Improved Sexual Function through Yoga: Unveiling Its Advantages
Yoga and Its Impact on Sexual Health
A myriad of wellness blogs advocate yoga for improved sexual experiences, with numerous personal accounts attesting to its effectiveness - sometimes to an extent that seems remarkable. But does the scientific research support these claims? Let's delve into the evidence.
Modern research is beginning to corroborate the numerous health benefits of yoga, an ancient practice. Conditions for which yoga apparently offers relief range from depression and stress to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and thyroid issues.
Recent studies have also shedded light on the mechanisms behind these benefits. Yoga is shown to suppress the body's inflammatory response, counteract genetic expressions associated with stress, lower cortisol levels, and boost a protein that aids in brain growth and maintenance.
The question remains, though: can yoga's poses enhance our sex lives? We'll explore the research on this intriguing question.
Enhanced Sexual Function in Women
One notable study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found improvements in sexual function for women over 45 after 12 weeks of yoga practice. The study involved 40 women who self-reported on their sexual function before and after sessions practicing 22 specific poses.
The women experienced significant improvements across all components of the Female Sexual Function Index, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Seventy-five percent of the women reported improvements in their sex lives following yoga training.
Poses such as the triangle pose, the snake, and the half spinal twist are believed to strengthen the pelvic floor, improve mood, and enhance core abdominal muscles, all contributing to improved sexual function.
Amplified Sexual Function in Men
Men aren't left untouched by yoga's benefits either. A study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav, neurologist at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, India, demonstrated that a 12-week yoga program improved sexual satisfaction for men.
At the conclusion of the program, the participants showed marked improvements in all aspects of sexual satisfaction, such as desire, intercourse satisfaction, performance, confidence, partner synchronization, erection, ejaculatory control, and orgasm.
The same researchers also conducted a comparative trial, finding that yoga is a viable nonpharmacological alternative to fluoxetine (Prozac) in treating premature ejaculation.
Mechanisms Behind Improved Sexual Health
A study by researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia (UBC), in Vancouver offers insights into how yoga might enhance sexual health.
The study suggests that yoga regulates attention, breathing, and stress levels, triggers relaxation, and activates the nervous system to promote rest and digestion. All of these effects are associated with improved sexual response.
Psychological mechanisms also play a role. Female yoga practitioners are less likely to objectify their bodies, while also being more aware of their physical selves, leading to increased sexual assertiveness and desires.
Moola Bandha: A Potential Secret
While stories of energy blockages and kundalini energy defy rigorous scientific evidence, other yogic concepts may be more convincing. Moola bandha is one such concept.
This perineal contraction is thought to influence the autonomic nervous system, stimulating the gonads and perineal body/cervix. Some studies suggest that practicing moola bandha may alleviate period pain, childbirth pain, and sexual difficulties in women, as well as help treat premature ejaculation and manage testosterone secretion in men.
In essence, yoga practices such as moola bandha and movements aimed at strengthening the pelvic floor can contribute to improved sexual experiences and even help alleviate conditions like vestibulodynia and vaginismus.
Assessing the Evidence: Taking a Step Back
While the notion of "yogasms" may spark excitement, it's essential to remember the significant difference between the abundance of anecdotal evidence and the scarcity of empirical, or experimental, evidence.
Although the studies cited above showed improvements in sexual satisfaction and function for both men and women, many of these studies had relatively small sample sizes and lacked control groups. However, more recent studies, focusing on women with sexual dysfunction combined with other conditions, have provided stronger evidence.
For example, a randomized controlled trial for women with metabolic syndrome, a group with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction, found significant improvements in arousal and lubrication following a 12-week yoga program.
Another randomized study found sexual benefits for women with multiple sclerosis (MS) after three months of yoga training. In keeping with this study, women practicing yoga demonstrated improvements in physical ability and sexual function, while those in the control group showed worsening symptoms.
In conclusion, While more research is needed to confirm the sexual benefits of yoga, the preliminary findings are promising. As we continue to unveil the mysteries of this ancient practice, one thing becomes increasingly apparent: incorporating yoga into our daily routines may well enrich our lives in more ways than we can currently imagine.
Yoga's effects on sexual health are supported by some scientific research, as demonstrated by studies that show increased sexual function in both women and men. For instance, a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found significant improvements in sexual function for women over 45 after 12 weeks of yoga practice. Similarly, a study led by Dr. Vikas Dhikav showed marked improvements in sexual satisfaction for men following a 12-week yoga program. Mechanisms behind these benefits could involve yoga's ability to regulate attention, breathing, and stress levels, trigger relaxation, and activate the nervous system to promote rest and digestion, all of which are associated with improved sexual response. However, more research is needed to further confirm the sexual benefits of yoga, particularly with larger sample sizes and control groups.
