Soaring temperatures across the country haven’t dampened your desire? Whether you’re on holiday or staying home, adapting your intimate life to a heatwave is essential. After all, sex is a physical activity, and as such, “precautions must be taken warns Céline Vendé, a sexologist based in Bordeaux.
Hydration and Timing Are Everything
The first and most critical precaution is proper hydration, Vendé told Le HuffPost. “It’s important to drink water before and after sex, and even to keep a bottle of cool water within reach for a refreshing pause.” She cautions against alcohol, which promotes dehydration and has negative effects on erection quality. Drawing a parallel with sports, the specialist recommends being intimate during the coolest hours of the day and adapting your practice. “The body tolerates exertion less, so we should seek a slower, more sensual, and less acrobatic form of sexuality,” Vendé notes. Breaks are also welcome. “Less intense does not mean less intimate!”
Reinventing Intimacy and Positions
“Caresses, massages, kisses, non-penetrative sexuality…”: the therapist highlights the wide range of possibilities. “The heat encourages relationships that are less focused on performance. This is not the time to turn sex into a gym session!” If penetration is on the agenda, it’s possible to “reinvent positions,” notes Marine Gandon, a sexologist in Tours. “Side-by-side lying positions, like spooning, are less strenuous and allow for minimal skin-to-skin contact. Positions where one partner is seated, or semi-seated, can also be more comfortable,” she explains. This is especially important because prolonged friction combined with sweat can cause skin irritation.
The Crucial Difference Between Sweat and Lubrication
Creating a Comfortable Environment
While it’s best to avoid wasting water by having sex in the shower, a shower can still be a helpful tool. “You can cool your body without shocking it, for example with a lukewarm shower,” Vendé suggests. Creating a comfortable environment is also crucial, adds Gandon. A fan or air conditioning, cotton sheets instead of synthetic materials that promote sweating, and airing out the room beforehand are all details that make a significant difference. Above all, the sexologist reminds us to listen to our bodies.If you feel less desire during this period, don’t dramatize or over-psychologize it,” Vendé concludes. “It’s simply because you’re too hot!”
