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The true health benefits of sex and having a healthy sex life cannot be understated.
From the moment most of us become sexually active – be it through exploring your body during puberty, or having intercourse for the first time – a not-so-secret little fact becomes known: having sex is great. What you might not know is that in addition to feeling great, sex is good for your health.
While we likely aren’t introduced to the various physical and mental benefits of sex at the same time as the act itself, that doesn’t mean we aren’t taking advantage of them.
As it turns out, sexual activity, whether it be masturbation or intercourse, is good for you. It’s certainly an idea that many of us innately know, but decades of research also back it up.
The pros of sex cover multiple aspects of our lives, including:
- Physical
- Mental
- Emotional
- Psychological
- Social
And even sexual – that’s right, having sex leads to more sex via an increase in libido and comfort level. Regular sexual activity should be considered an essential part of overall well-being rather than a taboo or embarrassing subject. There are simply too many upsides not to embrace the conversation. Here are just some of the physical and mental benefits to sex.
Physical Health Benefits of Having Sex
Sexual intercourse requires muscles, movement, blood flow, and ultimately – relaxation. Another activity that features all of the above is light exercise. While sex shouldn’t be relied upon solely in the pursuit of an active lifestyle, it can help accomplish many of the same benefits as resistance training or cardiovascular exercise.
Naturally, intercourse can burn calories – as many as five per minute in fact. That’s about five times as many as sitting alone on the couch. It also helps to strengthen your muscles, and increases your libido. Simply put, having sex can result in even more sex – talk about having your cake and eating it too.
The physical health benefits of sex are more than simply skin, or even muscle-deep however. Sex can lower your blood pressure, which can have positive effects on your risk for heart disease, stroke, and hypertension. While we’re on the subject, lowering your blood pressure can also help cure ED. In addition, frequent sex among adults in healthy relationships – in this case, defined by once or twice over a weeklong period – manifested in raised levels of immunoglobulin A, or igA. This helpful antibody fights against illnesses and boosts your immune system.
Another boost to your immune system is better sleep – and guess what helps contribute to that? Oxytocin and endorphins released after achieving orgasm are happy little byproducts that make for more restful nights.
Men in particular can find unique health benefits of sex in the form of reduced risk of prostate cancer. A recent studious review found this to be the case among men who practice frequent intercourse with their partners. However, going at it solo was also found to be beneficial, as men who ejaculate between four and seven times per week lowered that probability of being diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 70 by 36%.
Finally, sex can help you look younger – by as many as seven to twelve years according to one study. It also helps clear up your complexion. Perhaps that “after glow” term didn’t just get its name from nothing.
Of course, maybe the best overall benefit backed up by medical studies involving adults with active sex lives is the fact that having more intercourse is closely correlated with more active lifestyles. The result is a self-perpetuating cycle that results in happier and healthy human beings.
Mental Health Benefits of Having Sex
Let’s now talk about the adrenal system. Recall that endorphins, our body’s natural pleasure chemicals, are released at orgasm. Being that their very nature is to boost happiness, it should come as no surprise that an active sex life can benefit mental health. Endorphins released during sex combat anxiety and relieve stress, both of which are prime suspects when it comes to feeling less than satisfied with our lives.
Going through a rough patch with your significant other? There may actually be something behind the theory of “make-up sex;” namely that studies have shown sexual intercourse can increase levels of trust and intimacy in our relationships. There’s hardly anything more intimate than working together toward a common goal, and apparently when that goal is sex, the repercussions can lead to a healthier partnership. Sex also makes it easier for couples to perceive, identify, and express their emotions, leading to better communication patterns and empathy.
Ever walk into a room and forget what you were looking for? Perhaps it was more sex. One of the most unexpected mental benefits of regular intercourse is improved memory. One study concerning adults aged between 50 and 90 found better memory function among those who were sexually active – at ages across the spectrum. Those same individuals were also less likely to report feelings of depression or loneliness.
It seems that sex should be a part of your routine for well into your golden years.
Sex Is Good For Your Health
No matter how you measure your health, generally speaking, more sex will help to improve it. The benefits of regular intercourse begin inside and lead to positive benefits that ripple outward like waves and return. It’s a relatively simple formula:
- Sex can improve your mental and physical condition
- Your mental and physical conditions can improve your relationships
- Your relationships can improve your overall wellbeing, and lead to more sex
- Rinse, lather, repeat (whether with a partner or by yourself)
Sex has long been about far more than procreation – and it is time to give everyone’s favorite bedroom activity its proper due as an addition to a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle. Feel free to email this article to your partner and get ready to take advantage of all these benefits and more, tonight.
If you’re having sexual health issues with erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE), call the team at Prestige Men’s Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff.
