6 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

It goes without saying — sex is fun. It not only feels good, but it’s actually good for your health too! Aside from the intimate connections and the feelings of personal pleasure that come from engaging in sexual activity, there are many other benefits when it comes to having sex. From reducing levels of anxiety to improving your overall attitude, various studies have proven that your sexual habits have a direct impact on your emotional and physical well-being. So what are you waiting for? Jump in the sheets, get jiggy with your partner, and see for yourself the influence sex has on your mind and body.

Surprising Health Benefits of Sex:

So what exactly is the connection between sex and a person’s health? Read these 6 surprising health benefits to find out!

1. Decreases the Risk of Developing Other Sexual Health Concerns – Believe it or not, the more often you have intercourse, the better chances you have to reduce your risk of developing other sexual health concerns — for both men and women. For example, men can use sexual activity as grounds for practicing different ways to prevent premature ejaculation. Techniques, like “edging” or the squeeze method, can always be combined with kegel exercises or a pill for premature ejaculation to make men last even longer. On the other hand, women who have intercourse regularly can not only strengthen their vaginal walls, but it also protects them from suffering through painful menstrual cramps and other bodily changes related to menopause, such as irritation and vaginal dryness.
2. Improves Sleep – When you think about the bedroom you’re probably thinking about one of two things — sleeping or having sex. That’s because sex and sleep go hand-in-hand. Although sex is an act of arousal at its core, the increase of the oxytocin hormone and the decrease of stress-related hormones like cortisol allow your body to calm down much easier once the deed is done. More than that though, experiencing an orgasm also enables the body to release a hormone known as prolactin. Prolactin is one of the main hormones that is linked to sexual satisfaction in males and females. When you or your partner experiences an orgasm, prolactin is immediately released, which causes the body to naturally relax and get sleepier more quickly.
3. Eases Stress – Let’s face it — life can be stressful. Thankfully, sex is a great way to reduce stress because it enables your body to release chemicals in the brain, endorphins, and other love-related hormones like oxytocin. Whether you’re touching, massaging, hugging, or kissing someone, your brain gets triggered by these “feel good” substances which stimulate pleasure within your body. This, in turn, acts as a medication for your mind, fostering you to act with feelings of passion and affection to your partner as well as the people you surround yourself with regularly. As a result, your self-esteem and happiness will increase and the daily tensions you face will affect you differently, becoming less significant and bothersome to you. It’s important, however, to combine the mental benefits of sex with other stress-relieving techniques, like meditation, yoga or exercise in order to develop a more robust sense of wellbeing every day.
4. Boosts Your Heart Health – Apart from the belief that an active sex life typically involves an increase in heart rate, there are other ways that intimacy strengthens heart health. Although having sex has been compared as another form of exercise, it also assists with balancing out the levels of testosterone and estrogen in males and females, which is crucial for the prevention of major health issues such as heart disease and osteoporosis. According to a 2010 study, researchers even found that men who had sex once a month were far more likely to develop heart disease compared to men who had sex at least twice a week.
5. Lowers Your Blood Pressure – High blood pressure can have extremely negative consequences on your physical and mental health if you’re not careful. Fortunately, research has found that having more sex can prevent you from acquiring higher blood pressure. Intercourse, in particular, is a type of affection that is normally perceived to be a mild to moderate aerobic exercise because it gets your heart rate pumping and involves the use of various muscles. One study found that sex specifically (not masturbation) helps to lower your systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure found in your blood vessels when your heart beats. Other, more generic romantic gestures, such as touching your partner and hugging them, have also been found to keep your overall blood pressure low and healthy.
6. Strengthens Your Immune System – Finally, people who have sex on a regular basis have been recognized with a higher level of antibodies that help fight against bacteria, infectious germs, and other viruses. According to sex expert Yvonne K. Fulbright, these people are far less likely to take “sick days.” Another study conducted by psychologists from Pennysylvania even showed that college students who had sex once or twice a week possessed higher levels of these cold-fighting antibodies when compared to other college students who did it less often.

Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or happily married, sex is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Despite the other obvious ways to take care of yourself – eating right, regular exercise, staying protected, and getting enough sleep – understanding the importance of sex and the benefits it can have on your physical and emotional wellness is crucial for your health and well-being.