Media elements May 2017 | Page 8

Okay.    I  know.    I  can  almost  see  you  cringing  on  this  one.    I’m  not  intending  to   put  you  on  a  guilt  trip  if  you’re  already  feeling  like  your  wife  is  haranguing  you  for  not   doing  your  fair  share.    But  let  me  just  state  the  facts  from  some  recent  research–  then   you  can  determine  whether  doing  a  little  dusting  is  worth  increasing  her  libido.    A   University  of  Washington  study  found  that  men  who  help  with  the  housework  have   more  active  sex  lives  with  their  wives  than  their  dishtowel-­‐shunning  brethren.  iii    That   was  the  bottom  line  of  this  scholarly  study.    Need  more  incentive?  A  2003  University  of   California  study  found  that  women  are  not  only  more  sexually  receptive  to  men  who   help  clean  up  at  home,  they’re  actually  more  physically  attracted  to  them. iv    So  you   decide.         Tune  Into  Her  Hormones   I  mentioned  Oxytocin,  “the  bonding  hormone,”  earlier.    It’s  what  helps  your  wife   get  “in  the  mood”  and  it  increases  before  she  ovulates.    Well,  you  don’t  have  to  be  a   biologist  to  know  that  this  occurs  every  thirty  days.    So  make  note  of  it.    You  don’t  have   to  tell  her  if  you  don’t  want  to,  but  you  can  certainly  discuss  it  together.    Why  not  make   a  date  of  it?    Also,  on  the  topic  of  hormones,  did  you  realize  that  as  men  and  women   age,  our  testosterone  levels  drop?    In  fact,  the  decrease  in  testo sterone  is  slower  in   women.     So  what?,  you’re  asking.  Well,  this  gradual  decrease  can  cause  women  to   desire  sex  more  often  than  men  their  own  age.  That’s  one  of  the  reasons  that  women   reach  their  sexual  prime  much  later  than  men  do.    And  that’s  not  a  bad  thing.       By  the  way,  it  should  be  noted  that  in  some  cases,  your  wife’s  lack  of  desire  for   sex,  especially  if  it  is  consistent  over  long  periods  of  time,  may  also  be  a  result  of  a   hormonal  imbalance.  If  you  and  she  suspect  that  this  is  the  case,  she  should  consult  with   her  gynecologist  about  this  possibility,  or  get  expert  input  from  an  endocrinologist.   Being  in  balance  hormonally  -­‐-­‐  especially  having  ample  testosterone  in  her  body  -­‐-­‐  may   kick  her  sex  drive  back  into  gear.