{"id":39542,"date":"2022-08-23T05:36:44","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T03:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/?p=39542"},"modified":"2022-11-03T05:50:43","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T04:50:43","slug":"body-image-and-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lelo.com\/blog\/body-image-and-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Body Image Affecting Your Sex Life?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The way in which we see our bodies can hugely affect a number of areas in our lives\u2014especially our <\/span>sex lives<\/span>. In fact, having a negative body image is one of the biggest disrupters of sexual enjoyment, and can be detrimental to feelings of sexual desire and <\/span>arousal<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quite honestly, however, it is more so women that have the issue of their body image affecting their sex life. And while we don\u2019t negate the fact that men too can suffer from a disruption in their sex life because of how they see their body, today we\u2019ll be focusing more on women.<\/span><\/p>\n

And to get us started, let\u2019s take a look at what <\/span>Ann Kearney-Cooke,<\/span><\/a> PhD, has to say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWomen with a poor body image don\u2019t initiate sex as often, and they\u2019re more self-conscious\u201d<\/span><\/i>. She continued to note that if a woman is preoccupied with how her body looks, with an internal monologue of \u201c<\/span>How does my stomach look?\u201d<\/span><\/i> or \u201c<\/span>Have they noticed my cellulite?\u201d,<\/span><\/i> the focus won\u2019t be on <\/span>desire<\/span>, and it\u2019ll be like having a third unwelcome person in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

Body Image and Your Sex Life<\/span><\/h1>\n

Getting more into the topic, there are two types of negative body image that may affect a woman: the way that she sees herself, and how she <\/span>believes<\/span><\/i> others see her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Body Image: How She Sees Herself<\/span><\/h2>\n

When a woman believes that her body is unattractive, it often results in a lower sexual self-esteem which could lead to avoiding sexual activity altogether. And with that, other areas of the sexual cycle can too be disrupted, such as how she experiences desire, arousal, and <\/span>orgasm<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not just that, but when a woman has a negative body image, especially about her size, it becomes a source of <\/span>anxiety<\/span><\/a> when it comes to being touched or seen. This can directly impact how she enjoys sexual experiences, rarely being able to truly let go, gain arousal, and enjoy the moment for what it is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This sad truth is often the case for many women, leading to a lack of orgasming and an overall negative experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Body Image: How She <\/span>Believes<\/span><\/i> Others See Her<\/span><\/h2>\n

For many women, believing that others, such as a partner or prospective partners, find her attractive usually results in a higher <\/span>sexual functioning<\/span>. Unfortunately, if the opposite is true, there can be a disruption in her ability to get aroused, to be physically intimate, or to climax.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When a woman doesn\u2019t feel desired because of her body, it can lead to a lower libido. And as researcher <\/span>Marta Meana<\/span><\/a> says, for many women, \u201cbeing desired <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> the orgasm\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But alas, in this scenario it is merely a belief, and not a fact. The following, however, is a fact\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Poor Body Image Can Start at a Very Young Age<\/span><\/h2>\n

For many women, a poor body image is rooted in childhood. For example, if a young girl found that others responded to her body in a negative way, this experience can become internalised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if you weren\u2019t embraced as a child, or if you were criticised about your body. Then there\u2019s also something called projection, which is when a parent or someone else in your life didn\u2019t like what they saw in the mirror and thus began projecting their insecurities onto you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, of course, there are the beauty standards of society that continue to throw propaganda in our faces about the \u201cideal\u201d <\/span>body<\/span> type. Which, in actuality, is warped and inaccurate, according to <\/span>research<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, in 1979, fashion models weighed eight percent less than the average female, and in 1999, models weighed 23 percent less than the average female.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Things like this play a huge role in how women see themselves and it\u2019s a fertile place for self-doubt and shame to grow. <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re bombarded with messages suggesting that our bodies and looks not only represent our self-worth but also are fundamentally flawed. Of course that affects our self-esteem,\u201d<\/span><\/i> says <\/span>Liz Dittrich<\/span><\/a>, pHd.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another study<\/span><\/a> that focuses on middle-aged women showed that those who had a negative body image had a significant negative relationship with sexual satisfaction, sexual function, and sexual desire.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

This study proved that body image is an important aspect of <\/span>sexual health<\/span><\/a>, and that women with a positive body image have higher sexual functioning than those with a negative body image.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, let\u2019s look at <\/span>a different study<\/span><\/a> that looked at the relationship between body image and domains of sexual functioning among heterosexual, emerging adult women. It showed that a poor body image was linked to detrimental sexual functioning, and a decrease in desire and arousal.<\/span><\/p>\n

This study suggests that interventions to improve body image could have incredible benefits related to the sexual experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Address Your Negative Body Image and Have Better Sex<\/span><\/h2>\n

While each person is different, there are some things you could do to address your negative body image, hopefully resulting in better sex. Sex aside, knowing your worth and your beauty is important.<\/span><\/p>\n