Women’s sexual desire is more strongly affected by stress, new study suggests

A study in Austria found that higher subjective stress is linked to lower sexual desire and arousal in the moment. Furthermore, sexual activity was associated with lower subsequent levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The paper was published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.

Stress and sexuality are closely interconnected because they involve overlapping hormonal, emotional, and cognitive processes. When a person experiences chronic stress, the body releases higher levels of cortisol, which can interfere with sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. This hormonal imbalance may lead to reduced libido and difficulties with sexual arousal or performance.

Stress can also narrow attention and increase self-consciousness, making it harder to feel relaxed or emotionally connected with a partner. Psychological tension may trigger an avoidance of intimacy, especially if the stress originates from relationship conflicts. In some individuals, however, stress can increase sexual desire as a form of emotional release or reassurance.

Study author Hanna M. Mües and her colleagues investigated the association between subjective stress and levels of the stress hormone cortisol on one hand, and sexual desire, arousal, and activity on the other. They were particularly interested in how these associations unfold in daily life. Based on the ‘tend-and-befriend’ model, they hypothesized that the link between sexuality and stress reduction would be stronger in women than in men.

Participants were recruited via flyers and online posts in Vienna, Austria. While 270 individuals were initially assessed, the final study sample consisted of 63 healthy, heterosexual participants between 19 and 32 years of age (32 women and 31 men). The participants’ average age was about 24.5 years.

Free daily newsletter

For 14 consecutive days, participants used an iPod to provide ratings of their current sexual arousal, sexual desire, and stress up to six times per day. They also provided saliva samples six times per day for cortisol analysis. Directly after any sexual activity (within 15 minutes), participants completed an additional event-based report. Masturbation, petting, oral sex, sexual intercourse, and anal sex were all considered sexual activities.

The results showed that when participants reported higher levels of subjective stress, they also tended to experience lower levels of sexual desire and arousal at the same time. While this was true for both genders, the reverse association—higher sexual desire and arousal being linked to lower stress—was only significant for women.

The study also found a key gender difference related to the biological stress response. Higher cortisol levels were significantly associated with lower concurrent sexual desire in women, but not in men. No significant time-lagged associations were found, meaning stress at one point in the day did not predict lower desire a few hours later. However, previous sexual activity was significantly associated with lower cortisol levels later, suggesting a biological stress-reducing effect of sex for both men and women.

“The present findings indicate that feelings of stress inhibit momentary sexual desire and arousal. In light of the Dual Control Model, stress may play a role in inhibiting sexual processes,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the links between stress and sexuality. However, its generalizability is limited, as the participants were young, healthy, and heterosexual adults in stable relationships. Results on more diverse demographic groups might differ.

The paper, “Too stressed for sex? Associations between stress and sex in daily life,” was authored by Hanna M. Mües, Charlotte Markert, Anja C. Feneberg, and Urs M. Nater.