Endurance Exercise Training and Male Sexual Libido
Hackney AC, Lane AR, Register-Mihalik J, O'Leary CB.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017 Feb 13.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the associations between aspects of endurance exercise training and the sexual libido in healthy men using a cross-sectional online survey study design.
METHODS: A developed online survey questionnaire was utilized. The questionnaire was based upon pre-existing validated questionnaires and use to assess elements of physical characteristics, exercise training-habits and libido of participants (n=1077). Three evidence-based categories were created for the primary outcome of total libido score and low, normal, and high response categories set. The high and normal categories were combined to form a high/normal score group and the low category formed a low score group. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated to examine group categorization.
RESULTS: Age, training intensity, and training duration of participants had significant (p<0.02) univariate relationships, with libido scores and were thus included in the multivariate model. In the multivariate model, training intensity (p<0.0001) and duration (p<0.002) components were the most significantly associated with libido group designation (high/normal vs. low). Participants with the lowest (OR: 6.9; 95% CI: 2.6-17.9) and mid-range training intensities (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.3) had greater odds of high/normal libido state than those with the highest training intensity. Participants with the shorter (OR: 4.1; 95% CI: 1.6-10.0) and mid-range training durations (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-4.8 ) at their current intensity also had greater odds of high/normal libido score than those with a greatest duration.
CONCLUSION: Exposure to higher levels of chronic intense and greater durations of endurance training on a regular basis are significantly associated with a decreased libido scores in men. Clinicians who treat male patients for sexual disorders and, or council couples on infertility issues should consider the degree of endurance exercise training a man is performing as a potential complicating factor.