Austrian researchers have found that high momentary subjective stress is directly associated with a decrease in sexual desire and arousal. At the same time, the scientists demonstrated that sexual activity noticeably lowers cortisol levels after some time, meaning it truly acts as a natural anti-stress mechanism. The study was published in Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Stress and sexuality have long been considered interconnected processes: the hormones, emotions, and cognitive responses involved in both systems overlap. Chronic tension increases levels of cortisol — the stress hormone — which can suppress the effects of sex hormones, disrupt libido, and reduce the ability to experience arousal. Stress also narrows attention, heightens self-criticism, and makes it harder to relax or feel emotional closeness. In some situations, tension can have the opposite effect and increase desire as a way to relieve anxiety, though such cases are rare.
The research team led by Hanna M. Müß investigated how stress and sexuality interact in everyday life. The experiment included 63 healthy volunteers aged 19–32 (32 women and 31 men). Over two weeks, the participants reported their levels of sexual desire, arousal, and momentary stress up to six times a day, and provided saliva samples for cortisol analysis. After each episode of sexual activity, they completed an additional questionnaire.
The data showed that during periods of elevated subjective stress, sexual desire and arousal declined noticeably — in both men and women. However, the reverse relationship appeared only in women: moments of greater desire and arousal were associated with significantly lower stress levels for them.
Sex differences also emerged in the biological response. In women, higher cortisol levels were linked to lower sexual desire at the same moment. In men, this association was not observed. The researchers did not identify delayed effects: stress experienced earlier in the day did not influence libido several hours later. However, a recent episode of sexual activity was associated with reduced cortisol at the next measurement point — in both men and women.
Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter