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Assessing physiologic changes during sexual activity using wearable devices: a pilot study

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 35, pages 761–763 (2023)Cite this article

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Sexual activity is a fundamental aspect of human life that is still not well-understood from a physiologic standpoint. The classical physiological model of human sexual response, first proposed by Masters and Johnson in 1966, included four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution [1]. However, since then, there has been a paucity of literature that measures objective physiological changes with sexual activity, with most studies relying on subjective measures such as self-reported sexual arousal and satisfaction that are limited in their accuracy and reliability [2]. While some prior work has investigated the physiology of sexual activity, the existing literature is either limited in scope or focuses on specific aspects of sexual function such as genital response [3]. In our current study, we leverage wearable device technology to overcome these limitations. Wearable devices such as smartwatches have emerged as an ideal tool for monitoring physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation levels [4]. Recent advancements in these devices have led to significant changes in their design, functionality, and availability, making it possible to measure physiological changes during various activities, including sexual activity. In addition, these devices are connected to the cloud and continuously monitor physical activity and vital signs, allowing for real-time remote data acquisition. Such quantitative measurements of physiological changes during sexual activity can contribute to a better understanding of human sexuality. Understanding these physiological changes is critical to improve overall knowledge on sexual health and, in turn, may assist in developing more effective treatments for sexual dysfunction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine physiological parameters in heterosexual couples during sexual activity using smartwatches. By doing so, we hope to provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that underlie human sexuality.

Data from five individuals (two heterosexual couples and one individual in a heterosexual relationship) demonstrated the feasibility of using wearable devices to assess heart rate variability during sexual activity. Over the course of the 6-week pilot study, we analyzed data from 32 unique sexual encounters. Study participants had between 0 and 4 sexual encounters per week, averaging 1.53 ± 0.74 encounters. Sexual activity included, but was not limited to, penetrative intercourse, oral stimulation, and erogenous touch. Multiple types of sexual activities occurred during each encounter, however, penetrative intercourse was the most abundant with 24 instances. There were 15 instances of oral stimulation, and 12 instances of erogenous touch (Table 1). Average reported satisfaction with sexual encounters was 4.45 ± 0.68 out 5.

Table 1 Type of sexual encounter and overall satisfaction.
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Fig. 1: Fitbit Versa 3 device.
Fig. 2: Study procedure and primary outcome measures.

References

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Funding

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant R01 DK130991 and Clinician Scientist Development Grant from the American Cancer Society to Ranjith Ramasamy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Farhan M. Qureshi, Farah Rahman, Russell Saltzman, Braian Ledesma, Joshua White, Akhil Muthigi & Ranjith Ramasamy

  2. Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    Farhan M. Qureshi

  3. Department of Urology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Nicholas Deebel

  4. Lisa Paz Clinic, Miami, FL, USA

    Lisa A. Paz

Authors
  1. Farhan M. Qureshi
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  2. Farah Rahman
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  3. Russell Saltzman
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  4. Nicholas Deebel
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  5. Braian Ledesma
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  6. Lisa A. Paz
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  7. Joshua White
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  8. Akhil Muthigi
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  9. Ranjith Ramasamy
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Contributions

Conceptualization: FMQ, FR, RS, LAP, JW, AM, RR. Investigation: FMQ, FR, ND. Methodology: FMQ, FR, RS, ND, AM, RR. Writing: FMQ, FR, ND, BL, JW, AM. Editing: FMQ, FR, ND, BL, JW, AM, RR.

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Correspondence to Ranjith Ramasamy.

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Qureshi, F.M., Rahman, F., Saltzman, R. et al. Assessing physiologic changes during sexual activity using wearable devices: a pilot study. Int J Impot Res 35, 761–763 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00702-8

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