So you hit the gym regularly and push your boundaries to meet your fitness goals. You do not mind those extra 15 sets but can over-stressing yourself be doing more harm than good? Think again. You must be beyond ecstatic to notice your toned abs but are you happy with your sex life? If the answer is ‘no’, it simply means that you may be going too hard on yourself at the gym.

A study carried by the University of North Carolina concluded that frequent and high-intensity workout is linked to reduced libido. The study found that 1,077 men who ran, walked, lifted weights or swam at the lowest intensities were seven times more likely to have a high libido than those who did high-intensity workouts. Also, men who trained the hardest for the longest duration were more likely to have a lower libido than those who trained for lesser time.

1. Hypogonadal Male Condition

High-intensity training may trigger a condition called ‘exercise hypogonadal male condition’, which occurs when the hormones testosterone and luteinising hormone are suppressed. Loss of sex drive due to stress makes Indian-origin man sue Australian university for $3 million.

2. Mental and Physical Fatigue

Another theory to this is that the increased volumes of intense exercise can lead to both physical and mental fatigue, which in turn, can reduce your desire and motivation for sex.  This led scientists to believe that there might be a ‘tipping point’ when it comes to working out, which is where men become too tired or no longer interested in having sex.

3. Eating Disorder

Excessive exercise can also lead to conditions akin to body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders, which can hurt your sex drive. Yoga for sex: learn how to improve your libido with asanas.

How Long Is It Okay To Exercise In A Day?

According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), 150 to 250 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity yields can yield moderate muscle gaining and weight loss results, and lose a significant amount of weight, you may need to perform moderate-intensity exercise more than 250 minutes per week, of course, in addition to your diet intervention. That equates to about one hour, five days per week.

So if you notice your sex drive flopping, sure you should meet your doctor, but also let them know about the intensity of your gym routine.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2019 11:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).