Does Climate Change Affect Our Sexual Life?

Climate change doesn’t only cause massive-global crisis, but it also affects various aspects of our daily life, including the time we spend with our lover in bed. This article will tell you why and how.

To receive the Luxiders Newsletter, sign up here.

Imagine during an extremely hot and humid day, you are laying down on a sticky leather sofa. You are sweating profusely, and you are just annoyed with everything. And then your lover comes up to you and tries to hug you or touch you. Let’s be honest, it
wouldn’t really be a good feeling at all.

We all know that extreme high temperatures lead to excessive sweating and stickiness that can also disrupt sleep patterns, making it difficult to get a peaceful sleep at night. Those physical and psychological discomfort can contribute to conflicts and arguments with your partners. Elevated temperatures lead to a rise in heart rate and testosterone levels, which can make us have more aggressive and negative thoughts that tends to make people more inclined to engage in confrontational behavior with a partner. According to Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, online hate speech on Tweeter was up to 22% higher in the temperatures above 30°C. It is expected to worsen when climate change causes change of economic circumstances, and lack of access to resources such as food and water.

A couple on a bed — © Claudia Love via Unsplash

PLANNING TO HAVE A BABY?

Planning to have a baby? You should be careful. Climate change, especially heat waves, can affect male’s fertility as well. Male who are exposed to a high temperature tend to produce low-quality sperm, including low volume, sperm count, concentration and motility. According to National Library of Medicine, each 1°C rise in testicular temperature results in a 14% decline in the production of sperm, and exposure to a high temperature significantly reduces sperm motility through decreased mitochondrial activity. Therefore, heat waves pose a significant risk to testicular tissue, diminishing sperm quality, and elevating the risk of infertility. Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, wildfires, tornados, and extreme floods or droughts can lead to severe stress, anxiety and depression. These unstable mental health negatively affect sex drive, and intimacy with your partners. Displacement and even migration as people are forced to move to somewhere habitable due to rising sea levels, and lack of resources will cause a physical distance between couples which can also lead to a decline in sexual satisfaction and connection.

We are currently living in climate change and extreme weather events, and now it affects every aspect of life. We should be more aware of how we can protect our environment not just for the bigger goods, but also for our happy sexual life.

+ Words:
Yoochan Si
Luxiders Magazine