It turns out women who meditate are far more likely to have greater sexual functioning and better arousal compared with those who don't.
Women who regularly engage in meditative activities are likely to report better sexual functioning and higher sexual desire, says a study published recently in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy.
"It has been well established in the scientific literature that mindfulness meditation is applicable to women's sexual health," said Lori A. Brotto, a professor at the University of British Columbia. Her team's research shows, "across a dozen studies," that mindfulness meditation, facilitated via four to eight-session series, greatly enhances satisfaction and function when it comes to sex — for women, that is.
Is Meditation Associated With Better Sexual Functioning?
The study looked at 451 women between the age of 19 and 70, who answered questions about their sex life and whether they'd experienced meditating before. On average, women who meditated reported better scores in terms of sexual function that those who didn't meditate.
But it goes beyond sexual function. The women who meditated also said they experienced better arousal, orgasm, lubrication, and desire.
Don't Get Excited Yet
The study isn't without its shortcomings. For example, it doesn't answer how long a woman has to meditate to start seeing her sex life improve, nor does it compare various types of meditation against each other to find out which yields the best results. Most importantly, it doesn't offer any information on whether long-term meditative practices yield sexual benefits.
There's also the fact that the study was cross-sectional in nature, meaning that it doesn't actually establish a clear relationship between meditation of improved sex life for women. Meaning, it's not really clear whether meditation resulted to better sexual satisfaction, or whether those with better sexual functioning were more likely to engage in meditation.
However, it is easy to imagine for meditation to clear one's head and improve their overall state of mental health, which might then eventually lead to well-being and better sexual experiences. Yes, the study has a number of blind spots it still needs to cover, but it implies that women only stand to benefit from engaging in meditative practices.
What About Men?
The researchers didn't forget about men, though. They noted that they have enough pilot data and clinical experience to predict mirrored results for when the same study is applied to men.
Sexual intercourse may be a common activity for couples, but the underlying factors — like what enables both sexes to gain pleasure — are still riddled with mystery and complexities. The study at least suggests that a clear mind helps.
