There is plenty of research that supports that sex can give a boost to various aspects of a person’s life and health, as the scientific community repeatedly emphasises the potential benefits that intercourse provides, beyond reproduction of course.

From keeping the heart healthy, lowering blood pressure, and boosting immunity to improving mood and overall mental health, sex positively affects a person’s entire daily life.

Let’s look at these benefits in detail:

Contributes to heart health
Sex appears to have a protective effect on cardiovascular health, especially in women. A recent study, in fact, looked at the potential benefits of being sexually active with a steady partner and found that sexually active women have a lower risk of heart attacks later in life. The findings were not as encouraging for men, as it appeared that high levels of sexual activity increased the risk of cardiovascular events. Future studies will likely confirm one or the other claim.

Lowers blood pressure
The same study also looked at the participants’ blood pressure, as one indicator of heart health, and found that older women who felt satisfied with their sex lives were less likely to have high blood pressure. And in this case, the results were not the same for older men.

Stimulates the immune system
Research has shown that regular sex increases the effectiveness of the immune system. A recent study looked at a small group of women to see if there were differences in the immune activity of those who were sexually active or not, and indeed found a difference in the immune system’s ability to kill pathogens at different points in the menstrual cycle.

Reduces the risk of prostate cancer
An earlier study in a sample of 30,000 men highlighted the possibility that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer. It argued that men who ejaculated more than 21 times a month had a lower risk than those who ejaculated only 4-7 times. After that study, in fact, the researchers monitored the participants for the risk of developing prostate cancer, with the results confirming the initial findings.

Relieves stress
Sex can be considered a natural way to relieve stress. A 2019 study looked at the effects of partner contact, sexual and non-sexual, on cortisol levels (a hormone released in the body in response to stress) and found that it helped bring the hormone back to normal levels in both men and women. In addition, sex causes the release of oxytocin, endorphins, and other feel-good hormones, which may account for the stress-reducing effect.

Improves Sleep
The same hormones that reduce stress and anxiety are also responsible for sleep. Therefore, after an orgasm, the hormone prolactin starts circulating in the body causing the feeling of satisfaction and relaxation.