Does more daylight increase sex drive?

The change of season not only changes the scenery and the weather, it also directly affects our mood, our routine and, yes, our sex drive. With the arrival of good weather and more hours of sunlight, many people confess to feeling more energy, a more positive attitude... and a more ‘awakened’ libido. But is this just a perception or does it have a scientific basis?

As a sexologist, I've often heard phrases like ‘summer makes me feel hotter’ or ‘when there's more sun, I feel more like having sex’, both in and out of the office. And it makes sense. But if you want to understand why, in this article I explain the basis of this sensation , how sunlight influences sexual desire and what role hormones, mood and connection with the body play. And if you're the kind of person who feels the opposite... stay until the end.

Sunlight and sexual desire: what is the relationship?

Sexual desire is a biopsychosocial phenomenon. What? Well, it depends on biological, emotional, contextual and relational factors. One of these factors, although sometimes overlooked, is exposure to natural light .

With more hours of sunlight, our bodies produce more serotonin and dopamine , neurotransmitters related to pleasure, motivation and general well-being (Lambert et al., 2002). And of course, when we are in a better mood, more relaxed and energetic, sexual desire is more likely to come naturally.

In addition, studies show that testosterone levels - a key hormone in sexual desire in both men and women - can increase with exposure to sunlight (Waldhauser et al., 1988). This does not mean that we all become sex machines when summer arrives, but it may explain why we feel more available to eroticism in spring and summer.

The role of vitamin D in libido

A major player in this phenomenon is vitamin D , which the body makes when it receives direct sunlight. Vitamin D not only strengthens bones and the immune system, it also appears to be related to testosterone levels and thus to male sexual desire (Pilz et al., 2011).

In fact, several studies have indicated that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with low libido, sexual fatigue and erectile dysfunction . Although more research is still needed to fully understand the link, it seems that getting out in the sun (with caution) could be a good ally in promoting greater desire.

Why do we have more ‘desire’ in summer?

Beyond the hormonal aspect, the increase in sexual desire in the months with more light also has to do with psychological and social factors. With the heat we change clothes, we show more skin, we are more exposed... and all this has a direct effect on our body self-image and the perception of eroticism .

It is also more frequent (and possible) that you have more holidays, that you can disconnect from work and recover spaces for leisure, rest and intimacy. This relaxation of stress is key, as cortisol - the stress hormone - is a major inhibitor of sexual desire. When stress levels are lowered, desire has more room to flourish.

If we look at this question from a sexology perspective, we could say that in summer there is ‘more fertile ground’ for desire : the mood improves, we feel more attractive, we have more free time and there is more social contact.

Sex, circadian rhythms and natural light

Sunlight regulates our circadian rhythms, i.e. our sleep, energy and hormone production cycles. When these rhythms are well aligned, our bodies function better ... and also respond better to erotic stimuli.

Things that help you feel more ‘available’ or open to pleasure are getting a good night's sleep and feeling in tune with your own biorhythms. That's why many people notice that, when there are more daylight hours, they feel more alive, more active... and more open to erotic play.

A study by Wirz-Justice et al. (1996) even suggests that light therapy can improve sexual desire in people with seasonal affective disorder , confirming the powerful influence of natural light on our sexual well-being. Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is a treatment that uses different types of light to treat various conditions such as the regulation of circadian rhythms.

How to make the most of the sunshine hours to improve your desire

Knowing that sunlight can boost your sex drive, here are some ideas on how to integrate it into your daily routine:

• Go for a walk in the sun every day for at least 15-30 minutes , especially in the morning to avoid the strong hours of light and heat. This helps regulate your mood and your sex hormones.

• Exercise outdoors . Sport releases endorphins and improves body awareness, two allies of desire.

• Connect with your body in natural environments . I'm not asking you to have sex in public, but if you can and want to, you can flirt or frolic with your partner outdoors (always in safe, private spaces), as this helps strengthen the erotic connection.

• Slow down . Desire needs space, time and connection. Take advantage of the summer lull to rediscover your pleasure without rushing.

In short: more light, more desire

Although sexual desire is not the same for everyone, nor does it follow fixed rules, there is a physiological and emotional reality that connects us to our environment. The hours of daylight influence our hormonal, emotional and erotic state . And taking advantage of this time of year can be an excellent way to reconnect with our body, with our desire... and with pleasure.

So now you know: if you notice that with the good weather you feel sexier, more playful or with more sexual appetite, it's not a coincidence. It's biology, it's psychology... and it's also an opportunity to enjoy yourself and others more.

References

• Lambert, G. W., Reid, C., Kaye, D. M., Jennings, G. L., & Esler, M. D. (2002). Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. Lancet (London, England), 360(9348), 1840–1842.  https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(02)11737-5  

• Waldhauser, F., Weiszenbacher, G., Tatzer, E., Gisinger, B., Waldhauser, M., Schemper, M., & Frisch, H. (1988). Alterations in nocturnal serum melatonin levels in humans with growth and aging. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 66(3), 648–652.  https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem-66-3-648  

• Pilz, S., Frisch, S., Koertke, H., Kuhn, J., Dreier, J., Obermayer-Pietsch, B., Wehr, E., & Zittermann, A. (2011). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme, 43(3), 223–225.  https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1269854  

• Wirz-Justice, A., Graw, P., Kräuchi, K., Sarrafzadeh, A., English, J., Arendt, J., & Sand, L. (1996). 'Natural' light treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Journal of affective disorders, 37(2-3), 109–120.  https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0327(95)00081-x