Having Less Sex Recently? A Sexologist Shares Why

Some research suggests that UK adults’ exercise levels may drop by as much as a third in the cooler months. 

A combination of darker nights, cooler temps, and even dropping vitamin D levels might contribute to the lethargy. 

And according to Yahoo! Life, you might be less “active” in the bedroom around this time of year, too.

Seasonal sex drive dips are common in the winter months, licenced sexologist and relationship therapist and author at Passionerad, Sofie Roos, told HuffPost UK. 

“While it’s not the case for everyone, many people experience a decreased sex drive during the cold months and find it problematic, especially for the relationship,” she shared. 

“And this is not only anecdotal – there’s actually a medical review done on males on the topic published in the National Library of Medicine that concluded that we actually do have less sex drive during the dark and cold months.” 

Why does our sex drive take a dip in winter?

Roos shared that there’s no single issue which leads to the cold-weather dip. 

“First off, the lack of sunlight, especially in the north, makes people less energised and affects our hormones, which makes us more tired, and… less interest[ed] in sex,” she stated. 

“The body has a tendency to go on ‘save mode’ when it’s dark and cold, which shows by many wanting to snuggle up on the sofa rather than initiate passion.” 

And even though you might associate festive holidays with fun, Roos said that in reality, the period “often leads to deadlines at work, logistic problems, tons of places to be at and economic stress”. That can get us out of the mood, too.

“Sex drive is very sensitive towards stress, as it makes us de-prioritise everything that’s not crucial for survival until we have tackled what stresses us,” she explained. 

“And lastly – hectic periods make us lose each other in the relationship as it comes so much in between, so the holidays, which should be a time for love and getting closer, paradoxically slip us apart because of all the hustle. 

“And less intimacy outside of bed also leads to less intimacy in bed.”