Making Love in the Heat: Advice from a Sexologist
The last few days have been scorching. And it's not just about the weather. Plenty of data shows that we are more inclined towards intimacy when the weather is pleasant. Indeed, our hormones are influenced by the sun, and other factors also stimulate our sexual appetite in summer, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
However, we cannot just attribute this phenomenon to the heat alone, explains sexologist Mike Mivis from the therapeutic centre in Ternat.
On the other hand, it's true that heat makes us feel more uninhibited than cold. But the reasons why we engage in sex are, in any case, more varied and numerous.
"Researchers from Texas University found as many as 237 of them. They fall into three categories: biological factors, psychological and social. In the summer all these factors are triggered, but first and foremost hormones – a biological factor – play a key role," explains the sexologist.
It's a fact that your hormones are more inclined to sexual desire when the temperature is high. First of all, because more sunlight produces more Vitamin D. This, in turn, produces more serotonin, the happiness hormone. And when you feel good mentally, you desire more.
Sunlight also reduces the level of melatonin in our body, which is a sleep hormone. It typically suppresses testosterone and estrogen in our blood, which prevents us from choosing a lovemaking session over a sleep session.
So, in the summer, our sexual appetite is less restrained. Pheromones also come into play: we release these chemical "temptations" through sweat.
The social aspect of summer days is also very important. We walk more, meet a larger number of people. Thus, the chances of meeting a person with whom you want to have sex are higher.
"So be creative about the location," advises sex therapist Mike Mivis.
Skip the missionary position. If you feel the desire on these hot days, but the prospect of sticky sweat deters you, don't worry: by showing some creativity, you can keep the body relatively cool during heated lovemaking sessions.
"You don't have to go to bed with ice cubes or damp towels," says Mivis.
"This is mainly a hassle, and sex should remain straightforward and carefree".
With location, it's better to be creative, thinks the sexologist.
"Leave that hot bed as it is and, for instance, take a shower together or – if you have one – a swim in the pool. Or grasp each other against a fresh wall, the floor, a cool kitchen counter or a table. And skip the missionary position, do it doggy-style," she adds.
This way, fresh air can circulate and cool the bodies.
You can also check out the list of the best nudist beaches in Europe, where you can sunbathe naked.