6 Benefits of Having Sex

Let’s face it, sex is everywhere. It’s on billboards displayed with tightly clad, lust-lipped models; in commercials depicting floss butt beauties dancing around beer or fifty-somethings raising an eyebrow after popping an erection pill; and let’s not forget all the free pornography no one talks about.

Sex has been in your face since you were born and now, according to several years of research, having sex is an important part of maintaining optimal health. So go ahead, have some safe, fun, passionate and consensual coitus so you too can experience these 6 benefits of sex.

Boost Your Engine

When you have sex your immune system gets happy. This makes sense of course because evolution relies on procreation and nature wants humans healthy enough to do just that.

According to a study by researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, an important immune boosting compound is released when humans practice moderate sex. This compound is responsible for producing antibodies capable of defending your body against germs, viruses, and many other microscopic health threats you may be susceptible to.

It was reported by NHS UK that, “Immunoglobulin A (IgA – an important antibody) was 30% higher in those who had sex once or twice a week than in those who had no sex at all.” Sexual health expert, PhD Yvonne K. Fulbright comments, “Sexually active people take fewer sick days.”

Shut Down Incontinence

About 30% of women will develop a weak bladder as they age. Sex challenges the pelvic floor which is a major part of maintaining a strong bladder. The act of intercourse as well as experiencing an orgasm contracts and relaxes this area which helps strengthen essential muscles. Therefore, weekly sex may help prevent future incontinence in females and may also help strengthen the pelvic floor of males too.

Depress Your Stress

High blood pressure is a common condition. According to PubMed Health approximately 76.4 million Americans are afflicted with hypertension per year. Like any vigorous exercise, sex has been linked to potentially lowering high blood pressure.

A report by CBS News (3/24/08) cites a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health which stated that, “having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half for the men, compared with those who had sex less than once a month.”

Brain Wave

Good brain chemicals released during sex can mean more focus and productivity. It was found that an orgasm lights up a staggering 30 locations in the brain (crossword puzzles and memory games only light up one at a time).

The Huffington Post reported that,

“researchers at the University of Maryland found that regular sexual activity not only allowed for neurogenesis, or the creation of new neurons in the brain, but also improved cognitive function, potentially helping people think more clearly.”

Step Lively

Don’t stop your horizontal dance when you get older because it looks like it helps you stay younger. The act of sex is shown to increase the natural production of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) a hormone associated with slowing the effects of aging.

MedicineNet reports that,

“in one study, judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. People who had sex at least 4 times per week with a regular partner were perceived to be 7 to 12 years younger than they actually were.”

Sexual Healing

The famous song ‘Sexual Healing’ by Marvin Gay had it right. There have been several studies indicating how sex can help various chronic pain including headaches, back pain, menstrual cramps, arthritis and more.

Research published in Sage Journal’s Cephalalgia titled, ‘The impact of sexual activity on idiopathic headaches: An observational study’ concluded that,

“The majority of patients with migraine or cluster headache do not have sexual activity during headache attacks. Our data suggest, however, that sexual activity can lead to partial or complete relief of headache in some migraine and a few cluster headache patients.”

Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, a distinguished service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey comments to WebMD,

“Orgasm can block pain…We’ve found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back and leg pain, and many women have told us that genital self-stimulation can reduce menstrual cramps, arthritic pain, and in some cases even headache.”

 

These 6 benefits of sex are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the vast amount of positive health reactions. Overall, it is important to note that human connection is truly rewarding on many levels, both physically as well as mentally. Practicing safe, compassionate, consensual sex can be applied on just as many levels in so many different ways it is no wonder that the buzz expression during the 1960’s was, “Make Love, Not War,” truly good advice.