Sex Hormones

Hormones working on your body at a particular given time, which gives lovers the much-talked about 'high'. Believe it or not, but hormones are a major catalyst in turning that effusive first glance into a lasting relationship stamped by a well-endowed sex life.

"A set of male and female hormones generated in our body at different stages of a relationship play a vital role in making or marring our sex drive, libido or sexual desires," tells, Dr Pankaj Aggarwal , a Delhi-based endocrinologist. So, here are some facts about the libido-governing hormones which constitute the major ingredients of our sex drive:

1. Testosterone: The first stage of love, which is pure lust and the final performance in bed, both the landmarks of a relationship are ruled by this hormone. So when your eyes meet someone, the body secretes testosterone, while the mind feels 'in love'.

Tagged as the male hormone, testosterone governs libido and performance in males to a larger extent. But, a generous helping of this male hormone is also produced in women to improve their sexual desire, arousal and sexual response. "Note that high levels of testosterone alone doesn't result into a higher sex drive, it needs to be a combination of hormones working together," adds Aggarwal.

Testosterone killers:

Stress

Weight gain, particularly around the waistline

Chronic conditions like high blood pressure, high blood sugar and elevated blood lipids.

Alcohol suppresses the production of testosterone, so keep a tab on your booze binges.

Testosterone boosters:

Exercising maintaining a healthy and stress free lifestyle
A handful of almonds, peanuts or walnuts each day keep your testosterone levels high.
If your endocrinologist feels the need, he/she can prescribe external testosterones in the form of pills, or a transdermal patch or injection.