Now that we know sex is good for us, what do we do next? A rampant sexual drive can be mind-blowing but in our modern world of stress and disease, it can also be nonexistent. Last week's column discussed the benefits of frequent sex, but if you are currently experiencing a less than luscious sex drive, frequent sex will seem a far-fetched notion. However, attempting to increase your sexual drive may not only help you reap the benefits of sex and orgasm but may also prevent you from being alienated by your partner, who's sex drive may be stronger than yours. Identifying the reasons behind a low sex drive is paramount to successfully increasing it. Certain medical conditions may be to blame, such as diabetes, circulatory problems or improper function of blood vessels (blood flow to our genitals is key for sexual drive), alcoholism, liver disease, testosterone deficiency (testosterone is the male sex hormone but is also present in smaller amounts in women, and plays a large role in sexual drive in both sexes), hyperprolactinaemia (too much prolactin may be released from the pituitary gland, inhibiting sex drive), depression, side effects of drugs or medications, obesity, anemia. Clearly, a flailing sex drive may be a red flag for some disease, and should not be left unchecked. Other more psychological reasons for a lack of sex drive include anxiety, stress, fatigue, lack of self-confidence, and a loss of interest in our partners - which is often the hardest problem to remedy. Women may also suffer from a low sex drive premenstrually, during menopause and soon after having a baby. For women, a low or absent sex drive doesn't necessarily preclude taking part in sex and reaching orgasm once properly stimulated. For men, a lack of sexual desire is often associated with impotence, although the two are separate conditions. The former is a lack of interest in sex but with the physical ability to have an erection, whereas impotence is the inability to maintain an erection despite having sexual interest. "A hard man is hard to find, said Mae West, but does this still hold true? It's incredible that it was only two decades ago, that male impotence problems were thought to be mainly psychological and not physical. Now that we know the opposite is true, and Viagra (which increases the blood flow to the penile tissues) has been invented, many a sex life and marriage have since been saved. If you cringe from therapists and doctors, and seek a more anonymous remedy to boost your sex drive, there is a long list of natural foods, herbs and supplements that may help, and may be the best initial approach. These include: Tibulus, a herb that increases sex hormones in men and women; L Argenin, an essential amino acid that helps regulate blood flow to the genital area; Ginkgo Biloba improves blood flow throughout the entire vascular system including the genital area (it is also a blood thinner so caution should be taken if taking blood thinning treatments); garlic, curcumin, fenugreek, artichoke, and ginger all lower the risk of hardening of the arteries and so help maintain blood flow; basil and cardamom also improve blood flow. More notorious foods for increasing sexual drive are oysters. Like most seafood, they contain lots of zinc, which plays an important role in producing testosterone. They also have mucopolysaccharides, which help to increase the production of seminal fluid and sustain lubrication in women. (An oyster farmer in Australia has gone so far as to feed his oysters Viagra, but the benefits and risks are yet to be evaluated, so don't hold your breath on this one). Nuts are also high in zinc, especially pecans, brazils, almonds and walnuts. Walnuts contain omega 3, as do fish oils, which are precursors of prostaglandins, chemicals that play a key role in sexual health. Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc and omega 3 as well as potassium and B vitamins, the latter are important in sex hormone production, and help prevent fatigue and depression. Celery boosts androsterone levels, a testosterone precursor; honey helps the body use and metabolize estrogen. Liquorice increases blood flow to the genital area. Chocolate (of the dark variety) has cocoa flavonols that increase blood flow, and cause dopamine and endorphins to be released, chemicals that stimulate our brain pleasure centers. Bananas and avocadoes are abundant in B vitamins. Chilies contain capsaicin, which also triggers the release of endorphins, stimulates nerve endings and increases heart rate. Figs are high in amino acids which increase sexual drive and stamina. Including the above foods in your diet, as well as reducing tobacco smoking, which can cause impotence in men, and increasing your exercise regimen, which releases endorphins and improves circulation, will all influence your sexual drive. Having a low sex drive can be detrimental to your health as well as to your relationship with your partner. Isn't it time you stimulated yours? May El Meleigyholds a Ph.D in Immunology (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), an MSc in Toxicology/Pathology (Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London) and a BSc in Pharmacology (University College London). May is a medical and health journalist, and is a regular contributor to the British Medical Journal, Lancet, and WHO bulletin. May also produces health programs for Egyptian Television.
