Health Benefits of Sex

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Sexual health is an integral part of overall well-being, contributing to physical, emotional, and relational health. Sexual health encompasses more than just reproduction; it influences multiple aspects of our lives, from immune function to mental well-being. Understanding the health benefits of sex is crucial for promoting overall wellness. Let’s explore the various ways in which sexual activity can positively impact your health:

1. Boosts Immune System:

Sexual activity has been linked to enhanced immune function, with research suggesting that regular sex can increase antibody production and improve resistance to infections and diseases.

According to sexual health expert Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD, sexually active individuals tend to take fewer sick days. When we engage in sexual activity, our bodies ramp up the production of antibodies, which are like soldiers that defend against germs, viruses, and other invaders. A study conducted by researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania discovered that college students who engaged in sexual activity once or twice a week had higher levels of a specific antibody compared to those who were less sexually active.

However, it’s important to note that maintaining a healthy immune system involves more than just sex. It’s essential to adopt habits that support overall immune health. Habits such as eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, getting adequate sleep, and keeping up with vaccinations.

Additionally, practicing safe sex by using condoms is crucial, especially if you’re unsure of both your partner’s sexually transmitted disease (STD) statuses. This helps to protect against the transmission of infections and promotes both sexual and overall health.

2. Enhances Cardiovascular Health:

Engaging in sexual activity can benefit heart health by improving blood circulation, reducing blood pressure, and lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

Maintaining a fulfilling sex life isn’t just enjoyable; it’s also beneficial for your heart health. Not only does sex serve as an effective way to increase your heart rate, but it also plays a crucial role in maintaining balanced levels of estrogen and testosterone in your body. According to Pinzone, a deficiency in either of these hormones can lead to various health issues. These health issues includes osteoporosis and heart disease. Engaging in regular sexual activity can help mitigate these risks by keeping hormone levels in check.

Research suggests that having sex more frequently can significantly impact heart health. In a study, men who engaged in sexual activity at least twice a week were found to be half as likely to die from heart disease compared to those who had sex infrequently. Therefore, prioritizing a healthy and active sex life can contribute to overall heart health and potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues in the long run.

3. Improves Mental Health:

Sexual intimacy can have profound effects on mental well-being, including reducing stress, improving mood, and promoting overall happiness and life satisfaction.

Getting close to your partner has remarkable stress-relieving effects. Dr. Ambardar highlights that physical touch and hugging can trigger the release of your body’s natural “feel-good hormone.” Furthermore, sexual arousal stimulates the brain to release chemicals that activate the pleasure and reward system. Beyond just the physical act, sex and intimacy have profound psychological benefits. They can enhance self-esteem and overall happiness, contributing not only to a healthy life but also to a fulfilling one.

4. Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles:

Both men and women can benefit from stronger pelvic floor muscles, which support bladder and bowel function, sexual pleasure, and reproductive health. Sexual activity serves as a natural way to exercise these muscles.

5. Increases Intimacy and Bonding:

Sexual intimacy fosters emotional connections and strengthens relationships by promoting trust, communication, and intimacy between partners.

If you’re yearning for a more vibrant sex life, Dr. Lauren Streicher, an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, offers some encouraging insights. According to her, engaging in sexual activity can enhance both the quality of sex and your desire for it.

For women, Dr. Streicher explains that having sex can lead to increased vaginal lubrication, improved blood flow, and enhanced elasticity. These physiological changes not only enhance the physical sensation of sex but also contribute to a heightened desire for more sexual intimacy. Essentially, the more you engage in sex, the more your body responds positively, making you crave it even more.

6. Burns Calories and Boosts Physical Fitness:

Sexual activity is a form of exercise that burns calories, improves cardiovascular fitness, and engages various muscle groups, contributing to overall physical health and well-being.

Dr. Joseph J. Pinzone emphasizes that sex is a fantastic form of exercise, although it might not entirely replace your treadmill session, it surely contributes to your physical activity goals. Engaging in sexual activity burns approximately five calories per minute, which is four more calories than what you’d typically burn while watching TV. It’s a dynamic activity that not only elevates your heart rate but also engages various muscle groups throughout your body.

So, don’t hesitate to prioritize intimate moments in your schedule. Just like with any exercise routine, consistency is key to reaping the full benefits. Making time for regular sexual activity can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and maximize the positive effects it has on your physical and cardiovascular health.

7. Reduces Pain Sensitivity:

Orgasm and sexual stimulation can alleviate pain by releasing endorphins and blocking pain signals, offering a natural and pleasurable form of pain relief.

Instead of immediately reaching for painkillers like aspirin, consider aiming for an orgasm first. According to Barry R. Komisaruk, Ph.D., a distinguished service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, achieving orgasm can help alleviate pain. When you reach orgasm, your body releases hormones that raise your pain threshold, effectively blocking pain signals.

