The reasons such as being in the same house during the pandemic process, getting into the routine of life, increasing the need for private space and decreasing personal care decreased the sexual interest between the partners.
Stating that sexual communication is of great importance for a healthy and happy sexual life, experts expressed that job satisfaction and sexual satisfaction mutually affect each other. Experts recommend that couples who experience more frequent anxiety and unwillingness seek expert support.
Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatrist Dr. Faculty Member Dilek Sarıkaya made an assessment about the sexual life affected by the pandemic process.
Saying that the pandemic process affects life in many ways, including changes in normal routine, work, travel, and socialization skills, Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya noted that many people feel bored, scared and sad during this process.
Stress reduces sexual desire
Explaining that this situation naturally manifests itself in the sexual behaviors, interests, relationships and even in the bodies of individuals, Dr. Stating that many people experience higher levels of stress and anxiety during the pandemic process, this actually sends the message to our brains that we are in danger, “When we are in danger, it is rarely a good idea to have sex from an evolutionary perspective. Increasing cortisol levels due to stress makes it inevitable to decrease sexual desire. For this reason, we can also mention that the pandemic process has a biological and hormonal effect on sexual life ”.
Pandemic made it difficult for partners to think about sexuality
Stating that starting from home with the pandemic process, spending all the time together, children being at home all day long, increasing working hours while working from home, even changing meal and sleep times cause problems with both personal space and privacy, Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya said the following:
“This situation has resulted in abstinence from sexuality, as well as a decrease in sexual desire due to decreased personal care and lack of stimulus. The inability of partners who do not live together to come together due to quarantine and social distancing, and individuals who do not have regular partners to avoid sexual activity due to contagion anxiety and insecurity can also be considered among the factors affecting sexual life.
Sexual desire dropped
Stating that some studies investigating the effects of the pandemic process on sexual life found that people had less sex during the epidemic and many experienced a decrease in the quality of their sexual life, Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya said, “In general, it is possible to talk about the decrease in sexual desire and frequency of sexual activity. However, one in five also reported that they have tried new sexual activities since the beginning of the pandemic. On the other hand, there are research results that show that people increase the frequency of sexual activity in order to have a good time, reduce anxiety and cope with stress in this period of intense stress such as the quarantine process and staying at home, ”he said.
Individual differences may become apparent
Stating that it would be more appropriate to consider the reactions people give to stress during the pandemic process as individual differences rather than the distinction between men and women. Dilek Sarıkaya said, “While some people completely lose their interest in sexuality in this process, others can use sexuality as a coping mechanism to stay connected and reduce anxiety. "These differences between spouses may become more pronounced during this period and increase the risk of sexual desire incompatibility".
Strengthen communication
Stating that sexual communication is of great importance for a healthy and happy sexual life, Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya stated that relationship satisfaction and sexual satisfaction affect each other mutually.
Stating that during the pandemic process, some problems such as increased duration of stay at home, disputes in sharing domestic responsibilities, increased need for personal space and not being able to meet this need can trigger communication problems and cause conflict. Dilek Sarıkaya emphasized that good communication between spouses will be an important key in solving the problem in such cases. Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya said, “If they cannot identify the problem and approach in a solution-oriented manner and produce solutions alone, it would be appropriate to seek consultancy. In addition, we know that the feeling of depressed or intense anxiety is significantly effective in reducing sexual desire. "We can recommend that if one or both of the spouses have complaints such as intense anxiety and depression, they should not hesitate to seek help from a psychiatrist."
Get expert support if you can't overcome the problems
Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya, being at home constantly and decreasing personal care, becoming monotonous and monotonous life, lack of stimulus due to decrease in socialization, decrease in sexual interaction and communication even though living in the same house or decrease in frequency of meeting partners living in separate houses due to pandemic also He expressed that it may cause a decrease in desire and frequency of sexual activity.
Dr. Dilek Sarıkaya listed her advice to couples as follows: “At this point, increasing sexual diversity (sexual conversations, texting and dating, sharing sexual fantasies, trying new positions, watching erotic videos / movies, using sexual toys, etc.) It will help increase the satisfaction received. If the problem persists despite these methods, we can recommend that they consult a mental health professional specialized in sexuality and sexual therapies. "