The Benefits Of Sex
Numerous scientific studies have proved what we at Jo Divine have known for years – that sex is extremely good for your health. Some GPs even say, they would prescribe sex if they could! Having sex is not just about experiencing pleasure, good sexual health can improve both your physical and your mental health. This article focuses on the top health benefits of sex, and all act as good incentives to have lots and lots more…
Less Stress, Better Blood Pressure
Having sex could lower your stress levels, and your blood pressure. That finding comes from a Scottish study of 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. The researchers put them in stressful situations, such as speaking in public and doing maths problems out loud, and checked their blood pressure.
People who had had intercourse responded better to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviours or abstained. Another study published in the same journal found that diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of your blood pressure) tends to be lower in people who live together and often have sex.
Sex Boosts Immunity
Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in the United States of America studied 112 university students who kept records of how often they had sex, and also provided saliva samples for the study. Those who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of IgA, an antibody that could help you avoid a cold or other infections, than other students.
Sex Burns Calories
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions. Sex is a great mode of exercise as it takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well. Keeping in good shape also boost your sex life too.
Sex Improves Heart Health
Having sex may be good for your heart. A 20-year-long study shows that men who had sex twice or more a week were half as likely to have a fatal heart attack than men who had sex less than once a month.
Sex May Turn Down Pain
The love hormone, oxytocin, boosts your body’s endorphins, which are your bodies natural painkillers. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, that may be why. In one study, 48 people inhaled oxytocin vapour and then had their fingers pricked. The oxytocin cut their pain threshold by more than half.
Many women find having an orgasm can help period pain
Deeper Intimacy
Having sex and orgasms boosts levels of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called love hormone, which helps people bond and build trust. In a study of 59 women, researchers checked their oxytocin levels before and after the women hugged their partners. The women had higher oxytocin levels if they had more physical contact with their partner. Higher oxytocin levels have also been linked with a feeling of generosity.
Better Self-Esteem
Boosting self-esteem is one of 237 reasons people have sex, according to a study carried out by the University of Texas. Of course, you don’t have to have lots of sex to feel good about yourself. Your self-esteem is all about you, not someone else. But if you’re already feeling good about yourself, a great sex life may help you feel even better.
More Ejaculations May Make Prostate Cancer Less Likely
Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may lower the risk of getting prostate cancer later in life, some research shows. For instance, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that men who had 21 or more ejaculations a month, were less likely to get prostate cancer than those who had four to seven ejaculations per month. Of course, that study doesn’t prove that ejaculations were the only factor that mattered. Many things affect a person’s odds of developing cancer. However, the researchers did take that into consideration, and the findings still held.
Better Sleep
The oxytocin released during orgasm also promotes sleep, research shows. Getting enough sleep has also been linked with a host of other health perks, such as a healthy weight and better blood pressure.
Ejoying a good night’s sleep can often be troublesome during the menopause when night time sweats can keep you awake so enjoying a better night’s sleep can lead to a more satisfying sex life, which in turn benefits your sleep!
A Youthful Glow
In a study conducted at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, a panel of judges viewed participants through a one-way mirror and guessed their ages. Those who were enjoying lots of sex with a steady partner—four times a week, on average—were perceived to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual age.
Regular sex promotes the release of hormones, including testosterone and oestrogen, which can keep the body looking young and vital; oestrogen has also been shown to promote soft skin and shiny hair.
Promotes Good Vagina Health
Regular penetrative sex keeps you vagina happy and healthy. It promotes our own natural vaginal lubrication which keeps the walls of the vagina flexible and our friendly bacteria which promote the right pH. It also promotes blood flow to the tissues of the vagina and vulva which is important too. As we age the walls fo the vagina become less flexible because of the depleting oestrogen levels and they can feel tight, often making sex and cervical screening feel painful or uncomfortable. Using a good sexual lubricant can maintain vagina pH and nourishes the tissues of the vagina whiclst a good vaginal moisturiser used 2-3 times aweek will keep your vagina in good health. Regular sex and using a sex toy can help keep the vagina viable , making sex feel pleasurable and another way to explore different sexual sensations beyond penetrative sex with a partner.