Surprising Ways That Sex Is Good For Your Health

Sex can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. It can be exciting and fun or it can be a secretive, taboo subject or it can be a way to communicate love or it can be a place of warning against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. But through all of the things that you may associate with sex, benefits to your health may not be on the list. However, there are a variety of ways in which sex can be beneficial to your health (for both men and women); your physical health, mental health and emotional too.

Key Takeaways

Sex Benefits Physical Health:

Sex is a good form of exercise, burning about 5 calories per minute, and helps strengthen various muscles. It can lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. Regular sex can also boost your immune system, potentially leading to fewer sick days.

Sex Benefits Mental and Emotional Health:

Sex releases endorphins that act as natural painkillers and neurotransmitters like oxytocin and dopamine that relieve stress, anxiety, and increase happiness and intimacy. These hormones improve mood and strengthen the bond with your partner.

Sex Benefits Reproductive Health:

For women, sex promotes vaginal health by maintaining good blood flow and healthy tissues. It also strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, which can help prevent urinary incontinence. Regular sex can also boost libido, leading to better sexual experiences.

It’s great exercise

Find that you dread going to the gym? Well, sex may be an exercise that you can get on board with. Burning approximately 5 calories a minute (WebMD, 2024), sex works not only to get your heart rate up but it also uses and strengthens a number of different muscles throughout your body.

It strengthens your immune system

Previous studies have shown that people who have sex once or twice a week have higher levels of a certain antibody (Medical News Today, 2023). Antibodies are an important part of our immune system as they help to fight off infection and illness. So potentially, more sex = fewer sick days. It's important to note that this research is old and more studies are needed to draw definite conclusions.

Orgasms work as a painkiller

If you’re not feeling like having sex due to a headache or stomach ache then sex may actually be exactly what you need. When you orgasm, your body produces endorphins; hormones that block pain signals to the brain, effectively relieving whatever ails you (Europe's Journal of Psychology, 2008).

It lowers blood pressure

High blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of health problems in the long run, such as heart attack and stroke. Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level is not only important, but could be made a lot easier thanks to having sex. Studies have found that sexual intercourse can actually lower your systolic blood pressure (the number at the top) (Medical News Today, 2023).

Sex is good for your vaginal health

Even though sex can trigger a number of vaginal problems for women (UTI’s, BV, thrush), it’s good to know that ultimately, sex is good for your vaginal health. Your vagina is self-cleaning and self-lubricating; functions that are maintained through good blood flow and healthy tissues, which you can thank sex or masturbation for (Good Housekeeping, 2017).

It eases stress and anxiety

When you have sex, it’s not just your body that’s working overtime. There’s a lot going on in your brain too; in fact, 30 active parts of the brain are involved in orgasm. Like the part involved in the release of oxytocin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters work as ‘feel good’ hormones, which can help to relieve stress and anxiety, as well as increase self-esteem and happiness. They can also make you feel closer to your partner and strengthen the feeling on intimacy (Scott, E.; 2023).

A healthy sex life means a strong pelvic floor

Women often hear about pelvic floor exercises, particularly those who have had children. Sex actually acts as a pelvic floor exercise in itself, as orgasm causes the muscles to contract. A study by Kanter et al (2015) found that sexual activity and function are linked to pelvic floor strength. This strengthening exercise is important for avoiding urinary incontinence, which affects around 30% of women at some point in their lives.

Safe Sex

It's important to use a condom if there is a risk of STD infection, or if you wish to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

It’s good for your heart

Never mind the ways in which sex may be good for your heart in terms of love, intimacy and emotions; sex is quite literally good for your heart. A number of studies have explored the effects of sex on your cardiovascular health and have found that those having sex at least twice a week are 50% less likely to die of fatal heart disease (Telegraph, 2010)!

More sex boosts your libido

It’s a pretty simple formula when you boil it down; the more you have sex, the getter the chances of having a better sexual experience (Medical News Today, 2024). If you need medication for erectile dysfunction to help you enjoy sex, you can buy over the counter Viagra and over the counter Cialis online at UK Meds. If you’re having regular sex then it will not only up your libido, but it will also make the sex better!

ED Medication

If you would like to enjoy sex as a man, but are unable to achieve an erection, there are medications that can assist you. Examples are Viagra and Cialis. This medication can help you enjoy sex once again, if you suffer from erectile dysfunction. While it is a prescription-only medication, our online doctor service can assist you in obtaining one if you qualify.

Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC reference no: 7151419
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