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Top Ten Reasons Sex is Good for You

By HERWriter
 
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why sex is good for you Monkey Business Images/Photospin

Okay, we know that sex is fun, but guess what? It’s good for you too! The top ten healthy benefits of good sex are even backed up by experts, researchers and scientists:

1. Sex is a stress reliever

Sex can lower blood pressure and reduce stress. One study looked at women’s heart rates and cortisol levels as a measure of stress response. It found women showed less stress after good sex with a partner. Emotional support alone didn’t have the same effect.

2. Sex boosts immunity

Good sexual health can mean better physical health. Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of antibodies that can protect you from getting colds and other infections.

3. Sex burns calories

Thirty minutes of sex burns around 85 calories. That may not seem like much, but the more sex you have, the more you burn. Sex versus the gym… hmmm?

4. Sex improves cardiovascular health

Women who have more sex tend to have higher levels of estrogen, which protects against heart disease.

5. Sex boosts self-esteem

Researchers at the University of Texas found that a self-esteem boost was one of 237 reasons people have sex.

6. Sex improves intimacy

Orgasm and having sex increases levels of oxytocin, the so-called love hormone. It helps us bond and build trust. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after contact with their husbands and partners. They found that the more contact, the higher the oxytocin levels.

7. Sex reduces pain

As the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase and pain decreases. So if your headache, muscle aches or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, go ahead and thank the oxytocin.

8. Sex strengthens pelvic floor muscles

Bring on the Kegels! Doing a few of these exercises during intercourse offers several benefits. Women have more pleasure; they’re strengthening their pelvic area and helping to minimize the risk of incontinence later in life.

9. Sex helps you sleep better

According to researchers, oxytocin released during orgasm also helps you catch more z’s. And that can come from solo sex or sex with a partner.

10. Sex fights aging

Sex is a form of exercise. And like most exercise, it burns calories and can battle the onslaught of aging. In fact, nursing home experts say they wish seniors would have more sex.

Stacy Lloyd is a writer and video producer in Phoenix, Arizona. A former television news journalist, she covered stories around the world. Currently, she produces corporate and non-profit videos and broadcast programming.

Add a Comment6 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Sex can be even better is you have a vasectomy. A recent study demonstrates vasectomy can improve your sex life. This study is discussed by Dr. Monteith as it relates to vasectomy in his blog article Does Vasectomy Affect Sex Life:
https://www.bestvasectomy.com/vasectomy-blog/#/does-vasectomy-affect-your-sex-life

January 12, 2015 - 5:35pm

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September 11, 2012 - 12:36am

Thanks for sharing this! It's always good to remind ourselves that our sexual health needs attention too, after all it is a large part of ourselves and our happiness :)

January 11, 2012 - 10:35am

Love it! I wrote a similar article about Sex being the True Fountain of Youth and Good for your Health! http://www.oceanusnaturals.com/blog/the-true-fountain-of-youth-sex-is-good-for-your-health/

September 1, 2011 - 2:59pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Nice blog. It gives me lot of information. Thanks for sharing post.

August 26, 2011 - 4:04am

Stacy, great article with good stats to motivate your readers. I also emphasize the many health benefits of an active sex life in my latest book IN THE MOOD AGAIN. I am interested in your source for the sex-estrogen-heart health connection. Can you provide?
Thanks so much!

July 12, 2010 - 11:50am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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