Study shows that men 'perform better' under the spotlight

Educative: A study has found out that bright light may help men with weakening sex drives to perform better in bed. The research showed that exposure to bright light boosts levels of the male hormone testosterone and increases sexual satisfaction.

A significant number of men after the age of 40 are affected by low sexual desire and according to some studies, about a quarter of men report problems depending on age and other factors.

Due to the fact that sexual interest differs with the seasons, scientists have assumed that it might be influenced by ambient light levels.

To investigate the theory a team of Italian researchers from the University of Siena recruited 38 men diagnosed with low libidos and treated half of them with daily doses of bright light.

Early in the morning everyday for two weeks the men spent 30 minutes in a room with a light box - a panel designed to emit bright white light.

At the end of the two weeks trial, tests showed that the men's testosterone levels had risen significantly. And they also reported higher levels of self-rated sexual satisfaction.

But similar effects were not observed in the men in the other group whose light box was adapted to emit a low non-therapeutic level of light.

Head researcher Professor Andrea Fagiolini said:

"Before treatment, both groups averaged a sexual satisfaction score of around two out of 10, but after treatment the group exposed to the bright light was scoring sexual satisfaction scores of around 6.3."

In contrast, the control group only showed an average score of about 2.7 after treatment.

While average blood levels of testosterone in the "control" group stayed at around 2.3 nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) before and after the study, those of the men in the group receiving active light treatment rose from 2.1 ng/ml to 3.6 ng/ml.

"The increased levels of testosterone explain the greater reported sexual satisfaction," said Professor Fagiolini.

"In the northern hemisphere, the body's testosterone production naturally declines from November through April, and then rises steadily through the spring and summer with a peak in October. You see the effect of this in reproductive rates, with the month of June showing the highest rate of conception."

The research findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Vienna.