How Diet Affects the Sex Lives of Women

The incidence of female sexual dysfunction, at some point in their life, is high—at least 40 percent. Women are often uncomfortable bringing up sexual concerns with their doctors; physicians are often reluctant to ask about the topic. Sexual dysfunction is likely underdiagnosed and rarely treated adequately. Obviously, sexual health is closely related to overall health. Chronic conditions, including neurological impairments, renal disease, inflammatory disorders, and cancer, can negatively impact sexual health.

All of these conditions, as well as general health, are strongly influenced by a person's diet. For most Americans, a low-quality diet is due to a greater intake of "highly processed foods." These foods are designed to be particularly rewarding by adding fat, salt, or refined carbohydrates, including cookies, ice cream, cheeseburgers, pizza, soda, and sweet coffee drinks. These food items offer a pleasurable taste, affordability, and easy availability. People often report that they specifically choose to eat highly processed foods to enhance their positive emotions and reduce their negative emotions. Previous studies have shown how a low-quality diet can negatively affect male sexual activity. Unfortunately, the role of diet in female sexuality has not been well studied.

The preliminary data on the topic are limited but suggestive that diet does influence female sexuality. A recent review outlined how female sexuality is affected by diets that lead to metabolic syndrome, obesity, and eating disorders. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by increased insulin resistance, plaque formation in the major arteries, and obesity. These conditions increase the risk of heart attacks and death. Obesity is often a consequence of metabolic syndrome and may directly affect sexual health. Essentially, obesity produces excessive levels of inflammation throughout the body leading to decreased levels of the blood gas nitric oxide. Consequently, blood flow to the genitourinary system is reduced, leading to decreased clitoral blood flow and sexual enjoyment.

Studies of obese women undergoing bariatric surgery reported a moderate level of improvement in sexual functioning that dissipated when the women returned to their baseline weight levels. Studies that incorporated a low-calorie diet and some physical exercise found significant improvements in sexual functioning that correlated with reduced body weight and improved insulin resistance. Some recent studies suggested that the Mediterranean diet may alleviate the sexual dysfunction of obese women and reduce blood levels of inflammatory cytokines.

Females with other eating disorders also tend to have a high rate of sexual dysfunction. For example, patients with bulimia tend to be impulsive and engage in higher-risk sexual behaviors, while anorexics report decreased arousal, lubrication, and orgasmic function.

Diet-induced metabolic syndrome and obesity, in concert with a significant elevation in systemic inflammation, place a strain on the body that can lead to sexual dysfunction. The good news is that a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can potentially serve a protective function.