Sex and mental and/or physical health

[wildflower28804]

I only put this question under Abstinesnce because I wasn't sure what to put it under. I know this is kind of odd soundning but maybe someone can help me out with it.  Are you a over-all healthier person if you are safely sexually active?  I have been divorce for, let's just say a while and have not had sex, in let's say a while.  Tell me, would I feel better or be a healthier person if I did?

[Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D.]

   I actually think you would be. But let me quickly add, that being sexually active would, to me, also include masturbation. That said there  are several areas of research that support sexual function as a part of health. For example, a  JAMA article indicated that ejaculations and number of ejaculations is definitely related to likelihood of contracting prostate cancer. ( this could be from partnered sex or masturbation or a combination of the two).  A long range study done in Wales found that men who had intercourse more often than once a month had a lower mortality and morbity rate than men who had sex less than once a month--and as intercourse rates went up, the health benefits were even more stark.

    Studies on women have shown that orgasm is helpful in mitigating headaches, menstral pain, and chronic pain.  Sexual activity has been known to suppress ' killer cells" and protec T -helper cells- and boost immune responses. Women who have more sex have less and shorter durations of depression.

   It makes sense. Just in terms of human evolution. Surely sex would be good for us because we need it for replacement of the species. Women who did not like sex, and  would  not allow sexual contact, would notpass on their genes.

    Masters and Johnson said " use it or lose it_ because if older people stopped haing sex  , it became very hard to jumpstart sexual excitement again. Sexuality in older people brough many psychic blessings-including higher mental health .

   Now of course the vector can go the other way. It is quite possible, for example that healthy people are more likely to become sexual and that the explanations for these correlations is that in that direction rather that sex builds health. However, some of these studies make a pretty convincing case for the latter.

   Still no one is saying that being abstinent makes it more likely or less likely to have cancer or some of the other more terrible diseases. ( although there does seem to be a correlation with some kinds of cancer between age of mother when she has her  first birth and length of breast feeding). Bottom lne: sex is probably good for you IF you wear condoms and are together enough to only practice safe sex.

[borninquisitive]

If you feel perfectly fine while been abstinent, then...why the question? Meaning, be happy if you are.



I don't think engaging in sexual activity will make you feel better, if you already feel great (perfectly fine) without it.

[wildflower28804]

Thank you so much for the responses.Makes sense

[Intrigue]

Wildflower -- I don't mind revealing that I've been divorced for almost seven years and haven't had sex with a man during that time.  However, as the doctor said, masturbation provides a host of positive benefits to our body and mind.  So I do own a vibrator and have a very satisfying sex life through masturbation alone.  In fact, I'm much more sexually fulfilled now than I ever was while I was married.  I've used the years since my divorce to fall in love with myself, work through some unresolved emotional issues, build an exciting single life for myself and learn what I want and need from a man in the future.  I once heard a joke on a sitcom which said...."She owns a vibrator with three levels:  Low, Medium, and Who Needs a Man."  It's funny....but it's also very true.  And, given the risk of contracting an STD or HIV these days, it's also very healthy.  Best of luck in whatever you decide.



Intrigue