A romantic dinner can show your spouse or significant other how special you think they are. Champagne, candlelight, and hormones can spice things up even more…
That’s right…we said hormones. We know…the chemicals produced by your endocrine system aren’t generally front of mind when thinking about romance. But…they are exactly what’s needed to fan the flames on date night.
Unfortunately, our bodies produce fewer and fewer of the hormones needed to fuel desire as we age. And romance can suffer as a result.
Here are just some of the hormones (and a couple of amino acids) that can impact your romantic life for better or worse:
- Testosterone
- Estrogen
- Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
- DHEA
- Oxytocin
- Histidine
- Citrulline
You may think testosterone is only important for men. And you’d be wrong.
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for arousal in both men and women. And production declines as you get older…which can make it difficult to get your mind and body in the mood.
For women, estrogen stimulates sexual desire and promotes vaginal lubrication. Loss of estrogen production during and after menopause can cause uncomfortable or painful sex, and it can also cause a decrease in interest.
For men it’s the opposite. Estrogen production actually increases as men get older. The result can be erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or reduced libido.
You may associate HGH with performance enhancement within the world of sports…but it also affects sex drive and sexual performance.
In particular, growth hormone supports the healthy blood flow men and women need for sexual arousal and performance.
Several studies have linked low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to an
increased risk of ED in men and reduced libido in women.
Commonly known as the “love hormone”, oxytocin is associated with bonding and emotional closeness, and its levels tend to be higher in couples during the early stages of romance.
Oxytocin is also released during sex and impacts the intensity of orgasms.
Your body uses this amino acid to produce histamine. Although more commonly associated with allergic reactions, histamine has also been shown to increase female libido and may be necessary for orgasms to occur.
Another amino acid, citrulline is found in watermelon and some other foods. Your body converts it to another amino acid, arginine.
Both arginine and citrulline are converted by your body into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a vasodilator…meaning it relaxes blood vessels to improve blood flow. And improved blood flow contributes to firmer, longer lasting erections for men, as well as enhanced arousal for both men and women.
That’s A Long List!
The good news is that any one or all of the above can be restored to optimal levels. And we can help.
At Renew Youth we know a healthy sex life is a big part of a healthy life overall. We can help to identify what’s causing any challenges you might be having…and provide you with a treatment regimen that will help you to get your love life back on track.
Want to learn more? Give us a call at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.