7 Healthy Reasons You Should Have Sex — Right Now!
As if the big O weren't reason enough to get busy, sex has many other benefits that just might surprise you.
Want to boost your mood, stress less, and cut your risk of cancer, heart disease, and other health hazards? No, the answer isn’t in a magic pill — it’s between your sheets. That’s right: A little loving can boost your overall health in a number of surprising ways.
“Sex can be good for your health for many reasons,” says Amy Wetter, MD, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist at Pediatrix Medical Group in Atlanta. “Some of these include better sleep, lower stress, improved self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and pain relief.”
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And nobody says you have to be with a partner to reap these benefits. Self-pleasuring can offer sex benefits, especially those specifically related to a good orgasm.
So whether you’re coupled up or flying solo, check out this list of the healthy knock-on effects of regular sex.
1. Improved Heart Health — Yes, Sex Is Exercise
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2. Sweet Pain Relief, Even From Menstrual Cramps
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3. Less Stress and Lower Blood Pressure
4. Possible Reduction of Prostate Cancer Risk
5. Better Sleep With a Bonus: Increased Sexual Desire
There’s a reason you and your partner tend to doze off shortly after a satisfying session — and wake up feeling refreshed. “Sex can improve sleep by the release of hormones called oxytocin, prolactin, and endorphins,” Wetter says. “This combination of hormones can produce a sedative effect.”
6. Happier Mood and a Stronger Relationship
It’s no wonder you’ve got a more positive outlook after sex: There are biochemical rationales for experiencing improved mood as a sex benefit, from the neurotransmitters that may be released during healthy sex to the mood enhancers contained in semen itself.
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7. Glowing, Younger-Looking Skin
That fabled "morning after" glow? It’s not just your imagination, Wetter says.
During sex, an elevated heart rate increases blood flow to the face. “This causes your blood vessels to dilate and that gives you the rosy look,” Wetter explains. “While this is a temporary result, the other benefits of sex such as better sleep and reduced stress is also good for your skin in the long run.”
Healthy sex is one of the great joys in life. The knowledge that intimacy is a boon for your long-term health might make it that much more pleasurable!
Additional reporting by Ashley Welch.
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