Interestingly, even stimulation without reaching orgasm can have pain-relieving effects. Komisaruk’s research has shown that vaginal stimulation alone can help alleviate chronic back and leg pain. Additionally, many women have reported that self-stimulation of the genitals can reduce discomfort from menstrual cramps, arthritis, and even headaches.

8. Protection against prostate cancer:

Engaging in regular sexual activity may offer some protection against prostate cancer, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Men who ejaculated frequently, at least 21 times per month, were found to have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer according to this study. Importantly, the type of ejaculation—whether through sexual intercourse, nocturnal emission, or masturbation—didn’t seem to make a difference in the protective effect.

While it’s uncertain if sexual activity alone directly influences cancer risk, it’s worth noting that various factors can impact cancer susceptibility. Nonetheless, increasing sexual activity appears to have a positive association with prostate health. So, indulging in more sexual activity may potentially offer some benefits in reducing the risk of prostate cancer.

9. Improves Sleep Quality:

Sexual activity promotes relaxation and releases hormones like prolactin, which induce feelings of sleepiness, leading to improved sleep duration and quality: Following sexual activity, it’s common to experience a sense of drowsiness, and there’s a scientific explanation behind it. Dr. Sheenie Ambardar, a psychiatrist based in West Hollywood, California, explains that after orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released. Prolactin is responsible for inducing feelings of relaxation and sleepiness, hence the post-sex drowsiness that many people experience.

This natural process helps promote relaxation and can contribute to a quicker onset of sleep after sexual activity. So, if you find yourself nodding off more easily after intimacy, it’s likely due to the release of prolactin inducing a sense of calm and drowsiness.

10. Enhances Self-esteem and Body Image:

Positive sexual experiences can boost self-esteem, body confidence, and feelings of attractiveness, contributing to overall self-worth and well-being.

11. Boosts Brain Function:

Sexual activity stimulates brain activity, promotes neuroplasticity, and releases neurotransmitters associated with pleasure, cognition, and emotional regulation.

12. Strengthens Emotional Resilience:

Healthy sexual relationships can enhance emotional resilience, providing support, comfort, and connection during times of stress, adversity, and uncertainty.

13. Regulate and Promotes Hormonal Balance:

Regular sexual activity helps maintain hormonal balance, which is essential for reproductive health, mood stability, and overall vitality. Also, it influences hormone levels, including oxytocin and testosterone, which play vital roles in mood regulation, stress management, and sexual function.

14. Increases Feelings of Well-being:

Sexual satisfaction and intimacy are closely linked to feelings of happiness, contentment, and overall well-being, contributing to a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Lowering blood pressure is another potential benefit associated with sexual activity, according to Dr. Joseph J. Pinzone, CEO and medical director of Amai Wellness. Numerous studies have suggested a connection between sexual intercourse and reduced blood pressure levels. A significant study discovered that engaging in sexual intercourse specifically (as opposed to masturbation) was linked to a decrease in systolic blood pressure, which represents the first number in a blood pressure reading.

This finding indicates that regular sexual activity may contribute to better cardiovascular health by helping to regulate blood pressure levels, thereby potentially reducing the risk of hypertension and related complications.

15. Supports Reproductive Health:

Sexual activity plays a crucial role in reproductive health, promoting fertility, sperm quality, and menstrual regularity, and supporting overall reproductive function.

16. Enhance women’s bladder control:

Enhancing women’s bladder control is another benefit of a fulfilling sex life. About 30% of women may experience issues with incontinence at some stage in their lives, making a strong pelvic floor essential.

Engaging in satisfying sexual activity acts as a form of exercise for the pelvic floor muscles. During orgasm, these muscles undergo contractions, effectively strengthening them. This strengthening effect can help women maintain better control over their bladder, reducing the likelihood of experiencing incontinence-related problems. In essence, regular sexual activity can serve as a natural way to support pelvic floor health and mitigate issues with bladder control.

17. Fosters Connection and Communication:

Open communication about sexual health and preferences fosters intimacy, trust, and connection between partners, leading to more satisfying and fulfilling relationships.

Conclusion

The health benefits of sex are diverse and far-reaching, encompassing physical, emotional, and relational aspects of well-being. By prioritizing sexual health and intimacy, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life and enjoy a happier, healthier existence.

Here are some of the sources providing insights into these benefits:

• Patti Britton, PhD, past president, of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists.
• Gina Ogden, Ph.D., sex therapist and marriage and family therapist, Cambridge, Mass.
• Joy Davidson, PhD, psychologist and sex therapist, author, of Fearless Sex.
• Studies published in Biological Psychology, Psychological Reports, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Journal of Sexual Medicine, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Nature, PLoS One, Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and BJU International.
• WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise and American Cancer Society resources on pelvic floor exercises and dealing with sexual problems.
• Research published in Regulatory Peptides and other scientific journals.
• WebMD features on weight loss and sleep.