Heart rate variability refers to differences in the length of time between consecutive heartbeats. It is one of the most sensitive and objective measures of the interplay between the sympathetic nervous system (which activates the so-called fight or flight response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (which regulates the body’s unconscious actions such as heart beat and breathing). Together, these form the autonomic nervous system. If this is in balance and functioning properly, a person will be able to adapt to physiological or environmental changes and stresses when needed.

Heart rate variability, in particular, plays a role in female sexual arousal function. It is a marker of a healthy heart and the body’s ability to modulate blood pressure appropriately within various contexts. This is important because sexual arousal is largely a matter of the selective manipulation of blood pressure in the genitals. Heart rate variability also relates to the processing of emotional cues. In this context, low resting heart rate variability may reflect poor emotional health and vice versa.

Stanton’s team analyzed data from 72 women aged 18 to 39 years who had previously participated in three experiments (one published, two not) conducted at The University of Texas in Austin. During these studies, their heart rate variability and sexual functioning (specifically physiological arousal and overall sexual function, which includes domains like lubrication, pain, and satisfaction) were measured while the women watched a neutral film clip followed by an erotic one.

It was found that women with below average heart rate variability are significantly more likely to report sexual arousal dysfunction and overall sexual dysfunction than others. There is already an established link between resting heart rate variability and erectile dysfunction in men.

“Our study indicated that low heart rate variability might place women at risk for sexual arousal problems and overall sexual difficulties,” says Stanton. “Given that low resting heart rate variability has been associated with depression, anxiety, and alcohol dependence, it is not surprising that it may also predict female sexual dysfunction.”

Stanton says that the monitoring of heart rate variability could be a cost effective, easy to administer, and non-intrusive index that clinicians can use to assess potential sexual dysfunction and to monitor treatment progress. This might especially be valuable when treating female patients who suffer from sexual arousal dysfunction as well as heart problems.