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9 Reasons You Feel Horny

By OptimistMinds
Page last updated: 09/01/2022 | Next review date: 09/01/2024

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the…

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Hey Optimist Minds!

They say, ‘to feel aroused is to feel alive’. Sexual excitement is an intense feeling that takes over your body and mind. 

Arousal can be defined as the physiological and psychological responses in preparation for sexual intercourse or when exposed to sexual stimuli. It fills you with energy and increases alertness. You feel ready and impatient for some kind of sexual activity.

But have you ever wondered why we feel horny? What causes us to feel such an overwhelming urge to engage in sex?

In this video, we’re going to discuss some of the factors that increase sexual arousal. This information is for educational purposes only and should not be a replacement for expert medical advice. If you are facing difficulties with your libido, it’s best to get professional help.

Now, here are nine reasons you feel horny.

Number One

Hormones.

Testosterone plays an important role in sexual arousal across all genders. The more testosterone your body is pumping, the more likely you are to be keen on having sex. Testosterone levels increase when you hit puberty, ovulate, or when your regularly exercise. The hormones estrogen and progesterone also contribute to female sexual arousal.

Number Two

A new relationship.

All new relationships go through a honeymoon phase when both partners feel a heightened interest in each other. This includes sexual attraction and the novelty of the situation makes you want to have more sex. 

With time this excitement dies down. As a result, couples need to work on their sex lives to keep the spark alive.

Number Three

Your menstrual cycle.

There are two ways how your menstrual cycle can contribute to your horniness. Firstly, ovulation causes hormones like testosterone and estrogen to peak. It makes sense because you need to desire sex while you’re ovulating to reproduce. Additionally, the increased blood flow to the vagina causes an increase in arousal.

Number Four

Pregnancy.

Just like puberty and the menstrual cycle, pregancy is also a transition period that changes the levels of hormones in your body. On top of that, all the blood flowing towards the uterus improves the sensation of arousal. 

There may be an increase is sexual arousal towards the first two trimesters. However, many studies report a decrease in sexual function as the pregnancy progresses.

Number Five

Substances.

Throughout history and across cultures, alcohol, recreational drug use, and sexuality have been closely intertwined. Substances like alcohol, marijuana, MDMA, and cocaine can decrease inhibitions and increase the urge to connect and have sexual relations.

Number Six

Medication.

Sometimes, changing your meds can also have some influence on your level of arousal. Especially if you’ve stopped taking or reduced the dosage of an intidepressant, antihistamine, or blood pressure medication. These drugs are known to dull your sex drive or make it physically difficult for you to get aroused.

Number Seven

Frequent masturbation.

If you have a habit of touching yourself often, it can lower your threshold for sexual arousal. Paying attention to your body’s desires increases the likelihood of you noticing sexual cues. However, if you ignore these urges for too long and distract yourself with work or other pleasures, the cues become dormant. Then, it takes more effort to arouse you.

Number Eight

Diet.

Some foods, known as aphrodisiacs, are believed to increase libido, potency, and sexual pleasure. Some examples include asparagus, oysters, strawberries, chocolate, figs, and peppers. Eating these foods may have a role in making you feel horny.

Number Nine

Mental health condition.

Many mental disorders like ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and dementia may at times cause hypersexuality. The heightened need for sex can be because of a physiological process involving hormones or because of psychological factors like low self-esteem or unresolved trauma.

Now that we’ve described all these different causes of arousal, which reason do you think applied to you the last time you were horny? Let us know your thoughts and stories in the comments. We’d love to hear from you.

A link for further reading and the studies & references used in the making of this video are mentioned in the description below.

Thanks for visiting optimist minds, take care. Until next time.

References