The Effects of Acute Exercise on Physiological Sexual Arousal in Women

Abstract

This chapter examines the relationship between acute exercise and physiological sexual arousal in women. The first section of the chapter provides foundational knowledge on the physiological sexual arousal response, which is characterized by increased blood flow to the genitals and subsequent vasocongestion, and then highlights the faciliatory effect of acute exercise on this response. Based on a series of studies that investigated autonomic nervous system influences on sexual arousal in women, the second section suggests that activation of the sympathetic nervous system is most likely the mechanism that facilitates the relationship between acute exercise and increased physiological sexual arousal. Finally, the chapter discusses key clinical implications of the relationship between acute exercise and physiological arousal, particularly for women who have a history of childhood sexual abuse, women who have undergone hysterectomies, and women who report sexual arousal problems due to antidepressant medication use.