What are the benefits of having sex exactly, you ask? There are plenty she highlights in her Quest on Mindvalley called The Science of Great Sex<\/em>, and it\u2019s worth exploring the main ones, handpicked for their great impact on our overall well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And so, here are the science-backed benefits of sex, explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things Dr. Killen\u2019s patients complain to her about is not so much about their sexual problems, such as sex after menopause<\/a>. Rather, it\u2019s that they feel disconnected from their partner, especially for older-aged people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe all know that we feel closest to our partners in the minutes and hours and days after having sex,<\/em>\u201d explains Dr. Killen. \u201cAnd we know that couples that have regular sex tend to be happier and tend to stay together longer.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the researchers of a 2017 study<\/a> found that those with an active, satisfying sex life have high levels of well-being. Additionally, they also found that when couples incorporate daily kissing, hugging, and touching on top of the sex, the relationship satisfaction was much higher.<\/p>\n\n\nSex gives us the opportunity to deeply connect with a partner. It gives us the opportunity to exercise our humanness in a world and a time where that's becoming more and more of a rarity. \u2014 @KillenMD <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n You may have likely heard stories of random hookups that turn into a relationship. There are even movies that feature it, like Before Sunrise<\/em>, The Holiday,<\/em> and Entergalactic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sex can absolutely be what kickstarts the connecting factor between you with another person. However, it also has the power to awaken your inner sex goddess<\/a> or god and bolster a deeper and long-term bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever seen someone with a healthy sex life stay still? That\u2019s because pleasurable coitus wasn\u2019t designed to be that way. There are kama sutra<\/a>-inspired movements, twisting and turning, gasping for air\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But can sex be considered exercise? Yes and no\u2014it depends on what your definition of exercise is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you exercise to tone or build your muscles, then perhaps not. The reason is that, for most of us, sex doesn\u2019t last long enough to make any significant physiological changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, an article<\/a> by Harvard Medical School suggests it can be considered \u201cmild to moderate\u201d exercise, liking the intensity to \u201cdoing the foxtrot, raking leaves, or playing ping pong.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that being said, Dr. Killen explains that it truly depends on \u201chow you\u2019re doing it.<\/em>\u201d She adds, \u201cSex is an exercise with occasional high-intensity interval training in between.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stress is a natural part of human life\u2014we have a built-in mechanism to \u201cfight or flight\u201d in stressful situations, after all. Even so, when we\u2019re living in a state of perpetual cortisol-induced days, our health can take a deep plunge into oblivion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Stress In America 2022<\/em><\/a> report by the American Psychological Association found that \u201caround three-quarters of adults (76%) said they have experienced health impacts due to stress.<\/em>\u201d What\u2019s more, chronic stress can lead to a decline in sexual energy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if stress can reduce the appetite for sex, can connecting in bed lower the levels of stress? According to Dr. Killen, it most certainly can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research<\/a> has even found that having a healthy sex life can lower cortisol and adrenaline levels. Additionally, your body releases endorphins and oxytocin, mood-boosting hormones that enable you to feel a whole lot more relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your confidence often comes into play when you\u2019re going into a sexual experience. And at times, it can lead to sexual anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a paradox, in a way\u2014you need the confidence to have sex, but sex can lead to confidence. Furthermore, research<\/a> from the University of Texas revealed that one of the reasons why people have sex is to help boost their confidence and feel more secure about themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And how does sex help? As Dr. Killen explains, \u201cOxytocin brings about feelings of trust and bonding, and also helps improve self-esteem and reduce stress.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of endorphins, this hormone is also known as \u201cthe brain\u2019s natural painkillers,<\/em>\u201d says Dr. Killen. And during orgasm, the release of it can help minimize pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There have been studies<\/a> that suggest headaches have improved after climaxing. One, which was conducted at the Headache Clinic at Southern Illinois University, found half of the female participants reported relief from their migraine after orgasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to note, though, that while frequent sex is beneficial, reaching climax is the key to minimizing the pain. So, before you reach for an aspirin the next time you feel a headache coming on, consider the big O. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep is just as important to your sexual health as it is to your overall health, according to Dr. Killen. So, sex and sleep? They\u2019re \u201cintimately entangled.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, getting enough sleep can help you increase your libido<\/a> and have better sexual responses. And regular sex can help with sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve felt so relaxed and nodded off post-coitus, science can explain why. After orgasm, the body releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that can induce pleasant and relaxing feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re going at it solo or with a partner, research has shown that sexual activity can promote sleep. One study<\/a>, in particular, found that orgasms with a partner were \u201cassociated with the perception of favorable sleep outcomes<\/em>,\u201d whereas masturbation was \u201cassociated with the perception of better sleep quality and latency.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re working towards realizing your sexual potential, nothing you do will move the need at all if you don\u2019t start with sleep. \u2014 @KillenMD <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n Anyone who has a pelvic floor dysfunction of any kind knows how important it is to strengthen the muscles in that area. It supports the bladder, bowel, uterus, vagina (for females), and prostrate (for males). <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot only do these muscles hold up the sexual organs and prevent things like urine and stool from slipping out at awkward moments,<\/em>\u201d Dr. Killen explains in her Mindvalley Quest, \u201cthey also play an essential role in sexual function and pleasure in men and women.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One research<\/a> concluded that a strong pelvic floor is associated with higher rates of sexual activity. Additionally, for those who prefer self-pleasure or are not involved with a partner, Dr. Killen suggests that masturbation is also an option to help strengthen the muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One sex myth<\/a> Dr. Killen often runs into is semen retention, the practice of not ejaculating for a period of time even when having sex and orgasm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not the same as celibacy and abstaining from coitus (and the benefits of not having sex are very much different). She explains the advocates of this practice claim the range of advantages includes \u201cimproved self-confidence and memory to thicker hair and stronger life force.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, research has shown that frequent ejaculation, regardless if it\u2019s with a partner or self-induced, can be beneficial for prostate health. The results of a 2016 study<\/a> show that there was a lower risk of prostate cancer amongst men who ejaculated at least 21 times per month than those who ejaculated less often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s with the thinking being that ejaculating may be a good way to purge toxins and impurities from the prostate,<\/em>\u201d Dr. Killen adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat you may not know is that sex is also great for your immune system,<\/em>\u201d says Dr. Killen. Think about it\u2014because sex releases powerful hormones and neurotransmitters, lowers your stress levels, minimizes pain, improves your sleep, and so on, it ultimately helps strengthen your immunity. This applies to both self-pleasure and partnered sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a matter of fact, one study<\/a> found that those who have sex more than three times a month have lower incidences of disease than those who have less than that. Simply put, frequent sex helps a person\u2019s immunity become \u201cmore competent to deal with pathogens.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that you should still do other things to keep your immune system up, like having a well-balanced diet, staying active, getting quality sleep, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A thriving sex life brings about one of the best health benefits of sex: longevity. In the Quest, Dr. Killen highlights two studies that have supported this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. It Strengthens the Connection With Your Partner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2. It\u2019s a Form of Exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. It Lowers Your Stress Levels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. It Improves Your Self-Esteem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. It Minimizes Pain <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n6. It Improves Your Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. It Strengthens Your Pelvic Floor Muscles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
8. It May Lower Your Risk of Prostate Cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
9. It Boosts Your Immune System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
10. It Helps You Live Longer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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