Exercise can help increase sexual desire in women who take antidepressants, a latest study states.
The research was conducted on 52 women who were experiencing low sex drive after taking antidepressants. Researchers found that half hour exercise improved participants' sex drive.
For the study, participants were told to have sex thrice a week for three weeks. Then, for the next three weeks, they were asked to work-out for about 30 minutes before sex.
The women were then asked about their sexual function, satisfaction and psychological health, as well as their sexual desires.
"These findings have important implications for public health, as exercise as a treatment for sexual side effects is accessible, cheap and does not add to burden of care," study researcher Tierney Lorenz, an Indiana University post-doctoral research fellow, said in a press release.
The researchers found that women who exercised for at least 30 minutes before having sex showed increased levels of sexual desire. They also reported improved sexual functions. Working out regularly can help women with low sex drive, the study authors maintained.
According to the researchers, exercise turns on the sympathetic nervous system that is responsible for blood flow to the genital area. Antidepressants generally lower the blood flow to the region.
"Considering the wide prevalence of antidepressant sexual side effects and the dearth of treatment options for those experiencing these distressing effects, this is an important step in treating sexual dysfunction among women who are taking antidepressants," Lorenz says.
Exercising has various health benefits. Recent studies have shown that it can help cure dementia and also lowers breast cancer risk. One particular study also stated that working out regularly for at least half hour can combat womb cancer risk.
"To reduce the risk of womb and other cancers, World Cancer Research Fund recommends being as lean as possible without becoming underweight and being active for at least 30 minutes every day," World Cancer Research Fund executive director Karen Sadler, said.