Sex – claims for the physiological benefits of sexual activity.

As research confirms time and time again, good sex in a healthy, stable, monogamous relationship can only better our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.

Body composition, weight loss and weight control. Each person can burn  200 calories or more during 30 minutes of sex. The sexual act conditions strength, flexibility, muscle tone, and cardiovascular conditioning. The action that involves rhythmic pelvic tilting is especially good for the core muscles (the abdominal muscles and spinal muscles). Flexibility is also improved as positions are held. Some isometric and weight resistance action is also performed during sexual activity.

Prolonged sexual activity also has cardiovascular benefits.

Sex has been shown to offer migraine and menstrual cramp relief, as well as alleviate chronic back pain thanks to the endorphins and corticosteroids released during sexual arousal and orgasm.

Sex helps the way we respond to stress, increasing levels of oxytocin and stimulating feelings of warmth and relaxation. The quality of the sexual response also helps people monitor their physical and mental stress and physiological status.

Sex has also been associated with improved immunity.

Sex helps self-esteem and intimacy, especially when sex is consistent and involves mutual pleasure. Sex causes a surge in oxytocin at orgasm and  stimulates feelings of affection, intimacy, and closeness.

Sex releases endorphins during arousal and climax that can relieve depression and anxiety, and increase vibrancy. Sex improves overall attitude toward life and relationships. One study even concluded that components of semen which are absorbed through the vagina and enter the bloodstream may antagonize depressive symptoms.

Sex can be beneficial, spiritually, and lead to a better quality of life and a stronger spiritual relationship with your partner.

Sex, including masturbation, helps sleep and fights off insomnia.

Sex keeps you looking and feeling younger and, according to some research, may lead to shiny hair, a glowing complexion and bright eyes, mostly due to the increase secretion of the hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrostone).

Research shows that there is a significant relationship between frequency of orgasm and risk of death, especially with men. Men who orgasm two times a week have a 50 percent lower chance of mortality than those who climax one time per month.

Decreased risk of breast cancer. One study of women who had never given birth found that an increased frequency of sexual intercourse was correlated with a decrease in the incidence of breast cancer.

Reproductive system health benefits: Sex may decrease a man’s risk of prostate cancer, and a woman’s risk of endometriosis. Sexual activity can also improve fertility in women by regulating menstrual patterns.

See also the introduction to this topic.

References:
Brody S.  Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.
Biol Psychol. 2006 Feb;71(2):214-22. Epub 2005 Jun 14

Charnetski CJ, Brennan FX.  Sexual frequency and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA).
Psychol Rep. 2004 Jun;94(3 Pt 1):839-44.

Davey Smith G, Frankel S, Yarnell J.  Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study. BMJ. 1997 Dec 20-27;315(7123):1641-4.

Gallup GG Jr, Burch RL, Platek SM.  Does semen have antidepressant properties?
Arch Sex Behav. 2002 Jun;31(3):289-93.

Men can take action to protect their sexual desires and abilities throughout life, especially by tending to physiological and emotional health. 

Jim Pfaus, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Concordia University in Montreal who studies the biology of libido offers this advice. With some regular sex drive maintenance, sexual desire and performance can be lifelong. Frequent, stimulating sex keeps the brain wanting and expecting more sex later in life. Regular, cardio style or aerobic exercise also helps sex drive. Increased blood flow is physiological helpful to the physiology of arousal. The beneficial effect of exercise toward sexual performance is long lasting, not just immediate.

According to David Rowland, sex expert and professor of psychology at Valparaiso University, there’s no biological reason why an older man can’t continue with a strong libido.

Julian Davidson of Stanford University conducted research that concluded that sex drive can overcome decreased testosterone, the male hormone that promotes sex drive. He reported that about one-third of men with extremely low testosterone levels (often due to testicular disease) still had frequent, satisfying sex. He concluded that the men with persistent sex drive had a drive that did not require hormonal assistance.

It is also important to prevent obesity because male fat cells secrete estrogen, which can decrease sex drive. Obesity might mean more to love, but it can cause interference with body mechanics in sexual performance.

Maintain good circulation by avoiding smoking and avoiding excess drinking

Some types of stress can increase sexual drive, but other types of stress, especially prolonged stress, can decrease sexual drive. Relaxation and meditation procedures and physical exercise can help return sex drive.

It is also important to prevent chronic resentment, especially over a power struggle, or chronic routine can destroy sex drive in a relationship.

Sources:
Rowland DL, Greenleaf WJ,  Dorfman LJ,  Davidson JM. Aging and sexual function in men. Arch Sex Behav. 1993 Dec;22(6):545-57.

Davidson JM, Chen JJ, Crapo L, Gray GD, Greenleaf WJ, Catania JA.  Hormonal changes and sexual function in aging men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983 Jul;57(1):71-7.

No doubt a powerful and controversial subject, sex has many different meanings, results, benefits and risks.

STARTING WITH THE BENEFITS …
Sex as Exercise
Sexual activity can burn 150 calories in a half-hour, so you could view it as a form of exercise. All the same benefits of spending time in the gym, including cardio exercise and improved circulation, lower cholesterol, elevated good cholesterol, flexibility, isometric and dynamic muscular exercise, and the release of feel-good endorphins.

Sex as an Immune Booster
Dr. Carl Charnetski, professor of psychology at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa studied 112 college students, who reported the frequency of their sexual encounters and were divided into four categories: none, infrequent (less than once a week), frequent (one to two times per week), and very frequent (three or more times per week).  Individuals in the frequent group showed significantly higher levels of IgA than the other three groups.

Sex as a Mood Booster
People who have regular sex know that they handle stress better, feel relaxed and sleep better. A study by Stuart Brody of the University of Paisley in Scotland found that penile-vaginal intercourse, but not other sexual activity was associated with better psychological and physiological function. People who had penile-vaginal intercourse had lower baseline BP and lower BP reactivity to stress of public speaking and verbal arithmetic compared to people who had sexual activity without penile-vaginal intercourse or people who had no sexual activity.

Sex and Longevity
Research by Smith and others at the University of Bristol studied 918 men aged 45-59 in the town of Caerphilly, South Wales and five adjacent villages. All deaths and deaths from coronary heart disease were compared to orgasmic frequency. Mortality risk was 50% lower in the group with high orgasmic frequency compared to the group with low orgasmic frequency. Deaths were most marked for coronary artery disease-related deaths.

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References:
Brody S.  Blood pressure reactivity to stress is better for people who recently had penile-vaginal intercourse than for people who had other or no sexual activity.
Biol Psychol. 2006 Feb;71(2):214-22. Epub 2005 Jun 14

Charnetski CJ, Brennan FX.  Sexual frequency and salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA).
Psychol Rep. 2004 Jun;94(3 Pt 1):839-44.

Davey Smith G, Frankel S, Yarnell J.  Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study. BMJ. 1997 Dec 20-27;315(7123):1641-4.

Gallup GG Jr, Burch RL, Platek SM.  Does semen have antidepressant properties?
Arch Sex Behav. 2002 Jun;31(3):289-93.