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Sunlight Boosts Sex Drive
New research suggests a simple, delightful way to increase romantic passion
Sex might happen most often in the dark, but new research shines some encouraging light on one way to potentially boost romantic passion: Get some sun. Both of you.
Exposure to bright artificial light may boost testosterone levels and sexual satisfaction in men, past research has suggested. And because sunlight can boost alertness and energy levels, other researchers have suggested catching some rays might increase sexual activity. But there’s not a lot of research on the topic.
A new study, in mice and men and women, finds exposure to lab-produced, sun-like ultraviolet radiation (UVB, specifically) boosts attraction and sex activity in mice and, among humans, “increased levels of romantic passion in both genders.”
That’s a small study, of course, and there’s no guarantee that going outside is suddenly going to make you a sex god or goddess. But the findings could offer help for people with sex-steroid-related dysfunctions, the researchers say.
“It has been known for many years now that ultraviolet radiation from sunlight increases testosterone levels in males, and we also know that sunlight plays a major role in both the behavioral and hormonal regulation of sexuality,”…
