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Does exercise help with libido?

Page last modified on: September 11, 2008
Question from Tami T: Does exercise help with libido?
Answer —Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D.: Very little research has been done in this area. However, in a study that we finished last year, we got some interesting results. We studied postmenopausal women without breast cancer. We placed half the women in an exercise group and half in a stretching group. Many of the women in the exercise group—who exercised aerobically for 45 minutes a day, five days a week—offered the information that their sex lives had improved. They attributed it to having more energy, to feeling better about themselves, and, for some of them, losing some weight and gaining some strength and flexibility.

We were so intrigued by what they told us that we have a new study involving men and women, and we're asking questions about sexual satisfaction. For the individual woman, the best thing is to try some exercise and after a few months, see what she thinks.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Taking Care of Yourself. Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about exercise and nutrition, and other things you can do to nurture your body, along with strategies for finding emotional support, boosting your mood, and feeling good again.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D.Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D. is a member of the Cancer Prevention Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, where she is director of the prevention center.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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