As the planet warms, sea levels rise and farmlands degrade, the struggles within many households deepen. Beyond the visible impact on agriculture, livelihoods, and public health, climate change is also taking a quieter, more personal toll. It is reshaping intimacy and sexual wellbeing among couples.
Rising night-time temperatures have made restful sleep increasingly difficult. In many coastal and urban communities in Ghana, where homes lack air-conditioning, couples speak of fatigue, skin irritations, and sleepless nights. These discomforts leave little room for closeness or intimacy. A reality that continues to affect countless families
The stress brought about by climate change is equally profound. For families whose livelihoods depend on fishing and farming, economic hardship, dwindling catches, food insecurity, and uncertainty about the future weigh heavily on daily life. Research shows that persistent stress can reduce libido, weaken sexual performance, and place relationships under strain.
Health experts further warn that heat waves and dehydration not only sap energy but can also disrupt hormonal balance and, over time, affect fertility. For women, the added burden of managing food scarcity and caring for children during climate crises often leaves them emotionally drained, further reducing their desire for intimacy.
“When you are worried about what your children will eat tomorrow, sex is the last thing on your mind,” says Ama, a 34-year-old mother of three in Cape Coast.
Her experience echoes that of Kwesi Awotwe, an artisanal fisherman in Elmina. He admits that declining catches have left him too exhausted and demoralized to spend quality time with his partner. “In the past, fishermen could marry two or three wives, but that is no longer possible. Today, it is difficult to even care for one family. Sometimes we return from the sea with nothing but plastic waste, and other times we run at a loss because the catch is too small,” he explains. Kwesi Awotwe added that the introduction of the closed fishing season has become a major obstacle, reducing productivity in their trade.
Esi, a fishmonger who migrated from Kumasi to Elmina in search of work to support her family, explained that the recent rise in fish prices is directly linked to the low catch. She expressed appreciation to government for efforts made in reducing fuel prices but was quick to add that more needs to be done, especially during this difficult season. According to her, further reductions in fuel costs would ease the burden on fishermen, enabling them to purchase fuel at affordable rates — a step that could, in turn, lower the market price of fish for traders like herself.
These personal accounts highlight a hidden dimension of climate change — one that is rarely discussed. Sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to human wellbeing, yet it is often absent from conversations about climate adaptation. Policymakers and community leaders must recognize that climate resilience is not only about protecting farms, fisheries, and infrastructure. It is also about safeguarding the emotional, psychological, and intimate bonds that hold families together.
When the climate changes, it is not only the weather outside that shifts, it is also the warmth inside our homes.
Truth.