If you want to boost your mood, lower your stress levels, and help prevent chronic disease, there may be a way to make these changes that you haven’t considered. Sexual intercourse can improve your overall health in a number of surprising ways.
“Sex can be good for your health for many reasons,” says Amy Wetter, MD, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. “Some of these include better sleep, improved self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and pain relief.”
Don’t currently have a partner? It doesn’t matter. Masturbation can also offer health benefits, especially those related to a good orgasm. Here are seven ways your body and mind may benefit from having regular sex.
1. Improved Heart Health
Like any physical activity, healthy sex is good for your heart. One analysis of more than 17,000 young and middle-aged adults found that those who had sex fewer than 12 times a year faced the highest risk for
cardiovascular disease, while those who hook up once or twice a week had lower risk for cardiovascular events or death.
For people who already have heart issues, sex may improve long-term recovery after a heart attack. Researchers compared two groups of
heart attack survivors: those who lowered the frequency or stopped having sex in the first six months of their recovery, and those who returned to their normal level or increased it. The people who had more sex had a 35 percent lower risk of death over the next two decades.
If you worry if it’s safe to have sex if you have heart disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) reports that as long as the condition is stabilized, you’re likely in the clear.
A good rule of thumb is if you can climb stairs or walk a mile without difficulty, it’s safe to have sex.
2. Pain Relief
Pain can be significantly lessened by orgasm, likely because it releases brain-chemicals known as
endorphins that help diminish discomfort, along with reducing stress and improving mood.
Often referred to as the body’s natural pain killers, endorphins work similarly to opioid drugs.
They may help reduce physical pain, both acute and chronic, as well as emotional and psychological pain, such as
depression.
And if you go at it rigorously enough, there may be another way sex can help moderate pain.
Exercise is one of the most studied interventions for
menstrual cramps, also because of the endorphins released when you do it.
But sex doesn’t work as a pain reliever for everyone or every health condition. Research shows that people who have migraines are split between experiencing an improvement in their symptoms and worse pain after they have sex.
3. Lower Blood Pressure
While sex temporarily raises heart rate and blood pressure, it may help lower your BP after the deed is done. A small study found that having sex the night before a blood pressure reading led to lower levels of systolic blood pressure. The more pleasurable the sex, the greater the effect appeared to be.
On the flip side, if you have
high blood pressure, it may impact your sexual function. There’s an established link between high blood pressure and
erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, although sexual dysfunction related to BP has not been proven in women. Less blood flow can make it more difficult to get or maintain an erection. If you or your partner are experiencing ED, see your doctor to discuss your blood pressure and other risk factors for the disease.
4. Possible Reduction of Prostate Cancer Risk
While more research is needed to confirm this link, it appears that frequent ejaculation may lower your risk of prostate cancer.
A large Harvard study of nearly 30,000 U.S. men found that those who reported they ejaculated more than 21 times per month were 31 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who had done so four to seven times per month.
5. Better Sleep
There’s a reason you may doze off shortly after a satisfying session — and wake up feeling refreshed.
“Sex can improve sleep by the release of hormones called oxytocin and prolactin,” Wetter says. “This combination of hormones can produce a sedative effect.”
The relationship between sex and sleep is complicated, and they are interconnected in ways both good and bad. Regular sex can have a positive effect on
sleep, but sleep deprivation and
sleep disorders can have a detrimental impact on libido and arousal.
6. Happier Mood and a Stronger Relationship
With all the endorphins and oxytocin circulating after a good roll in the sheets, it’s no wonder you’ve got a more positive outlook after sex. And you don’t necessarily need to have an orgasm to benefit. Some
neurotransmitters still activate without an orgasm, such as through touch, kissing, and sexual talk.
Plus, your frisky play may result in a serious afterglow that can, in turn, help you bond better with your partner. According to a study that followed newlywed couples who kept a two-week sexual diary, researchers found that partners were satisfied for a full 48 hours after sexual activity. And those who were lucky enough to experience this afterglow went on to report more happiness in their relationship several months later.
7. Glowing, Younger-Looking Skin
That fabled "morning after" glow? It’s not just your imagination, Wetter says. During sex, an elevated heart rate increases blood flow to the face.
“This causes your blood vessels to dilate and that gives you the rosy look,” Wetter explains. “While this is a temporary result, the other benefits of sex such as better sleep and reduced stress is also good for your skin in the long run.”
While a boost in beauty has its appeal, sex can also have other positive impacts on the skin. Research suggests that intimate physical contact can reduce cortisol responses and (along with an oxytocin nasal spray) promote wound healing and a better frame of mind.
The Takeaway
- Regular sexual activity is linked to multiple physical health benefits, including improved heart health, lower blood pressure, pain relief, reduced prostate cancer risk, and better sleep because of hormones like oxytocin and prolactin.
- Sex, even without orgasm, also supports mental health and relationships by lowering stress, improving mood, boosting self-esteem, and strengthening emotional bonds.
- Sex may contribute to healthier, more youthful-looking skin and contribute to faster wound healing.
Emily Davis
James Bennett
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