mood killers! Unfortunately women who have PCOS are more likely to develop psychological distress in the form of anxiety and depression (3). As diet and PCOS are interrelated in terms of symptoms severity, a high quality diet and lifestyle modifications can support improved mood. A happy mood can help a healthy sex drive.
How can I improve my sex drive?
Sex is complex, especially when it comes to female pleasure and PCOS challenges that make desire the bottom priority. Depending on the severity of sexual challenges, a good first step is getting control of your blood glucose levels. Managing blood sugar can help raise libido by supporting nerve function and boost how you feel in your body. Sex does not need to be an added stress.
Focus on getting in quality nutrients daily including proteins, plants, whole grains, and probiotic rich dairy. Consider joining my Whole Body Hormone Healing Program where I guide you step by step to manage your blood sugar and hormone balance to increase energy, improve lab values and potentially boost sexual satisfaction. If you are ready to jump right in, apply here!
xx Emily, Live Well Dietitian
**This is not medical advice, if you are experiencing pain, psychological discomfort, or severe difficulty getting aroused contact your medical provider.
References:
Kudesia, R., Alexander, M., Gulati, M., Kennard, A., & Tollefson, M. (2021). Dietary Approaches to Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 15(4), 414–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276211007113
Sex and diabetes. Sex and Diabetes | ADA. (n.d.). https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/sexual-health/sexdiabetes#:~:text=Low%20libido%2C%20or%20sexual%20desire,lower%20your%20blood%20glucose%20levels
Chaudhari, A. P., Mazumdar, K., & Mehta, P. D. (2018). Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Indian journal of psychological medicine, 40(3), 239–246. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_561_17
