5 Surprisingly Good Reasons To Have Sex

We all know that a good romp in the sack can be a stress-relieving workout, but there are other health benefits as well. If you’re really hot and heavy, you can burn about 70-100 calories per 30-minutes session,
according to KnowMore’s Ob-Gyn Evelyn Minaya, M.D. Regular sex also gives a healthy boost to your head, heart, and even your immune system. So if you’re looking for some more reasons to heat things up in the bedroom, here are 5 ways sex does your body good.
It’s good for your self-esteem. It’s no secret that if you’re feeling sexy and desirable, you feel better about yourself. “Self-esteem has a psychological and physiological impact— especially on women,” says Dr. Minaya. While your self-esteem shouldn’t stem from someone else, it definitely helps if the sex you’re having makes you feel loved, connected, and more secure about your body.
It reduces your risk of having a heart attack. Getting your blood pumping while making love not only feels fantastic, but studies have shown that sex also lessens your risk of heart attack. It’s a proven stress buster, and naturally reduces anxiety which means it fights against those stress-induced hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline. It also helps lower your blood pressure which makes your heart attack/stress risk lower.
It boosts your immunity. Researchers discovered that having sex regularly (once or twice a week) has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, or IgA in the body. This antibody helps protect against colds, flus, and other infections. Stress and anxiety were shown to lower the body’s levels of IgA, so having more sex addresses that problem as well. And when your mind isn’t on overdrive, this translates to your physical health too, according to research. “There’s a real mind-body connection here,” says Dr. Minaya. When you’re not stressed out, you feel better both mentally and physically, so inevitably you get sick less often.
It’s a natural painkiller. Sex, and having orgasms in particular, boosts your levels of the hormone oxytocin (sometimes referred to as the ‘cuddle’ hormone). Immediately before orgasm, your oxytocin level rises by five times which provides a huge release of endorphins which helps reduce pain. Studies have shown that oxytocin can provide relief from cramping and even arthritis better than painkillers. It may also help alleviate headaches and possibly migraines because the pressure in your brain’s blood vessels is lowered. This should make you think twice about using the “I have a headache” excuse since having sex will actually make you feel better!
It’s a window into other health issues. Problems in the bedroom can help you discover other issues that you need to see a physician about. “For example, erectile dysfunction can be an indicator for vascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes,” explains Dr. Minaya. For women, she cautions that vaginal dryness could signify a problem with the thyroid on the onset of menopause.
So in terms of a healthy sex life, better loving can definitely lead to better living. If you do notice some problems before, during, or after sex definitely contact your primary care physician to discuss.