Wear your socks to bed for a better sex life

PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Research shows that keeping your socks on in bed could be the cure for low libido that plagues many women in relationships
  • What couples watch on TV also apparently has a direct impact on their sex life

The thought of covering up your feet before you turn in may sound like a passion killer, but findings of a new study suggest otherwise.

Research shows that keeping your socks on in bed could be the cure for low libido that plagues many women in relationships.

Researchers from the University of Groningen in The Netherlands found that this effect is connected with the sense of safety and comfort that wearing socks gives a woman.

Of those polled, up to 40 per cent felt that their sex lives could be better. Findings of this study showed that women found it easier to have an orgasm when they kept their socks on. Eighty per cent of the women were able to achieve an orgasm when they were given socks to wear as compared to only 50 per cent who were able to achieve the same while bare footed.

The researchers found striking differences in the way that men and women enjoy sexual pleasure. While males focus on physical stimulation, female arousal comes from deep relaxation. They found that the regions of the brain responsible for fear and anxiety need to be deactivated for a woman to achieve a sexual climax.

A pleasant environment which includes the correct room temperature and warm feet is vital in setting the correct ambiance and mood. For the same reasons, other studies have shown that keeping one’s socks on in bed also helps one sleep better.

The researchers also uncovered other mundane things that couples do every day which have a significant impact on their sex life.

Couples who watch the television in their room for instance were found to be having sex half as often than those couples that do not.

What couples watch on TV also apparently has a direct impact on their sex life. Violent films and reality shows were found to be the biggest passion killers.

Baldness is a big cause for worry for a big number of middle aged men. The researchers also found that the drugs that treat male baldness can also cause low libido. This drug reacts by blocking the production of testosterone which often leads to erectile dysfunction. From the studies conducted, this effect may not be instantly reversible.

Dr. Michael Peming, a specialist in sexual medicine and the head of the study notes that while people have varying levels of libido, a significant change in sexual desire in a woman could signal a physical or even mental problem and should be looked into. According to Dr. Penning, if a person has a good sex life it is an indication of good health.

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