Many people experienced a drop in libido during lockdown and with restrictions still in place, many are still feeling the effects. We run through some lifestyle factors that can make all the difference when it comes to restoring a flagging sex drive.
For many people, the pressures of lockdown dealt a real blow to their sex drives. With stress and anxiety soaring and day-to-day routines disrupted, sex is likely to have tumbled down the priority list.
Among those who were locked down with a partner, the lack of space may have contributed to a loss of libido. This concept was memorably unpacked by the sex therapist Esther Perel in her book Mating in Captivity. Existing relationship problems may have been magnified, and even the happiest of couples might have felt things grow stale.
Among those who don’t live with a partner, there simply wasn’t the option for physical intimacy even if the desire was there.
Of course some lucky couples may have appreciated having the extra time to devote to each other, while some people actually experience a heightened sex drive at stressful times. However, it’s not surprising that intimacy was off the table for many. According to a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, under 40% of UK adults had regular sex during lockdown.
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