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Summer is a season of pleasure-seeking activities filled with vacations, sun (vitamin D), and BBQ’s. Summer is often associated with happiness and freedom, so I thought we could review another hedonistic endeavor, sex.
What thoughts come to mind when you think of sex? For some it may have positive associations but for others sex may be viewed in an unfavorable light. I think all too often that sex gets a bad rap. Conversations about sex can bring up feelings of anxiety or embarrassment. If you tune into the media, sex is commonly associated with scandal, shame, or the “don’t talk about it” message. The latter is especially true for the LGBT community. So in the spirit of breaking out of this negatively casted view of sex, this month’s newsletter is fully embracing the benefits and joy of sex!
Have you ever wondered why people can be so reluctant to talk about sex, especially since we are all sexual creatures? Sexual attraction is a basic instinct that helps us bond with others. Whether we’re in a serious relationship or one that is casual, the chemicals in our brain allow us to connect with others when we are intimate. Have you ever been curious about the “U-haul” phenomenon? It may be that as women we are predisposed to bond more quickly with other women, especially when we are intimate. During sex and after reaching orgasm, women are flooded with the neurochemical oxytocin. This is also known as the “bonding hormone” and causes us to feel bonded to our sexual partner. Men also experience a peak in oxytocin during sex and at orgasm, however the level is lower than for women. Oxytocin also contributes to the desire to feel connected; which increases the drive for physical affection (ie. more sex, talking, cuddling). Who doesn’t love an oxytocin rush?
Benefits of Sex
Not only does sex provide a short term reward of pleasure, it also facilitates multiple long term psychological and physiological gains. Sex has many surprising benefits- here are just a few:
Pain Reduction: When the hormone oxytocin floods the system, endorphins increase, and pain declines. A study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, found that when individuals inhaled oxytocin vapors then had their fingers pricked, they experienced only half the pain as those who did not inhale the vapors. This means that people with PMS, headaches, or arthritis pain, may experience a reduction of symptoms after sex due to the higher levels of oxytocin.
Stress reduction: Research has found that individuals who have sex frequently experience lower blood pressure in response to stress. Additionally, people who cohabitate and have frequent sex also have lower diastolic blood pressure. One study also found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure.
Calorie Burner: It might sound like a cliché but there is science to back it up. The more sex we have the more calories we burn. On average we burn 85 calories during 30 minutes of sex. Just think, 42 half-hour sessions would mean one pound dropped! Forget the stepmaster!
Stronger Immune system: Researchers at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. found that people who have sex 1-2 times a week have higher levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that can protect you from getting colds and other infections. Interestingly enough, those in the “frequent” group (1-2 times a week) had the highest IgA levels when compared to 3 other groups, those who had been abstinent, had sex less than once a week, or those that were having it very often, three or more times a week. So in this case, sex in moderation was the greatest benefit for boosting immunities.
Better Sleep: The magical hormone, oxytocin released during an orgasm also promotes sleep. Getting enough sleep (7-9 hours a night) has been linked with many health benefits, such as maintaining a healthy weight and blood pressure. In fact, one study tracked 40 to 60-year-old women for five to seven years and found that those who reported having trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently at night, or having trouble staying asleep were significantly more likely to have "major weight gain" (gain of 11 pounds or more). Good sleep hygiene is also connected to maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
Increased Self-Esteem: Enhancing self-esteem was one of the 237 reasons people have sex, found by researchers at the University of Texas. In their new book, Why Women Have Sex, University of Texas psychologists Cindy Meston and David Buss illuminate the sexual motivations of women. Meston and Buss learned that women had sex to boost their confidence, even if it's with a partner they found repulsive.
Improved Cardiovascular Health: Researchers found that for men, having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of having a fatal heart attack by half, compared with those who had sex less than once a month. Additionally, during sex estrogen increased and can protect a woman's heart, but this is considered only a long-term gain.
Reduced Prostate Cancer Risk: Australian research reported in the British Journal of Urology International that frequent ejaculations (around 20 a month), have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer later in life. Scientists followed men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those without; they found that men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20’s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later in life, by one-third. Similarly a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that having 21 or more ejaculations a month resulted in lower prostate cancer risk in older men, when compared to those who ejaculated only four to seven times a month.
Enhanced Intimacy: Having sex and orgasms increases levels of the hormone oxytocin, which helps us bond and build trust. A study from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina evaluated 59 premenopausal women before and after physical contact with their partners, ending with a hug. They found that increased physical contact resulted in higher oxytocin levels. Not only does oxytocin help us with pair-bonds, but higher levels have also been linked with feeling more generous.
I hope this month’s newsletter finds you well and helps increase your motivation to enjoy some safe, fun, and health-enhancing sex!
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