How seasons impact your sex drive.

Navigating the influence of environmental shifts on libido.

Humans don’t have a mating season. Evolution and modern day creature comforts allow for very flexible fooling around. But seasonal changes may still impact the ways we relate to one another and our own bodies. Research continues to show that we are--scarily, sexily--not in full control of our desire, almost as if we are animals in little costumes.

It can be difficult to parse research on this subject, given that we also possess internal seasons, in the form of hormone cycles, aging, digestion, and ever-evolving brain circuitry, which make it impossible for researchers to say, with absolute certainty, why the sight of spring’s first cherry blossom might inspire the year’s first one night stand.

That said, if you live somewhere where the seasons change noticeably, and have found that your libido ebbs and flows thus, take a look at these reasons you might have a “sexy” season:

Vitamin D

It’s the author’s ambition to avoid playing with the term Vitamin D, but this has proven to be quite difficult, because her head is in the gutter every summer. This might be because of Vitamin D, or the “sunshine vitamin,” which we receive in heavier doses with increased exposure to sun.

A 2019 study on women found that Vitamin D was an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction, which is characterized as an issue with sexual responsiveness, pleasure, or orgasm during sex. Researchers also found that pairing Vitamin D with an erectile dysfunction medication led to better sexual outcomes in men.

Reduced melatonin

Exposure to sun decreases production of the sleep-wake hormone melatonin.

Interestingly, melatonin has been studied as a major modulator of sex hormones, particularly in women. The research is contradictory--some findings suggest melatonin inhibits sex drive and fertility, while others suggest melatonin is a great treatment for improving sexual outcomes like stimulation and orgasm.

So, while studies are inconclusive, we can see that melatonin is considered a major player in sex drive. It may be the case for you that more melatonin in the winter makes you sleepy and horned up, or it may be that you require tons of sex and less sleep in the summer (a most convenient combination).

More exercise

Warmer months encourage more movement, and exercise has been linked to a higher sex drive, especially in older adults.

Given that sex is an athletic endeavor, it stands to reason that sex improves with greater physical health. On a more technical level, sex increases blood flow, stamina, self-esteem, and it reduces stress, nature’s stealthiest cockblock.

Seasonal affective disorder

Each year roughly 10 million people in the US are impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which is described as depression occurring in a specific season, but most often begins in the late fall or early winter. It’s worth noting that a significant portion of those diagnosed with SAD also report most of their symptoms presenting in the summer.

SAD manifests similarly to Major Depressive Disorder, stripping folks of their energy. Many people diagnosed with SAD report having very low sex drive during this time, with less interest in being touched generally.

Socialization

Perhaps this goes without saying, but your likelihood to socialize more often during a particular season--probably a warmer one--may impact your state of arousal.

In our increasingly isolated society, we often discuss the magical powers of “connection,” as if socializing were a hobby recently invented, not the fuel which keeps our animal bodies alive. We are a communal bunch, driven to closeness, tending to thrive at the center of the pack, where other humans seeking connection are available in higher quantities.

And perhaps that’s a lesson for any of us seeking a bit more “drive”--sometimes the act of putting ourselves out there comes before the primal urge to do so.