How 3 Women Transformed Their Sex Lives

Three women share the bedroom boosters they discovered unexpectedly. Trust us: You have not read these before.

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Tips for revving up your sex life have become clichéd: Buy satin sheets! Light candles! Do this Cirque du Soleil-esque move! Sometimes, however, the real trick lies in trying something unrelated to sex—or just trying less, period. These women were happily surprised by the pleasure perks of seemingly random life decisions. Let their stories inspire you to seek out your own alternative bedroom path—one that's not strewn with rose petals.

Related: Low Libido? 11 Drugs That Affect Your Sex Drive

I fell in love with roller derby
"A scary, intense sport may not be most people's idea of an aphrodisiac, but it has made my sex life so much better. I started a couple of years ago, when I was looking for new ways to get in shape and tried a local roller derby training program for women. From the get-go, I was addicted.

Aside from the badass fun of it, derby is an amazing form of exercise. I go two or three times a week for a couple of hours. It has improved my endurance and strength, and holding a squat position during skating has given me a 'derby butt' that's rounder and more pronounced. I live in L.A., where waify models are on every corner and the standard of beauty feels unattainable. With derby, I've embraced my strong, womanly body and redefined my idea of sexy. It's paid off in bed.

After 12 years of marriage, with two kids and a full-time job, I suddenly had more interest in sex—and I was better at it. Now I last much longer and I'm more playful, something skating has brought out. I'm also less self-conscious than I used to be; getting all gross and sweaty is no biggie! Even my injuries help our sex life. I've torn my ACL and sprained my ankle, and to work around it we ended up trying different positions. I'm having the best sex of my life in my 40s."

—Shannon K., 42, Los Angeles

We quit trying to make a baby
"My husband and I always had great sex. Once we started working on getting pregnant, however, something changed. Talking about your cycle isn't exactly foreplay. I got desperate and overly sensitive, too. In the morning, if I'd teasingly say to him, 'Wake up—it's go time!,' I'd feel bummed out if he was too tired or not in the mood.

We finally talked about it, and he admitted that he was having trouble dealing with the pressure. So I tried to make the situation less of a big deal. But we lived in a small place, and he could hear the crinkling sound of the ovulation-test wrapper. And I just couldn't help myself: My biological clock was ticking, so I felt like we had to conceive. After eight months of trying, there was this black cloud hanging over our relationship. We were both on edge, and we started having sex less often.

Meanwhile, we had a trip coming up to the Caribbean with friends. I wanted to enjoy cocktails on the back of a Jet Ski, not sit around sipping virgin daiquiris. So we decided to put our baby-making on hold for a couple of months, until we got back from the vacation. As it approached, we threw parties for friends, had game nights and ate cured meats until the cows came home. And we started having way more sex, with no end goal.

So, of course, what happened? I got pregnant a few weeks before we left for Barbados, and I'm pretty sure it was after one wine-fueled night. Once we let go of that pressure, we got our sex life back—and our beautiful girl, Lucy."

Related: 10 Ways to Boost Your Odds of Getting Pregnant

—Mary S., 39, Philadelphia

Next Page: I finally dealt with my pain problem

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As told to Jennifer Teeman

Last Updated: May 07, 2014