A study at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands has said a simple way for women to boost their libido is to wear socks in bed.
Researchers found that 80% of women involved were able to achieve orgasm when they were given socks to wear, compared with 50 per cent when barefooted.
In addition to the sock revelation, there are other mundane things we do every day that can have a significant impact on our sex lives.
Couples who have a TV in their bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t, according to a 2006 study of 523 Italian couples.
Couples who have a TV in their bedrooms tend to have less sex than those who don’t
The study also found that what you watch can play a role in your sexual relationship: violent films and reality TV were the biggest passion killers.
Certain medications can also have an effect on libido for example, blood pressure tablets.
‘If you take a tablet for your blood pressure and you stop being able to get erections within two to four weeks it’s probably the drug, but if it’s after a year or two it’s more likely to be a circulation problem,’ says Dr Graham Jackson, a cardiologist and chairman of the Sexual Advice Association
‘Diuretics tend to be the drugs that cause problems by decreasing the force of blood flow into the penis. But angiotensin receptor blockers, which are also taken for high blood pressure, actually help sex lives — women’s as well as men’s.
Even something as simple as a messy bedroom can have a negative impact in the bedroom. The mess and clutter can kill the romantic mood.
‘Women, more so than men, are prone to cognitive distractions — thinking of other things in ways that interfere with sex,’ says Debby Herbenick, author of Because It Feels Good: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction.
Libido varies hugely from person to person, but if you’ve noticed a change in desire, or sexual function, it’s worth investigating because it could be a sign of a physical or mental health issues, says Dr Michael Perring, a GP specialising in sexual medicine.
