Sex is the key to lasting happiness
Physical intimacy can be difficult to maintain as people
age, especially if chronic illnesses get in the way. But people couples can
especially benefit from staying sexually active, according to a 2014 study from
Johns Hopkins University on adults ages 58 to 85: Researchers found that
couples who regularly engaged in sexual activity—even as little as once a
month—reported greater marital
satisfaction and happier relationships than those who hadn't in a year or
more.
Sexual activity didn't have to mean intercourse, either, or result in orgasm; the study authors say that anything couples do together to stimulate sexual arousal can have a lasting benefit
Sexual activity didn't have to mean intercourse, either, or result in orgasm; the study authors say that anything couples do together to stimulate sexual arousal can have a lasting benefit
Sex
makes you smarter. 
A 2010 Princeton University study
found that rats that have more frequent sex show more neuron growth in the
hippocampus, a key brain region for learning and
memory. "We know there are chemicals released during sex that activate
the brain's rewards center, so it makes sense that this neurogenesis happens in
people, as well," says Lehmiller. "In some ways, sex could
potentially make you smarter!"
Sex makes you look younger
Research
presented at the 2013 British Psychological Society annual meeting found that
study subjects who had frequent sex (at least three times a week for people in
their 40s and 50s) look between four and seven years younger
than those who had less. Why? Lead author David Weeks, PhD, suspects the endorphins and feel-good
chemicals released during intimacy, plus sex's beneficial effects on sleep and
stress levels. Sex also boosts blood flow and helps regulate hormones, says
Mark, which can both have positive effects on skin's appearance.
Sex
makes you want even more sex. 
It may sound
counterintuitive, but having sex has actually been shown to increase libido,
says Mark—in other words, the more you
have, the more you want.
"Even if you don't have much desire in the first place, getting started can help you get in the mood, and it can also give you back some of that desire in the long run," she says. And with all of these other healthy reasons to have sex, why not do it even more?
"Even if you don't have much desire in the first place, getting started can help you get in the mood, and it can also give you back some of that desire in the long run," she says. And with all of these other healthy reasons to have sex, why not do it even more?
Sex
strengthens relationships. 
Oxytocin, also known as the "love
hormone," is released during physical intimacy and skin-to-skin
contact—and it can help increase romantic
feelings between you and your partner, says Lehmiller.
Want to boost that bond even more? Be sure to cuddle after sex: A University of
Toronto study found that couples who were asked to spend extra time together
after sex—kissing, talking, and being affectionate—reported higher levels of
satisfaction with their sex lives and with their relationships
Sex
may extend your life. 
Several studies have found connections
between a busier sex life and a longer life in general, most notably a Duke
University study that took place between 1955 and 1980. Researchers found that
for men, frequency of intercourse was related to longer lifespans;
while for women, enjoyment of intercourse was the most significant factor.
"We can't really do cause-and-effect studies, so we don't know if sex
actually helps people live longer, or if healthier people are just having more
sex," says Lehmiller. "But from what we know about the other health
benefits of sex, it probably won't hurt to have more of it!"
Sex
relieves pain. 
Women often skip sex because of
headaches, or so the cliché goes—but, according to a 2013 German study, going
through with it may actually help them feel better. When study volunteers chose
to have sex during a headache episode, about 60% of migraine
sufferers and 30% of cluster headache sufferers reported partial or total
relief. Endorphins released during orgasm, as well as increased blood flow to the genital area, likely play a role in sex's pain-relieving power, says Mark. "Pain sometimes has to do with blood flowing to one particular area, like the head, and sex can take some of that pressure off by redirecting the flow."
Sex
boosts immunity. 
Getting busy on a weekly basis
stimulates the immune system
and provides protection from the common cold, according to a Wilkes University
study. Researchers gave college students questionnaires about their sex lives,
then tested their saliva for levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that
helps fight off viruses. They found that the students who had sex once or twice
a week had 30% more IgA than those who had sex less frequently. (They also,
however, had higher IgA levels than those who had sex three times a week or
more, suggesting that in this case, maybe you can get too much of a good thing.)
Sex
may protect against cancer. 
Some studies have suggested that men
who ejaculate more frequently may have a reduced risk of prostate
cancer—although the difference appears to be very small, and others haven't
found a conclusive link.
The benefits may be clearer for breast cancer
prevention, however: A French study found that women who had sex at least once
a month were less likely to develop breast cancer than those who didn't. And
while the disease is rare in men, those who orgasm less than six times a month
appear to be at increased risk of breast cancer compared to those who do so
more often, according to a Greek study.
Sex
strengthens your heart. 
Regular sex may benefit the
cardiovascular system in other ways. A British study found that men who had sex
at least twice a week over a period of 20 years were less likely to have died
from heart
disease than those who got it on less than once a month. After 10 years, in
fact, their risk of sudden death was 50% less than that of the group that had
less sex, although that gap lessened over the next decade. These sorts of findings only show a correlation, not causation, says Mark. "People who have healthy sex lives probably have overall healthy lifestyles." Even so, she suspects there may be a connection: "Sex helps regulate hormones like estrogen and testosterone," she says, "which impacts all kinds of systems in the body, including the heart
Sex
lowers your blood pressure and stress levels. 
In a 2005 Scottish study, volunteers
were asked to record their sexual activity for two weeks and were then given
anxiety-inducing tasks, like public speaking or solving math problems out loud.
Those who'd had sex over the study period experienced smaller blood pressure
spikes, and recovered from them more quickly, than those who hadn't. (Only
penile-vaginal intercourse seemed to have this effect, not masturbation or
other forms of sexual activity.) The study suggests two important benefit of regular sex, says Mark: Better blood pressure control, and better stress management overall. "Sex not only lowers people's perceived levels of stress, but it also appears to helps them handle stress more effectively, as well," she says.
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