When couples start their relationship, they have a lot of sex, all the time, anywhere and everywhere, you get the point. As the relationship is growing and time passes by, sex life suffers.
You don’t have sex as often as you used to, and you sometimes don’t even feel like making love when a partner initiates it. Regular sex isn’t only essential for your relationship (it’s the only thing that sets you apart from roommates), but it’s also incredibly beneficial for your overall health and well being.
Here are some reasons you should have sex, even if you don’t feel like it at first.
- Stronger immune system
Regular sex helps keep our immune system strong, protecting us from getting cold or some other viral infections. The immunity-boosting function of sex has a lot to do with its interaction with the pituitary. Sexual intimacy sends signals to the pituitary to stimulate major endocrine axis including the thymus gland, a major factor in the immune system.
Moreover, sexual intercourse increases your levels of IgA (immunoglobulin A) which has been shown to increase a person’s resistance to sicknesses like flu or cold. Having sex once or twice a week increases IgA levels by 30% according to a study carried out at the Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
- Makes menopause easier to handle
Menopause is inevitable, and it’s the “change” that every woman has to experience. This is the time when women experience menopause hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms which can affect the overall quality of life. Although during this time women experience vaginal dryness, the last thing you should do is to avoid sex. In fact, frequent sex can help handle menopause more successfully. Regular penetration with lubricant about two or three times a week fights vaginal atrophy and improves thickness and flexibility of the skin inside the vagina. In fact, women who avoid sex experience greater degree of vaginal dryness and faster loss of flexibility and thickness of the skin. It is needless to mention sex is great for stress, thus making you calmer and not frustrated.
- Lowers blood pressure
Although it is widely believed that sex raises blood pressure in men, it turns out the reality is much different. A study whose findings were published in the journal Biological Psychology included 51 healthy men and women aged between 20 and 47 who were asked about frequency of sex. Scientists also measured their blood pressure. The results showed that more sex was associated with lower blood pressure, which is incredibly beneficial since high blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
It’s important to note that beneficial effect was only observed in a sexual intercourse between two partners, non-coital sex and masturbation don’t count.
- Improves heart health
Sex is like cardio, and you already know how beneficial it is for your heart. The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health published a study which found that frequent sexual intercourse lowers stroke and coronary heart disease risk. That’s not the only research confirming the positive impact of sex on heart health. For example, a study from the American Journal of Cardiology found a link between low frequency of sexual intercourse and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Men who had sex once a month was more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than men who had sex twice a week or more.
- Benefits for testosterone levels
For a long period of time it was believed that with the decline of testosterone levels in men, their sex life goes downhill too. However, scientists at the University of Sydney discovered that’s not the case. They discovered that low testosterone was linked to decreased sexual activity and desires, but not to fewer erections. Also, this is the very first study which discovered the relationship between declining levels of testosterone and reduced sexual activity.
- Stress reduction
Stress has a major impact on our overall health and wellbeing. If left unresolved, it can lead to sleep deprivation, decreased productivity, poor energy levels, and so on. Sex happens to be a wonderful way of relieving stress. One study found that daily stress is strongly linked to lower levels of sexual activity and satisfaction as well as the lack of satisfaction with the relationship itself.
The Archives of Sexual Behavior published an interesting research which revealed that semen has antidepressant properties. Contact with semen during sexual intercourse can help women boost happiness and reduce stress.
- You’ll get enough sleep
Can’t sleep at night? Believe it or not, sex can help you with that. How can sex help you get a good night’s rest? It releases endorphins and you automatically feel better about yourself. Since it also reduces stress, sex makes you feel calm which is necessary to fall asleep. One study found that women in romantic relationships who got an extra hour of sleep also had higher levels of sexual desire. Moreover, women who got enough sleep also experienced improved vaginal lubrication during sex than those with shorter average sleep. Sleep and sex go hand in hand!
Conclusion
Sex is more than just a great opportunity for two people to bond on an intimate level, it’s also a great way to improve overall health and wellbeing. So, strive to have sex regularly and you’ll feel better about yourself and your partner and relationship.