Hi,

I am studying sexuality for my phd and am wondering whether the paleo lifestyle has made any changes in your sex life? Perhaps changes in level of sexual interest, gaining or maintaining erections, lubrication, sexual energy, intercourse pain, ejaculation time, changes in orgasm consistency?

To anybody who answers, I appreciate your honesty and openness (but no pressure to answer if you feel unconfortable sharing this information online!).

Cheers,
AllyBelly

Definitely more interest here, I guess mainly because I don't feel sick and tired all the time any more. It's a bit hard to get interested in sex when you feel lousy. No complaints from DH!   

Thanks for the replies so far. Body-image and energy can certainly have a big impact on sex, so its good to hear that Paleo is having these positive benefits for some. Young kids can also have a major impact on desire and frequency - I hope you have a lock on your bedroom door so you can escape to paradise every now and again!

The main issue I've faced is a resurgence in growth not seen since hitting puberty. 

Great thanks.

Not such a good report here...pre-paleo I had a pretty high sex drive and, I have to confess, was somewhat promiscuous!

 I went VLC paleo about 1 year 4 months ago and the almost total lack of carbs disrupted my thyroid hormones levels, and, as a consequence, my oestrogen levels too, resulting in amenorrhoea for over a year now and with this has come a reduction in sex drive

It didn't bother me so much when I was single but now I'm coupled up I've had to put my relationship above my desire to lose weight and so am eating a fair amount of root veggies to add carbs.  Ladies on these boards are frequently advised to cut carbs as low as possible when they are trying to lose weight but I do now feel that this needs to be approached with caution, as amenorrhoea is pretty common on low-carb diets.

Now that you're having sex, will we see a paleo baby soon? 
24 is a good age.

Now that you're having sex, will we see a paleo baby soon? 
24 is a good age.

No, GS, 24 is far too old!  Even this morning I noticed the possible hints of a wrinkle on my forehead, although it could have been a shadow... .  Besides, I'm one of those terrible career-obsessive, birth control-toting feminists...so I'm afraid you'll have to wait at least 5 years before I start producing any paleo wains! 

Also, I'm 5'1'' and British-Iranian with a bit of French and Jewish thrown in to the mix, so I clearly need to breed with a 6'4'' giant, preferably mixed-race with at least 2 out of african, asian, oriental, pacific islander or native american, to produce genetically superior offspring, which will be raised fully paleo from the moment of conception and will therefore be super-human and take over the world etc. etc. etc.

(incidentally, I never went through a celibate period, just a subdued period)

Attention Fathers: Put your daughters on VLC by the time they are 12 years old 

I have a proto-theory that if you grow up eating carbs, then maybe your body 'expects' a certain level of carbs hence why it gets hormonally upset when you go VLC?  Lots of hunter-gatherer tribes would qualify as VLC and don't have fertility problems.  Or maybe women got more fertile in the summer when there was lots of fruit about so that babies were born in March/April?  (not a very effective theory as it requires that humans evolved in a very seasonal environment ).
Anyway, in one of the studies of the epilepsy ketogenic diet (which is VLC), about half of the girls on the diet reported amenorrhoea or irregular/skipped periods.  Quite a small group though, I think about 15 girls in total, so not a massive sample size

Back to the original topic - lots of men report increased testosterone on paleo.  Also, paleo guys tend to be fitter/more attractive than their non-paleo former selves which tends to help in that department too!  I can easily imagine how living on cardboard - cereal, sorry - and veggies would make anyone too depressed to want sex.

I think the factors contributing to increased sexual drive/testosterone include
- decreased exposure to synthetic and/or plant oestrogens
- increased micronutrient intake
- increased fat intake, more raw materials available for hormone synthesis
- more sleep
- decreased general inflammation

back in my box now...
-CCG

Tremendous positive changes in everything sex-related. Also, I am still infatuated with the "never-gets-old" new, lean image that I see in mirrors.  One possible downside; I am now a bit too horny for my own good....

Ditto here. The morning oak is no longer a guessing game, it's guaranteed!