Let’s Talk About Sex: The Importance Of Sexual Wellness To Healthy Living

The birds and the bees. Hanky panky. The dirty deed. Making love. No matter what you call it, sex is a normal, natural, practically inevitable part of life. In fact, many sex therapists claim that our brains are programmed to crave sex, much like we crave food. Sex is, after all, how the human species – and every other animal species, for that matter – has managed to survive for millennia.

Aside from the obvious function of procreation, sex can contribute to overall wellness in many significant ways. According to the American Sexual Health Organization, “sexual health is more than avoiding diseases and unplanned pregnancies; it’s also about recognizing that sex can be an important part of your life.” Whether it’s traditional intercourse, masturbation, or other types of sexual activity, sex has been shown to help preserve heart health, reduce blood pressure, boost immunity, promote bonding in relationships, and improve mental well-being.

With so many important factors at stake, it’s important for adults of all ages to understand why sex is something that should be celebrated. However, when the body begins to respond differently to sexual stimuli – or in some cases, not respond at all – it can be a major cause for concern for men and women alike. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of sexual wellness to healthy living, the reason why libido naturally drops as we age, and what people can do to give their lives a major boost in the bedroom.

What’s The Motivation Behind Sex?

According to Web MD, there are two main reasons why people seek sex: body-centered sex and person-centered sex:

• Body-centered sex is when you have sex because you like the way it makes your body feel. The emotions of your partner are not your priority.
• Person-centered sex is when you have sex to connect with another person. You care about the emotions involved and how it affects the relationship between you and your partner.

According to WebMD, men generally tend to seek body-centered sex, while women are more likely to seek person-centered sex. That said, University of Hartford adjunct psychology professor Janell Carroll argues that “research also suggests that there has been a big convergence in sexual attitudes among men and women in recent years.” According to Carroll, more men in relationships are beginning to seek sex with their partner for emotional reasons, while more women in relationships are beginning to seek sex with their partner for physical reasons.

Beyond body-centered sex and person-centered sex, psychologists at UT-Austin have also identified four main categories of motivation, as published in WebMD:

• Physical reasons: Pleasure, stress relief, exercise, sexual curiosity, or physical attraction.
• Goal-based reasons: To make a baby, improve social status, or seek revenge.
• Emotional reasons: Love, commitment, or gratitude.
• Insecurity reasons: To boost self-esteem, keep a partner from seeking sex elsewhere, or feeling a sense of duty or pressure.

It’s easy to see that there are a lot of driving forces behind the desire to have sex. However, it’s natural for sexual desire – or libido – to increase and decrease over a person’s lifetime.

Why Does Sexual Libido Decrease With Age?

There are many factors that affect sexual libido including psychological, social, and physical conditions. However, the #1 reason why people see a decline in sexual libido is due to the bodily changes that naturally occur during menopause and andropause, typically in men and women who are at least 45 years old.

How Does Menopause & Andropause Affect Sexual Health?

Sexual Health In Women:

As women head towards menopause, their estrogen levels drop, which can have an effect on sexual libido and physical response to stimulation. Additionally, the hot flashes, weight gain, and sleep problems that typically accompany menopause can also make it harder for women of a certain age to “get in the mood.” Childbirth also puts a lot of pressure on women’s bodies, and multiple pregnancies can affect the female anatomy.

Sexual Health In Men:

In men, testosterone production begins to decrease at age 35. After 35, it goes down by about 1% per year. That hormonal change, combined with the stress of work pressure and increased family obligations, can make it more difficult for men to get and maintain an erection that’s firm enough for sexual intercourse. The typical term to describe low libido or sexual dysfunction in men is “erectile dysfunction,” or ED.

How Can Men And Women Take Control Of Their Sex Lives?

Thankfully, low libido does not mean the end of your sex life. There are a number of solutions on the market for men and women who are looking to take back control of their bodies, boost their confidence, and increase sexual arousal:

• Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate): Viagra works for men with erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis so they can get and maintain an erection hard enough for sex.
• Cialis (Tadalafil): Cialis works by increasing blood flow to the penis. It can also be used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate and high blood pressure in the lungs.
• Vyleesi (Bremelanotide Injection): Vyleesi is the first and only FDA-approved as-needed treatment for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.
• Addyi (Flibanserin): Addyi is the first and only FDA-approved non-hormonal pill for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in premenopausal women.

Although Viagra, Cialis, Vyleesi, and Addyi are all great options for men and women who are experiencing frustratingly low libido, many people don’t like the idea of relying on a pill or an injection every day or every time they want to have sex.

If you are seeking a long-lasting, all-natural way to get your mojo back in a relaxing, spa-like environment, Jiva Med Spa offers a number of treatments and procedures that can make you feel like a younger, sexier version of yourself.

Top Sexual Health Treatments At Jiva Med Spa:

O-Shot

Obviously, sex is an essential part of life, intimacy, and relationships. However, 25% of women have problems experiencing orgasm. Developed by the same doctor who created the world-renowned “Vampire Facial,” the O-Shot, or Orgasm Shot, uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and natural growth factors to rejuvenate the vagina, increase sex drive, deepen orgasms, improve painful intercourse, and reduce urinary incontinence in women.

