Psychological Benefits of Sex
There are many emotional and psychological benefits of making love. Sex is strongly linked to a better quality of life. Some of these benefits include:
Better Self-Image: Sex can boost self-esteem and reduce feelings of insecurity, leading to more positive perceptions of ourselves.
Higher rates of happiness: According to a 2015 study conducted in China, more consensual sex and better quality sex increases happiness.4
More bonding: Brain chemicals are released during sex, including endorphins, which decrease irritability and feelings of depression. Another hormone, oxytocin (the "hug drug") increases with nipple stimulation and other sexual activity.5 Oxytocin helps foster a sense of calmness and contentment.
Relief from stress: Chronic stress may contribute to lower sex frequency. However, sex can be an effective stress management technique. Sex reduces stress response hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine), with effects lasting well into the next day.1
Sleep Quality Improvements: Orgasms trigger the release of the hormone, prolactin, which aids in sleep.6
Physical Benefits of Increased Sex
It's fairly intuitive to understand how sex improves emotional health, but there are a number of physical benefits from sex as well. Some of these include:
Better physical fitness: Sex is a form of exercise. According to the American Heart Association, sexual activity is equivalent to moderate physical activities, like brisk walking or climbing two flights of stairs.7 The motion of sex can tighten and tone abdominal and pelvic muscles. For women, improved muscle tone improves bladder control.
Enhanced brain function: Preliminary studies on rats found that more frequent intercourse was correlated with better cognitive function and the growth of new brain cells. Similar benefits have since been observed in human studies. A 2018 study of over 6,000 adults linked frequent sex with better memory performance in adults ages 50 and older.8
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