23 Physical And Emotional Advantages Of Having Sex Regularly

Most people typically have sex for one of two reasons – procreation or pleasure (and these are not, of course, mutually exclusive).

But it turns out there are both physical and emotional benefits to having sex too, which is what this article explores.

Anti-Aging

Having sex increases blood circulation (not surprisingly), which in turn pumps oxygen around your body and increases collagen production, including to your skin, with the result that you will have a better skin tone and fewer wrinkles.

In addition, this same mechanism can:

• cleanse your skin because of the sweat that is produced when making love
• help reduce or eliminate acne according to some scientists
• lead to stronger nails

Better Health Overall

One study found that people who are more sexually active tend to have stronger immune systems and take fewer days off sick.

Sex seems to stimulate an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which helps fight off coughs and colds, for example.

This does not mean, of course, that you should refrain from all of the other healthy activities you should be doing (e.g. eating well, getting enough sleep, exercise). 🙂

Bladder Control

It is estimated that nearly one third of women will experience incontinence at some stage, often during or immediately after pregnancy.

Part of this is because the pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough, but the good news is that the contractions experienced during orgasm actually strengthen those muscles, thus helping improve bladder control.

Cardiovascular Health

One study found that, for men, having sex at least twice a week reduced the risk of a heart attack by half.

Dental Health

Semen apparently contains calcium and zinc, as well as other minerals that can help prevent tooth decay.

Exercise

Sex burns, on average, five calories per minute, which is five times more than sitting watching your television, and half as many as burpees, push-ups, or swimming.

So yes, it counts as exercise! You may not lose as much weight as you would from going to the gym, but I know which I’d rather do. 🙂

Happiness

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that engaging in healthy consensual sex increases your happiness.

Hormone Balance

Sex helps to keep two of your primary sex hormones, oestrogen and testosterone, in balance.

Increased Libido

Yes, the more you have sex, the more you want it – as a general rule.

Making love increases production of pheromones, which are hormones we secrete that stimulate sexual arousal.

For women especially, the physical aspects of being turned on and having sex (e.g. increased blood flow to the vagina, natural lubrication, and elasticity) make them want sex more.

Job Satisfaction

The after-effects of sex can apparently spill over into the next day, which can make being at work less stressful and more tolerable – although it won’t change a horrible job into a great one, of course.

Longevity

One recent study found that people who had sex following a recent heart attack decreased their risk of death by about 33%.

Lower Risk Of Prostate Cancer

One study found that men who ejaculate at least 21 times per month contributes to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

And this does not need to be via intercourse – masturbation and even nocturnal emissions (often referred to as wet dreams) offer the same benefit.

Memory Improvement

Research shows that women who have more sex are better able to remember events from the past.

Other studies suggest this is not gender-specific, although its effects are more observable in older adults.

More Regular Periods

Partly because it helps reduce stress (see below), which can help make periods less regular, and partly because of the effect on luteinizing hormone, which controls reproductive functions (including menstruation), regular sex can help women maintain a regular cycle.

Pain Relief

Having an orgasm releases a hormone that increases your pain threshold.

And in the case of women, one professor has said that even without orgasm, sexual stimulation can suppress chronic back and leg pain, and reduce arthritic pain, menstrual cramps, and even headaches.

A German study from 2013 has confirmed the above results with regard to headaches as well as migraines.

And although it seems unlikely that a woman would want sex in the middle of experiencing menstrual cramps, it can apparently reduce the pain.

Reduced Blood Pressure

While sex can certainly get your heart pumping, various studies have shown that it actually lowers your blood pressure, and, specifically, your systolic pressure (that’s the first of the two numbers, the other being the diastolic pressure).

Note, though, that the same benefit is not achieved via masturbation.

Reduced Risk Of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious condition that affects about one in twenty pregnancies, but there are two factors that can minimize this risk – regular sex, and a protein called HLG-A which is found in semen.

Saving Relationships

When your relationship is not going as smoothly as you’d like, you may not be in the mood for sex (e.g. if you’re angry with your partner), but ironically, the intimacy and bonding that comes from sex can actually help save that relationship.

I cover this in a lot more detail as part of my “How To Keep The Spark Alive” course.

Self-Esteem

One college-based study found that having almost any type of sex (with somebody else, so not masturbation) can help you feel better about yourself.

Shiny Hair

Healthy sex can, according to studies, make your hair look better, which is in part because sex improves your ability to absorb nutrients and metabolize them efficiently.

Sleep Faster

I know it’s a joke that after sex women often want to cuddle while men simply fall asleep, but in their defence, this is not their fault. 🙂

After you’ve had an orgasm, a hormone called prolactin is released, and this hormone promotes feelings of relaxation and sleepiness.

Sperm Production

One piece of research confirmed that daily sex (after a short period of abstinence) actually increased the number of sperm produced during ejaculation.

Stress Relief

I’ve already talked elsewhere about the “love hormone”, oxytocin, which is released when you hug and cuddle, as well as, of course, when you have sex.

And although this hormone can make you feel good, that, combined with being intimate with your partner, reduces anxiety and stress.

While I appreciate that when you’re depressed or stressed, sex may not be the first thing on your mind, the fact is that having sex (or even masturbating) can help you relax and calm down.

In addition to this, it is now being suggested that:

• Exposure to male sweat can help a woman become more relaxed.
• There is some component of semen which, when absorbed by the vaginal walls, provides some type of antidepressant effect.

So How Often Should You Have Sex?

In terms of overall contentment in your relationship, one study concluded that once a week was the ideal number – less than that and happiness declines, while more than that did not confer any additional benefits.

It varies by age too – younger people apparently have sex about three times every fortnight, while older people might be sexually active once every two weeks.

What does seem to be happening is that people are having less sex now than they were a couple of decades ago, and one likely factor for this is the increasingly busy life that many of us lead these days.

And that is a shame, because as you have just read, sex has many benefits, so making time for it on a regular basis is defintely worth the effort.

But there is, of course, no single answer to the question – you should have sex as often as you want, while aiming for at least once a week on average in order to maintain a happy and healthy relationship.

Conclusion

So, the next time your partner says they’re not in the mood for sex, even if they “have a headache”, you can show them this list! 🙂

Seriously, sex is an important part of most relationships, and even if you’re not in a committed one, casual sex or even masturbation can provide at least some of these benefits.

The key is to determine what works best for you (and your partner), because this is a highly personal area where there are few definitively right or wrong ways to do it.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Guide To Sex
2. Lovehoney
3. Sex Book For Men
4. Sex Book For Women
5. Sex Coupons