COVID Blues: Lack Of Interest in Physical Intimacy.

Is sexual appetite gone for a toss during COVID times? ETV Bharat Sukhibhava was in conversation with Dr. Rahul Reddy, Andrologist, Androcare and Andrology Institute, and this is what he has to say:

The COVID times have not only resulted in physical problems but mental health also tumbled, due to personal loss, financial problems, and uncertainty. Psychological problems in men lead to many sexual health issues like sexual dysfunction, lack of interest in sex, loss of sexual drive, and libido.

Suddenly your sexual appetite has taken a nose dive and you are facing sexual dysfunction, well you are not alone, this is the result of COVID-induced uncertainties and their effect on the physical, psychological and sexual health of individuals.

There were four main factors that affected sexual health in males during the lockdown. These include,

• Stress and Anxiety
• Lack of exercise
• Excessive Alcohol Intake and
• Vitamin D Deficiency.

Stress due to emotional insecurity resulted in anxiety in many males during the lockdown. The unknown fact here is, stress decreases the male sex hormone testosterone and increases prolactin levels. Increased prolactin levels are known to decrease sexual desire in males, resulting in erectile dysfunction, and hence stress as a result of this lockdown was one reason why many males reported sexual dysfunction.

Despite a lot of us have regular work schedules, exercise was also made a part of those schedules before the lockdown. But the lockdown had its own effects on the exercise part and the lack of exercise in males resulted in sexual dysfunction. Physical activity in both males and females is important to have good overall health. Sexual health, as a part of the overall health, can be triggered by factors like lack of exercise and no physical activity, resulting in sexual dysfunction.

As all of us were advised to stay indoors, we had an ample amount of time to spend in a day, though work from home was followed by a few people. This resulted in excessive alcohol intake in males. Before the lockdown, alcohol was occasionally taken with few men, but the lockdown resulted in excessive intake of alcohol in these men too, during the lockdown.

Excessive alcohol intake can directly cause sexual dysfunction as alcohol when over consumed increases female sex hormone, estrogen in males. This results in erectile dysfunction (ED) in males

The other factor that resulted in sexual dysfunction in males during the lockdown is the lack of Vitamin D in the body. Work from home and Corona scare has resulted in people staying indoors all day with no sun exposure to the body, which has in turn results in Vitamin D deficiency. This deficiency outcome is decreased libido in men and the end result of this is sexual dysfunction again.

These four major factors brought in many new patients to hospitals after the lockdown, complaining about sexual dysfunction. But with the right diet, exercise, sleep, and few treatments (if necessary), one can be sexually healthy and enjoy a happy sexual life once again, says Dr. Rahul Reddy.