The O-Shot procedure is very simple and can be performed in a matter of minutes. First, your doctor will apply a topical numbing treatment to your clitoris and vaginal wall to ensure a pain-free procedure. If requested, they may also administer a local anesthetic. Next, your doctor will draw blood from your arm, separate the platelet-rich plasma, and fill an injection device full of your body’s unique growth factors. Lastly, they’ll inject your clitoris and G-Spot with the platelet-rich plasma. Many women notice a change almost immediately, but it usually takes 3-4 weeks to feel the full effects. The O-Shot is effective for 1-2 years, after which repeat shots may be necessary.

P-Shot

Erectile dysfunction is a very common problem. According to the Huffington Post via Cleveland Clinic, “as many as 52% of men experience erectile dysfunction, with it affecting 40% of men age 40, and 70% of men age 70.” Despite its prevalence, many men are embarrassed or even ashamed to admit they experience issues getting or maintaining an erection. Like the O-Shot, the P-Shot – or Priapus Shot – involves taking platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from your blood and injecting it into your penis. By injecting blood-derived growth factors into the penis, you can enjoy firmer and longer-lasting erections.

The process of administration of the P-Shot is very similar to the O-Shot, except the PRP is injected into the penis, not the vagina. Immediately after treatment, many men notice an increase in length and girth of the penis, and those benefits tend to improve over time as the body’s unique growth factors work their magic. P-Shot results typically last up to 18 months, after which many men opt for repeat treatments to maintain the results. A major benefit of the P-Shot is that it can be used in conjunction with other erectile dysfunction treatments, although it’s always best to consult with your primary care doctor to reduce the risk of negative side effects.

Diva Laser Vaginal Therapy

Like Geneveve by Viveve, Diva Laser Vaginal Therapy is designed to help improve the sexual health of women who experience dryness, looseness, or decreased pleasure during sex due to hormonal changes or age. Diva Laser Vaginal Therapy is a form of skin resurfacing localized to the vagina, and it’s used to treat a variety of problems including post-childbirth scars and loose skin, dryness, discomfort, and vaginal opening size.

During the Diva procedure, a dual-wavelength hybrid laser is applied to the walls of the vagina to create microlesions. While this may sound invasive, it’s actually a relatively painless process. Over a period of at least three Diva sessions, the microlesions stimulate the body to produce more collagen, therefore tightening the vaginal wall. This increase in collagen production eventually builds back tissue that was impacted by vaginal births, in addition to the mucous lining that contributes to vaginal dryness.

After each Diva treatment, women can expect to experience little-to-no pain and minimal downtime, making it an ideal on-the-go solution. While sex should be avoided for at least 48 hours post-treatment, the vagina should feel totally normal otherwise. Diva takes much less time than many traditional vaginal rejuvenation treatments, and one 3-5 minute session covers the full vaginal canal.

Hormone Therapy

Hormones are one of the body’s most important regulatory systems, and they act as natural chemical messengers that stimulate specific cells and organs into action. However, as we age, the way in which our body systems operate naturally changes. Some target tissues become less sensitive to the hormones that control them, and the supply of hormones produced by the endocrine system also begins to fluctuate. When a hormonal imbalance occurs, it can cause a variety of side effects and symptoms, including reduced sexual desire and performance. For people who are looking to find relief from age-related symptoms including reduced libido, hormone therapy can be an effective solution.

According to The North American Menopause Society, hormone therapy products that raise estrogen levels throughout the body can be an appropriate therapy for vaginal atrophy and pain during sex. For men, hormone therapy is thought to improve erectile dysfunction by returning testosterone levels back to what they once were. One company that’s at the forefront of hormone therapy is BioTe Medical, which produces FDA-approved bioidentical hormone pellets that are subcutaneously inserted in a quick, painless procedure. The pellets naturally dissolve over time, keeping hormone levels – and thus, sex drive – consistent throughout the day and night.

Conclusion: Sex is a natural, healthy part of life, and adults of all ages deserve to enjoy it.

No matter if you’re a young adult who’s exploring your sexuality, or a postmenopausal mother of four, adults of all ages deserve to have active, healthy, and satisfying sex lives. However, due to a number of psychological, social, and physical factors, many people are left feeling frustrated – not fulfilled – by their sexual encounters. While it’s always best to consult with your doctor if you’re not feeling quite like yourself, it can be a relief to know that you’re not alone, and that there are a number of treatments on the market that can help.

At Jiva Med Spa, we focus on the full body, and how mental, physical, and emotional health work together to create a vibrant life. That’s why we view sexual health as an important component to overall wellness, and it’s also why we offer the O-Shot, P-Shot, Geneveve By Viveve, Diva Laser Vaginal Therapy, and Hormone Therapy to our patients in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting, all-natural treatment or procedure that’ll help you feel like your young, sexy self, feel free to schedule a consultation with us today! We’ll talk through your symptoms in a comfortable, spa-like environment, and recommend a treatment plan to meet your goals. Free to call us at (614) 421-7546 in Columbus, or (937) 705-9430 in Dayton to get started.