10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex

1. Helps Keep Your Unable to be harmed System Humming "Sexually active people take fewer sick days," says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD a sexual healthexpert. People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, andother intruders. (people who work to find information) at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania foundthat college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certaindisease-fighter compared to students who had sex less often. You should still do all the other things that make your disease-fighting system happy, such as: Eat right. Stay active. Get enough sleep. Keep up with your vaccinations. Use a condom if you don't know both of your STD statuses. 2. Boosts Your Sex drive Badly wanting a more (full of life and energy) sex life? "Having sex will make sex better and willimprove your sex drive," says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is a helper medicine-based professor of(childbirth-related) and (medical care for female body parts) at Northwestern University'sFeinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication, blood flow, and ability to stretch, she says, all ofwhich make sex feel better and help you badly want more of it. 3. Improves Women's (urine storage sac) Control A strong hip-related floor is important for avoiding (inability to hold in urine and/or feces),something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives. Good sex is like a workout for your hip-related floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, itcauses contractions in those muscles, which strengthens them. 4. Lowers Your Blood Pressure Research suggests a link between sex and lower blood pressure, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He isCEO and medical director of Amai Wellness. "There have been many studies," he says. "One hugely important study found that sexualintercourse specifically (not masturbation) lowered systolic blood pressure." That's the firstnumber on your blood pressure test.

5. Counts as Exercise "Sex is a really great form of exercise," Pinzone says. It won't replace the treadmill, but it countsfor something. Sex uses about five calories per minute, four more calories than watching TV. It gives you a one-two punch: It bumps up your heart rate and uses different muscles. So get busy! You may even want to clear your schedule to make time for it on a regular basis. "Like with exercise, (state of always working or appearing the same way) helps (make as big as possible) the benefits," Pinzone says. 6. Lowers Heart Attack Risk A good sex life is good for your heart. Besides being a great way to raise your heart rate, sexhelps keep your (body chemical that causes women to be women) and (body chemical that causes men to be men) levels in balance. "When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, like weakening bones/weak bones and even heart disease," Pinzone says. Having sex more often may help. During one study, men who had sex at least twice a week werehalf as likely to die of heart disease as men who had sex rarely. 7. Lessens Pain Before you reach for a medicine, try for an orgasm. "Orgasm can block pain," says Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, an excellent and honorable serviceprofessor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It releases a (chemical produced by the body) that helps raise your pain (dividing line/point where something begins or changes). Stimulation without orgasm can also do the trick. "We've found that vaginal stimulation can blocklong-lasting back and leg pain, and many women have told us that (related to sex organs) self-stimulation can reduce menstrual cramps, painful and swollen pain, and sometimes evenheadache," Komisaruk says. 8. May Make (male reproductive gland) Cancer Less Likely Going for the energy may help fight off (male reproductive gland) cancer. Men who shouted out often (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to get (male reproductive gland) cancer during one study, which was published in the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation. You don't need a partner to collect this benefit: Sexual intercourse, night-living emission, andmasturbation were all part of the equation. It's not clear that sex was the only reason that mattered in that study. Lots of factors affectcancer risk. But more sex won't hurt.

9. Improves Sleep You may nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason. "After orgasm, the (chemical produced by the body) prolactin is released, which is responsible forthe feelings of relaxation and sleepiness" after sex, says Shineie Ambardar, MD. She is a mind doctor in West Hollywood, Calif. 10. (reduces/ slows/ slowly moves) Stress Being close to your partner can comfort stress and fear and stress. Ambardar says touching and hugging can release your body's natural "feel-good (chemical produced by the body)." Sexual (a more excited or awake state than before) releases a brainchemical that revs up your brain's pleasure and reward system. Sex and emotional closeness can boost your self-confidence and happiness, too, Ambardar says.It's not only a prescription for a healthy life, but a happy one.