What is Light Therapy, and can it really lead to more action between the sheets? Guest contributor Arnold Boom investigates.
It might be possible for a man who has just reached middle age to find himself with less desire for sexual affairs.
And we’re not only talking about middle-aged men. It’s estimated that almost a quarter of men around the World suffer from a lack of sexual interest or desire.
This drop in sex drive can be caused by many things including psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression and stress. But thankfully science has a solution: Light therapy, which can boost sexual interest up to threefold, according to a study.
Things to know about Light Therapy
For quite some time light therapy has been used to treat seasonal affective disorder or SAD. SAD occurs during late autumn and winter when we are less exposed to sunlight, impacting our hormonal balance, which in turn can lower our mood and leave us lacking energy.
Recent studies show that sexual interest can be also lessened with less exposure to light, and light therapy can redress that balance on a regular basis.
To describe the process, one is exposed to a source of very strong light, approximately 10k lux, for quite some time. Simply sit or work near a device called the ‘light therapy box’ or lightbox for short.
The lightbox radiates a very bright light that can strongly mimic the natural outdoor light, affecting important chemicals of the brain that are linked to energy, sleep, mood and even sexual interest.
The relationship between Light Therapy and Sexual Desire
Studies have shown that during summer and spring, when men are exposed to more bright sunshine, overall testosterone production grows progressively upward, which yields a pleasant autumn surprise. That is reaching the peak of testosterone production, and with it surging sexual interest. But when the gloomy months set in, so does the long discontent of winter.
Between November and April men that live in the Northern Hemisphere usually experience a slump in testosterone production. Reproduction rates generally rise and fall with this seasonal hormonal flow, and so taking light therapy can help counter this.
Light Therapy to increase sexual interest
A blast of bright light in the morning can work to suppress a man’s production of melatonin that acts as a brake on testosterone production. As testosterone production increases as a result, men start to find greater interest in sex.
As mentioned earlier, many psychological factors can also affect the production of testosterone.
According to a study, early morning exposure to bright light or going through bright light therapy regularly for two weeks has increased testosterone levels in men. And enhancing their sexual interest and satisfaction as a result. Another study revealed a close relationship between exposure to light therapy and an increase in LH levels. LH is a pituitary hormone, ‘Luteinizing Hormone’, and it raises testosterone levels in men.
Threefold increase in sexual interest by Light Therapy
In a study conducted by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress in Vienna, Austria to investigate how bright light exposure can influence men’s testosterone levels, the impact light exposure can have on sexual desire was also shown.Â
38 men who had been diagnosed with ‘Sexual Arousal Disorder’ or ‘Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder’ (HSDD) were recruited – both conditions are characterised as having low interest in sex.
The 38 participants were divided into two groups, one of which was provided 30 minute exposure every morning to a specially adapted lightbox regularly for two weeks. The other group was exposed to a lightbox that emitted much less strong light –
the control group. All these men’s interest in sex and levels of testosterone were assessed before and again after the two weeks of exposure to lightbox.
After the assessment the men that were exposed to the active light treatment showed a significant increase in their sexual interest. Before the light therapy treatment, both groups had the same average sexual satisfaction score of around 2 out of 10. But after the light therapy treatment the group that was exposed to the bright light had a sexual satisfaction score of around 6.3 – more than a threefold increase in the sexual interest.
In comparison, the control group reported an average score of just 2.7, even after going through a two-week treatment of much less strong light.
The researchers also found that the men who received the active light therapy experienced an increase in testosterone levels too, rising from 2.3 nanograms per millilitre to 3.6 nanograms per millilitre. The control group showed no change in testosterone levels either.
Final words
So, as you can see, if you are lacking sexual interest taking light therapy could help you significantly. Regular light therapy will help you regain sexual interest and also find more energy and improved mood.
