Sex is a taboo topic lots of us shy away from talking about – even in an era when self-care and wellness seem to dominate every conversation. But did you know sex is great for your mental health? It’s not just the dopamine hit, there are surprising health benefits from having sex, and not just for your mental health.
Regular sex can keep your romantic relationships strong, translating to better communication and a greater feeling of being connected. But sex can be just as good for you as an individual. We’re deep-diving into the mental health benefits of sex and why getting off can help boost you up.
Health Benefits of Sex
While we’re focusing on the mental health benefits of sex, it’s worth touching on the other health benefits of regular sex. It can improve your physical health as well, essentially acting as a form of cardiovascular exercise.
During sex, hormones flood your body which help to deepen your sleep, boost your immune system, and improve blood circulation.
Other health benefits include:
- Strengthening your pelvic floor to improve bladder control
- Improving overall heart health, including reducing your risk of heart disease
- Naturally lowers blood pressure
- Releases endorphins that act as natural pain relief, including for headaches
Read more: 5 things happy couples do differently
Sex and Wellness
Having sex makes you feel good about yourself, and not just with your self-esteem. The hormones that are released during sex can drastically improve your overall well-being. It’s an all-natural form of stress relief. The wellness benefits associated with it can improve your immune system, help you feel more rested, boost your energy levels, and even help you live long.
It’s time to start thinking – and talking – more about sex.
Natural Stress Reliever
When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol. When you have too much of it in your body, you start to feel tired, tensed, and have higher blood pressure. Sex counteracts this cortisol by releasing endorphins, the ultimate feel-good hormone that naturally lowers cortisol levels to reduce stress.
- Sleep Better at Night
Sex also releases prolactin, a hormone that helps to regulate your sleep pattern. If you’re struggling with insomnia, or keep waking up throughout the night, boosting your prolactin levels can improve your sleep quality and give you a more restful, deeper night’s sleep.
- Improves Brain Function
We’re not promising that having sex will make you smarter, but research by the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that regular sex improves memory recognition for women as it stimulates the hippocampus part of the brain, which is responsible for memory and learning.
Body Count Matters
Sex within relationships is said to improve physical and mental health, but social science research has often linked casual encounters to feelings of sexual regret, low self-esteem and psychological distress, especially among women.
Studies show that while men regret the sexual opportunities they missed, women often regret some of the casual sex they did have. It’s also been proven that sexually selective women are more desirable.
Have More Sex
If you want to live a long, healthy life, it’s time to start having more sex. Regular sex is one of the best ways to enhance your overall well-being with research showing that it improves your social, physical, emotional, and psychological health. Whether it’s with a partner or by yourself, having sex is the key to health and happiness.
