Sex does a lot of good things for people.
Everyone needs to have the feeling that happens during climax – that dopamine release. This pleasure chemical is responsible for the euphoria and satisfaction that floods through the body during the “big event.”
But that wonderful feeling isn’t the only thing that happens.
In men, the majority of the ejaculate is prostatic fluid. So every time they ejaculate, they’re cleaning the out the prostate gland. This gets rid of toxins and has a positive influence on your long-term prostate health.
It’s called the “prostate stagnation hypothesis.” Basically, the more crap that accumulates in the prostate, the greater your chances of developing prostate cancer. But the more often you flush it out with ejaculation, the fewer cancer-causing toxins will remain.
This is proven by a long running study out of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They found that men who ejaculate more frequently are 22% less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who ejaculate less frequently.
Plus, you’re exercising the organ. You’re bringing blood flow to it.
Interestingly, studies suggest – and I agree – that if men had a prostatic massage every month, we would have far less benign prostatic hyperplasia or hypertrophy and prostate cancer. Because you’d be getting rid of toxins. Too bad insurance doesn’t pay for that.
And here’s another thing I’ll fill you in on. If you can’t pleasure yourself, or if you can’t get erect, you likely have some level of a cardiovascular issue.
When you’re alone you’ve got your imagination. Or maybe a visual, auditory or reading aid. It has nothing to do with anyone else. It’s an entirely different scenario than not being able to perform because you’re with someone you really aren’t into or who pushes all of the wrong buttons.
If you can’t climax under those circumstances, it’s often a sign that you have clogged arteries, high blood pressure or heart disease and the blood can’t rush to your organ where it needs to be. And it’s probably time to pay a visit to your doc.
Do Women Get Benefits, Too?
Yes! Of course. Especially as they age.
If a woman stops participating in sexual activities after menopause, she may experience dryness, thinning of tissue and pain during intercourse.
But if she continues to participate in those activities, it stimulates blood flow to the region. It helps keep the tissue more supple, moist and elastic. It keeps the vaginal muscles toned, helps maintain the pelvic floor and improves bladder control.
In younger women, frequent intercourse is associated with lighter menstrual periods and less painful period cramps. This is caused by a combination of the blood rush, muscle contractions and pain-relieving endorphins that are released.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re with a partner or self-pleasuring. They both help women who have these issues.
There are a lot of other bonuses too.
It’s Just Good for You!
Nobody wants to have fun in the bedroom when they’re stressed out. Stress kills desire. But sexual activity might actually make everything a little bit better.
The activity – and especially the physical release – triggers endorphins and oxytocin that boost your mood and make you feel relaxed. At the same time, levels of stress hormones go down. And this elevated mood can linger for a while.
This makes it a great stress buster. It also helps you sleep better.
Plus, it’s a wonderful form of exercise. The American Heart Association compares it to climbing two flights of stairs or a brisk walk. That may account for some of the cardiovascular benefits. Men who frequently have relations have a lower risk of cardiovascular events later in life. For women, high quality encounters with robust and erotic foreplay offers the most protection.
And remaining active later in life is good for your brain. More frequent sexual activity among people between 50 and 89 years of age is associated with higher test scores for memory and executive function. This may have something to do with the potential brain boosting effects of dopamine and other hormones that act as neurotransmitters.
There is no age limit on sexuality, but finding a partner can be difficult as we age. It’s always best to have relations with a partner you connect with and can build a relationship with. In the meantime, self-pleasuring is a good alternative to enjoy these health benefits.
SOURCES:
Rider JR, Wilson KM, Sinnott JA, Kelly RS, Mucci LA, Giovannucci EL. Ejaculation Frequency and Risk of Prostate Cancer: Updated Results with an Additional Decade of Follow-up. Eur Urol. 2016;70(6):974-982.
Levine Glenn N, et al. Sexual Activity and Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation. 2012;125:1058–1072.
Liu H, Waite LJ, Shen S, Wang DH. Is Sex Good for Your Health? A National Study on Partnered Sexuality and Cardiovascular Risk among Older Men and Women. J Health Soc Behav. 2016;57(3):276-296.
Wright H, Jenks RA. Sex on the brain! Associations between sexual activity and cognitive function in older age. Age Ageing. 2016;45(2):313-317.
