What if your favorite feel-good activity also doubled as your healthiest habit? While sex is known for its pleasure perks, it offers a surprising range of wellness perks too. From benefits that sharpen your mind to boosting immunity, sex might be your wellness routine’s best-kept secret. And, when sexual wellness isn't prioritized, your physical, mental, and emotional health can all take a hit. Ready to make your wellness routine a whole lot more exciting? Here are 11 health benefits of sex you'll want to get in on.
1. Sex can help you burn more calories
Studies have found that sex can be considered exercise. While it's not the same as a heavy sweat session at the gym, a steamy round of sex can burn around 3.6 calories per minute when performed at a moderate intensity. While sex might not be a substitute for all exercise, it can be a great way to get in a little extra calorie burn, or a way to boost your mood after a rough day, when you just don't want to put in the effort to head off to the gym. Regular sex can also exercise some of the muscles you use in the process, from your thighs and glutes to your arms, depending on your position. You may also discover that those sex sessions help increase flexibility and generally make you feel better - a win all the way around!
2. Sex with a partner can improve your blood pressure
While sex is not a substitute for blood pressure medications, it can decrease your blood pressure. A 2016 study found that middle-aged women who had a healthy sex life were less likely to have higher blood pressure. Keep in mind that to experience this health benefit of sex, you'll have to have a partner: masturbation hasn't been reported to have the same benefits (sadly).
3. Sex can help strengthen your immune system
You may already have tried to improve your immune system through a wide range of methods, but did you know that partnered sex can help? Individuals who had sex one or two times per week had higher levels of immunoglobulin A in their saliva: a sign of a healthy, well-functioning immune system. The preliminary research suggests that these increased antibodies may contribute to a more robust overall immunity.
What does that mean for you? If you've discovered that your immune system is struggling, check up on your sexual wellness. If you haven't had sex in a while or you and your partner aren't connecting as regularly as you once did, it might be time to shake things up in the bedroom and see if it makes a difference in your overall health.
4. Sex can help you sleep better
A 2023 study found that 75% of adults reported better sleep after sex. When you have an orgasm, your body releases a rush of neurochemicals like oxytocin, the "love hormone," and endorphin, which can help you feel relaxed and comfortable, which can help send you off to dreamland. The combination of these factors can make it much easier for you to fall asleep after orgasm. Even if you choose to fly solo instead of engaging in sex with a partner, regular orgasms can help ease your way to falling asleep each night, and it's a fun way to pass the time while you're waiting to fall asleep. Who needs to count sheep?
5. Sex can decrease your risk of heart attack
Regular sexual activity may support heart health by providing moderate cardiovascular exercise. Some research has found that women who have a healthy sex life have been found to have a lower risk of cardiac issues - though this doesn't translate as directly to men, so it's important to get regular check-ups with your doctor. This could be because sex raises heart rate and promotes better circulation, offering similar cardiovascular benefits to mild or moderate physical activity. Maintaining regular intimacy could therefore contribute to overall cardiovascular wellness and potentially lower the risk of heart-related issues.
6. Sex can help decrease your perception of pain
Whether you're dealing with serious menstrual cramps that are making it difficult for you to function or you live with chronic back or leg pain, orgasms can decrease your perception of that pain. A 2022 study found that orgasms in women significantly reduced pain intensity perception. When you reach orgasm, the endorphins that are released can help temporarily block pain. So, instead of reaching for popular over-the-counter pain relievers, consider intimacy instead.
7. Sex can help decrease your stress levels
During particular stressful sessions, you may withdraw from your partner, isolating yourself and avoiding sex. You may feel like sex takes too much effort, or you might feel as though catering to your partner's desires will take more effort than it's worth.
Touching and hugging can naturally ease your stress levels. Sexual arousal activates the pleasure and reward centers in the brain. When you reach orgasm, you'll get flooded with endorphins, which can lead to overall lower stress. In fact, while sex won't restore your emotional equilibrium on its own, it can help make you feel calmer by lowering cortisol levels. There's a very good reason why people often turn to their sexual partners when they're in the middle of an emotional storm: by engaging in regular intercourse, you can feel more bonded to your partner and less adrift.
8. Sexual dysfunction can disrupt your emotional equilibrium
Having regular sex can also help restore your emotional stability, or at least offer a short-term fix that helps you feel better even during the most difficult times. Sexual dysfunction, on the other hand, can disrupt your emotional equilibrium and leave you struggling to feel connected to your partner, or even destroy your sense of self-worth. If you're struggling with sexual dysfunction, you could face increased levels of depression and anxiety, or difficulty focusing or concentrating in other areas of your life.
9. Sexual health can have a significant impact on your overall self-confidence
Knowing your body and what feels good does more than enhance pleasure; it builds your self-confidence from the inside out. Taking the time to explore what you enjoy, alone or with a partner, helps you feel comfortable in your skin, and that bedroom confidence doesn’t stay behind closed doors. It carries into every area of your life, from the office to your social interactions. In other words, feeling confident sexually can make you feel unstoppable everywhere else, too.
10. For men, regular sexual activity can decrease the risk of prostate cancer
There are many factors that contribute to prostate cancer, such as genetics, that we have no control over. But, the good news is that there is some evidence to support that men who ejaculate frequently, and by that we mean 21 times or more per month, have a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer.
11. For women, regular sexual activity can help with pelvic floor function
Do you struggle with bladder weakness or other pelvic floor issues? As a woman, you may wonder if there's anything more you can do - especially something that doesn't include more Kegels. As it turns out, there's an exercise that's even better for your pelvic floor than Kegels: sex! Masturbation, including masturbation with the vibrator Crescendo 2, can help promote pelvic floor comfort and wellness, helping with incontinence issues.
Takeaway
Sex isn’t just for pleasure - it’s a powerful tool for better health. Regular sexual activity can help reduce stress, improve sleep quality, strengthen the heart, and even enhance cognitive function. It’s nature’s feel-good prescription - no pharmacy required. But if life gets busy or stress makes intimacy challenging, you still have options. Doctor-recommended vibrators offer a convenient and enjoyable way to experience these same health benefits - with or without a partner. Ready to make sexual health your favorite part of your wellness routine?
