Five Things to Know About Sex

1. There is a Sex Hormone

A hormone is a chemical that is produced by a gland in the body which then has a specific function and activities for other bodily organs. Men and women both have sex hormones that play different roles in human behavior and attitudes and which affect both our abilities to increase or decrease our libidos or desire to have sexual intercourse. The male sex hormone is testosterone and the female sex hormone is estrogen. Sex hormones affect the grown and function of the reproductive organs as well as have an impact on sexual behaviors.

2. Sex Hormones in Women

The female sex hormones influence many things including the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Sexual disorders in women can occur either due to excess or a lack of the appropriate amounts of certain hormones. Menstrual problems and infertility are the most common disorders that are caused by hormones in women. Many hormonal problems are treatable; however, as with any condition a woman should seek medical advice if there is ever a concern regarding their sexual health and sexual appetites.

3. Lack of Sexual Desire in Women

Estrogen is the sex hormone that is produced by a woman’s ovary. Estrogen is responsible for the stimulation and growth of a woman’s sex organs as well as the regulation of the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is important in maintaining the conditions of the vaginal linings as well as providing lubrication for the vagina.

Estrogen production in women drop as they age and moves past child-bearing years. The major sexual impact of a decrease in estrogen production is the shrinking of the vagina and a thinning of the vaginal walls. Many women also experience loss of elasticity as well as decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual activity and arousal.

4. Sex Hormones in Males

Androgens are sex hormones produced primarily in the testes of males. They help to trigger the development of the testes and the penis in the male fetus. They also start the process of puberty and influence those secondary sex characteristics that we have come to recognize as a “male.” After puberty, androgens, specifically, testosterone, play a role in regulating the sex drive. If there are large deficiencies of testosterone there may be a drop in sexual desire. In men, too little testosterone may cause difficulty in obtaining or maintaining erections.

5. Impact on Erectile Function

A recent study of thousands of males in Massachusetts found that there was no association between erectile function and testosterone levels. This basically means that men could be deficient in testosterone and still have the ability to produce an erection.