Regular sex
cannot be underestimated as a factor for reducing stress, bolstering
self-esteem and fostering feelings of intimacy and bonding between partners.
But the real
point of this article is the fact that a healthy sex life can provide for a
longer, healthier and, most would agree, more enjoyable life. Among the many
health benefits of sex are:
1. Improved Immunity
People who have
sex frequently (one or two times a week) have significantly higher levels of
immunoglobulin A (IgA). Your
IgA immune system is your body's first line of defense.
Its job is to
fight off invading organisms at their entry points, reducing or even
eliminating the need for activation of your body's immune system. This may
explain why people who have sex frequently also take fewer sick days.
2. Heart Health
Men who made love
regularly (at least twice a week) were 45 percent less likely to develop heart
disease than those who did so once a month or less, according to one study.
Sexual activity
not only provides many of the same benefits to your heart as exercise but also
keeps levels of estrogen and testosterone in balance, which is important for
heart health.
3. Lower Blood Pressure
Sexual activity,
and specifically intercourse, is linked to better stress response and lower
blood pressure.
4. It's a Form of Exercise
Sex helps to
boost your heart rate, burn calories and strengthen muscles, just like
exercise. In fact, research recently revealed that sex burns about 4 calories a
minute for men and 3 for women, making it (at times) a 'significant' form of
exercise. It
can even help you to maintain your flexibility and balance.
5. Pain Relief
Sexual activity
releases pain-reducing hormones and has been found to help reduce or block back
and leg pain, as well as pain from menstrual cramps, arthritis and headaches.
One study even found that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete
relief of headache in some migraine and cluster-headache patients.
6. May Help Reduce Risk of Prostate Cancer
Research has
shown that men who ejaculate at least 21 times a month (during sex or
masturbation) have a lower risk of prostate cancer. This
link needs to be explored further, however, as there may have been additional
factors involved in the association.
7. Improve Sleep
After sex, the
relaxation-inducing hormone prolactin is released, which may help you to nod
off more quickly. The "love hormone" oxytocin, released during
orgasm, also promotes sleep.
8. Stress Relief
Sex triggers your
body to release its natural feel-good chemicals, helping to ease stress and
boost pleasure, calm and self-esteem. Research also shows that those who have
sexual intercourse responded better when subjected to stressful situations like
speaking in public.
9. Boost Your Libido
The more often
you have sex, the more likely you are to want to keep doing it. There's a
mental connection there but also a physical one, particularly for women. More
frequent sex helps to increase vaginal lubrication, blood flow and elasticity, which
in turn make sexual activity more enjoyable.
10. Improved Bladder Control in Women
Intercourse helps
to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which contract during orgasm. This can
help women to improve their bladder control and avoid incontinence. You can
boost this benefit even more by practicing Kegel exercises during sex (a Kegel
squeeze is performed by drawing your lower pelvic muscles up and holding them up
high and tight, as if you're trying to stop a flow of urine).
11. Increase Intimacy and Improve Your Relationship
Sex and orgasms result in increased levels of the hormone oxytocin -- the "love" hormone -- that helps you feel bonded to your partner, and better experience empathic connections.