{"id":48661,"date":"2022-02-07T09:30:29","date_gmt":"2022-02-07T14:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48661"},"modified":"2026-01-23T15:56:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T20:56:28","slug":"health-benefits-of-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/health-benefits-of-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"13 health benefits of sex"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to good health, you know the drill: Eat a well-balanced diet. Exercise. Get a good night\u2019s sleep. And have regular sex?<\/span><\/p>\n

It turns out that a healthy sex life can do your body good. Research shows sex can benefit everything from your head to your heart\u2014and regions between and below. We culled through the research and asked the experts how sex can improve your health. Here\u2019s what we found.<\/span><\/p>\n

13 health benefits of sex\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

We explored the research and asked the experts how sex can improve your health. Here\u2019s what we found.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Stronger immune system<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Improved heart health<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Reduced pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. More satisfying relationship<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Happier mood<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Better night\u2019s sleep<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. A stronger pelvic floor<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Possible decreased risk of breast cancer<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Delayed menopause<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Spontaneous passage of kidney stones<\/span><\/li>\n
  11. More regular menstruation<\/span><\/li>\n
  12. Lower risk of prostate cancer<\/span><\/li>\n
  13. Less erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. Stronger immune system<\/h3>\n

    Research<\/span><\/a> with college students found that those who had sex frequently (defined as having sex one to two times a week) had higher levels of salivary IgA\u2014an antibody that helps your immune system fight off infection\u2014than students who didn\u2019t have sex or had sex less than once a week. Interestingly, this group also had higher salivary antibody levels than those who had very frequent sex (three or more times a week), suggesting there might be a sweet spot in how often to get busy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Improved heart health<\/h3>\n

    Sex and heart health are connected. Men who had sex two to three times a week had a <\/span>decreased risk of cardiovascular disease <\/span><\/a>compared to men who had sex once a month. And <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> with women have shown that sexual arousal can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which, in turn, can have heart-healthy <\/span>benefits like lowering<\/span><\/a> blood pressure<\/span><\/a>. \u201cBlood pressure and muscle tension can increase during sex, but in the post-orgasmic period, all of that gets released, and there\u2019s a period afterward in which your blood pressure can be lower,\u201d says <\/span>Joshua Gonzalez, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified urologist who specializes in the management of male and female sexual dysfunction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    A good romp in the hay is also a form of exercise\u2014and exercise is a heart-health booster. \u201cYou don\u2019t burn a lot of calories with sex\u2014maybe about 100,\u201d Dr. Gonzalez says. \u201cBut it\u2019s certainly going to be beneficial to your overall cardiovascular health if you\u2019re having regular sexual activity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    But is sex safe if you already have <\/span>heart disease<\/span><\/a> or if you\u2019ve had a heart attack? And speaking of heart attacks, can sex cause one? The answers depend on your individual situation. If you have heart disease, you should be discussing with your healthcare provider which activities are safe and which aren\u2019t. But research shows that <\/span>fewer than 1%<\/span><\/a> of heart attacks occur during sexual activity. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, if your heart disease or hypertension is well controlled and you can <\/span>climb stairs or walk a mile<\/span><\/a> without difficulty, it\u2019s generally safe to have sex.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Reduced pain<\/h3>\n

    In <\/span>one study<\/span><\/a>, 60% of people who had sex during a <\/span>migraine<\/span><\/a> episode reported improvement in their headache\u2014and of those, most had moderate to complete relief. Researchers have long known that sex releases substances such as endorphins (the body\u2019s natural \u201copioid\u201d) and <\/span>oxytocin, a hormone with pain-relieving effects<\/span><\/a>. When these endorphins flood your body after orgasm, it may help alleviate migraine pain, and even other types of headaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. More satisfying relationship<\/h3>\n

    At least temporarily! Researchers have found that sexual satisfaction remains elevated in the 48 hours after having intercourse, and that satisfaction can <\/span>lead to bonding<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s a circular response here,\u201d says <\/span>Mary Jane Minkin, MD<\/span><\/a>, a clinical professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine. \u201cSexual arousal strengthens a relationship, and as the relationship gets stronger, that can trigger further [sexual] excitement. If someone has a healthy sex life, they\u2019re probably going to have a much healthier relationship as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    5. Happier mood<\/h3>\n

    One of the mental health benefits of sex is that people who have more sex\u2014and better-quality sex\u2014with their partners tend to be happier, says <\/span>research out of China<\/span><\/a>. (As an aside, engaging in extramarital sex negatively impacts happiness, say the experts.) Scientists know that <\/span>oxytocin<\/span><\/a>, the<\/span> feel-good hormone that promotes bonding<\/span><\/a>, is released during sex, which helps explain part of the boost in mood that sex produces. But there could be more. \u201cIf you\u2019re doing something that causes you pleasure more regularly, you may be less likely to feel depressed,\u201d says Dr. Gonzalez.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    6. Better night\u2019s sleep<\/h3>\n

    Sexual activity\u2014or, more precisely, an orgasm\u2014can flood the body with a variety of hormones and chemicals, including <\/span>oxytocin<\/span><\/a>, which can encourage relaxation and foster <\/span>sleep<\/span><\/a>. And while both sexes can feel sleepy after sex, <\/span>one study<\/span><\/a> shows that women (having vaginal\/penile intercourse, with or without orgasm) are more likely than men to report having a post-sex siesta. The researchers speculate that seminal fluid may contain sedative-like properties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    One note of caution: \u201cSex requires a certain amount of energy,\u201d says Dr. Gonzalez. \u201cIf you\u2019re having sex late at night, when you\u2019re likely most tired, it may not be as pleasurable and can be harder to complete.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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