Sexual Wellness and the Science-Backed Benefits of Sex
Sex IS Wellness
We’re all familiar with wellness when it comes to our physical and mental health. We know that eating more leafy greens and fewer gummy bears is good for us. We know that meditation and therapy are great for our health and reducing stress is beneficial.
You’ve probably even tried some more hippy-dippy wellness activities like hot yoga, floatation therapy, acupuncture or aromatherapy. But do you view your sex life as a part of your wellness journey? Well, it is and we’ve got a host of reasons why.
Outdated Reasons for Sex = Babies or Hedonism
We used to think of sex as only serving two functions: making babies or for pure hedonistic pleasure. That’s not quite the case anymore.
Just as we’ve evolved in many of our other cultural beliefs, we’ve progressed and opened our minds to the new data that shows sex is good for you—both body and soul.
According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity”.
Yes, that said, physical, emotional, mental and social well-being!
Bye, Stigmas
There’s a shift and stigmas around sex are going away for multiple reasons. We go into great detail about this in our article Let’s Talk About Sex - It’s No Longer Taboo, but here are a few points:
Modern medicine has legitimized and backed up that there are many health benefits to sex like lowered blood pressure, improved sleep, and decreased feelings of anxiety and depression
Women are staying “younger” for longer because they’re willing to invest in youth and wellness, and we have plenty of celebrity role models that show us that sexiness doesn’t have to decline as you age (Have you seen J-Lo’s abs? 50 is the new 40!)
We’re losing our shame around sex toys and big-brand stores carry sexual wellness products. In fact, sexual wellness is one of the biggest up-and-coming industries right now.
Increased sex education makes us understand that sex is a normal, and healthy, part of our lives.
Data-Driven Health Benefits of Sex
Listen, at this point the science is undeniable—having sex is good for you.
There are so many cognitive benefits to regular sex including:
REDUCED CORTISOL: Lower levels of cortisol mean less stress and anxiety over time. When you’re stressed, your cortisol levels shoot through the roof and bring a host of other not-so-fun symptoms: digestive problems, decreased immune system function, fatigue, weight gain, and depression. Sex has the opposite effect and lowers cortisol.
MORE DOPAMINE: Dopamine is tied to the brain’s pleasure and reward parts of the brain while endorphins reduce pain and stress (ever had a high after a fantastic workout? That’s endorphins at play).
EVEN MORE OXYTOCIN: Oxytocin, AKA the cuddle hormone, is also released as you get cozy with your beau. Oxytocin helps you feel happy and gives you an overall sense of well-being, but you don’t necessarily have to get it on to reap the benefits. Hugging, holding hands, and kissing are all ways to release this lovely hormone.
CONNECTION: Our Resident Sex Expert, Dr. Megan Flemming, says we shouldn’t underestimate some of the less obvious benefits of sex. She says, “Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz did a lot of research, and she calls it ‘magnificent sex'.’ She looked at optimal conditions and it’s not things like orgasm. It’s actually things like presence…a sense of presence and connection like that are really amazing ingredients that I think get overlooked in this culture”.
BETTER BRAIN FUNCTION: Sex has been shown to improve cognitive function and maybe even boost your memory. In animal studies, it’s been found that sex increased neurogenesis (aka forming new neurons) in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that controls learning and memory.
ANTI-AGING: Research has found a connection between having more sex and better verbal recall and keeping your memory strong as you age. All signs point to sex helping reduce the negative effects of aging. We are chalking that up as a big ol’ bonus!
SLEEP & RELAXATION: Prolactin, the hormone that is released after an orgasm is also linked to relaxation that improves sleep. Compared to masturbation, you can release up to 400% more prolactin after an orgasm with a partner, so drifting off to dreamland will be much easier.
IMMUNITY BOOSTING: Regular sex can even help your immunity. A study done at Wilkes University asked college students about the frequency they had sex and compared it to the levels of immunoglobulin A, an important antibody that helps defend the body against illness. Those who had regular sex had 30% higher levels of immunoglobulin A than those that didn’t, and those in long-term, happy partnerships had the highest levels.
STRONGER HEART: Sex has also been shown to improve heart health. A study by the New England Research Institute tracked over 1,000 men between the ages of 40 and 70 and saw a decreased risk of heart disease. Women also have cardiovascular benefits from sex. Women who have sexually satisfying sex lives have a lower risk of hypertension, a risk factor and precursor to heart disease.
PELVIC FLOOR STRENGTHENER: Sex is a great way to strengthen your pelvic floor. This can help with incontinence and even make sex more pleasurable.
Sex in Later Life = Healthier Outcomes
Viagra and other drugs allow men to continue to have sex into their later years and treatment for menopause, such as hormone replacement therapy, have also allowed women to continue to have sex. So all those juicy benefits above can be extended much, much later in life.
Our Serum also helps this process. As estrogen drops and our intimate area can feel like a desert that is not accommodating for sex of any kind, our Serum moisturizes and nurtures those tissues so we can continue the lovin’ and get all those benefits.
Is Not Having Sex Bad for Your Health?
We’ve all had a spell or two of abstinence (willingly or not!) in our lives, but is not having sex bad for you? Some reports say yes. People who have gone months without physical intimacy may feel touch-starved. This can decrease immune system function and increase feelings of depression and anxiety. Feeling touch-starved can also increase feelings of isolation, low self-esteem and insecurity.
For women who have gone through menopause, not having sex can cause vaginal tissues to tighten, become thinner and increase the risk of tearing or bleeding during sex. While vaginal dryness is uncomfortable, it becomes a self-feeding cycle when you stop having sex, making symptoms worse.
Getting Frisky is Getting Healthy
Your health and wellness don’t stop at eating right, moving your body and going to therapy. Sexual wellness is wellness. From fostering feelings of connection and intimacy, decreasing anxiety and depression, to improving cognition and lowering the risk of certain diseases, sex is important. You don’t have to tell us twice.