12 Bad Things That Happen to Your Health When You Stop Having Sex
If the only fun you’ve had naked lately consists of a bubble bath, you’re not alone. Going from sexually active to sexless is relatively common, especially in long-term relationships. You may find yourself no longer having sex due to a breakup, changes in your health or life stress. While sex isn’t necessary for overall wellness, there is scientific proof that physical intimacy, arousal and orgasm can invite some pretty awesome benefits you may miss out on by going sex-free. Read on to learn about how not having sex can negatively impact your physical and emotional well-being — and then use this information as motivation to get back on the wagon.
1 FEWER ENDORPHINS
Arousal and orgasm can cause the release of
feel-good chemicals (endorphins) in your body. These chemicals are known
to relieve pain and boost mood. If you stop regularly having sex you
may then miss those rushes — similar to putting an end to the workouts,
that once gave you the proverbial “runner’s high,” says Sheila Loanzon,
M.D., a gynecologist in San Jose, California.
2 MORE STRESS
If you remember how relaxed you once felt
after a romp between the sheets, you may not be surprised to learn that
less sex makes way for more stress. In a study published in the Journal
of Family Psychology in 2010, female college students reported their
levels of daily stress and sexual activity during several months before a
major exam. Women who reported the most stress also reported having
less sex. While there are other ways to manage stress, you may end up
noticing that your stress levels go up as your sexual activity declines.
On the flip side, high levels of stress can make sex less appealing.
3 LESS RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION
Physical intimacy works like feel-good glue
for many couples, drawing and keeping you more connected emotionally.
Unless you’re asexual, having less sex with your partner may lead to a
drop in satisfaction for you both. The Journal of Family Psychology
study also showed that women who reported less sex reported less
relationship gratification. This may be partly because orgasm causes the
release of the brain chemical oxytocin, also known as “the bonding
hormone.” Oxytocin produces a sense of trust and closeness and may even
help you and your partner see each other in a more positive light.
4 SELF-JUDGMENT AND LOWER SELF-ESTEEM
Shifting from sexually active to sexually
sedentary may also damage your relationships in another way — including
the relationship with yourself. “From a medical perspective, having less
sex will not affect neurotransmitters or medical diseases,” said
gynecologist, Sheila Loanzon, M.D. “However, it is the emotions and
judgments that we superimpose on ourselves that can be detrimental.”
Minimal sex or sex drive can lead to a smorgasbord of emotional
challenges, such as self-judgment, embarrassment and anxiety. “These
emotions begin to fester internally and can extend to our relationships
and be palpable to partners,” she adds.
5 ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Seldom getting busy may be a recipe for fewer
erections. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2008
showed that men who reported having sexual intercourse once per week
were half as likely to experience erectile dysfunction when compared
with men who had less frequent sex. The researchers, who studied more
than 900 male participants ages 55 to 75, concluded that routine
intercourse may protect against ED. While many other factors contribute
to ED, says New York City sex therapist Stephen Snyder, M.D., once it
occurs it can lead to additional problems, such as relationship
tenseness... and sex avoidance. “ED is probably the number-one reason
men avoid partner sex.”
6 A LESS TONED VAGINA
Regular vaginal sexual activity, whether with a
partner or solo, promotes vaginal health. This is especially important
from midlife and beyond, according to the North American Menopause
Society, because dryness and less elasticity are a common result of
hormonal shifts. Sex play stimulates blood flow to your genitals,
helping to keep your vaginal muscles toned and maintaining their current
length and stretchiness. Similar to managing erectile dysfunction, this
tends to make sex more appealing and enjoyable as well.
7 LESS LUBRICATION
When you are sexually active, whether female
or male, you probably notice that wetness plays a major role in arousal.
Sexual excitement stimulates glands that produce wetness in the vagina.
If a woman no longer feels turned on regularly or at all, they may
experience vaginal dryness — which can make any sex you have painful.
While there are other causes of “down there” dryness, such as hormonal
imbalances associated with menopause, routine masturbation or couple
play may make all the difference.
8 LOWER MOODS
It’s tough to say which comes first, low
sexual activity or low moods, but research shows a significant link
between the two, according to a report published in the Journal of
Economic Behavior and Organization in May 2015. If you’re feeling down
or depressed, you may be less interested in sex. Given the feel-good
perks of sex, however, there’s also a fair chance that going from a
robust sex life to very little sex could contribute to blah moods.
Engaging in foreplay and sex somewhat regularly may be just what the
doctor ordered.
Related:
9 Foods for Better Sex for Women
9 FEWER HEART-HEALTH BENEFITS
This is another possible Catch-22. While sex
may help minimize stress and benefit heart health, stress and poor
cardiovascular health can interfere with arousal and sexual function.
One study, published in the American Journal of Cardiology in 2010,
linked low sex frequency with an increased likelihood of cardiovascular
disease. Studies like this one don’t necessarily prove that sex prevents
heart disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic, but they do show that
sex suits a heart-healthy lifestyle.
10 LOWER IMMUNE FUNCTION
Touch, arousal and orgasm lower stress levels
in the body through pleasure, providing a sense of comfort and release
and setting those feel-good chemicals in motion. All of this is helpful
for your immune system because a less stressed body can better fend off
illnesses. No longer having sex may undo those benefits you were
receiving, potentially making you more vulnerable to colds, the flu and
other viruses.
11 LOWER LIBIDO
While it can have the opposite effect, having
less sex may lead you to desire less sex over time. Many people and sex
experts report that “use it or lose it” applies to your libido. From a
physical standpoint, if having little to no sex has detrimental effects
on your sexual health — causing vaginal dryness or erectile dysfunction,
for example — you and your body may become less easily or frequently
aroused. And the less habitual sex becomes, the more you may gradually
grow accustomed to not having it or begin seeing yourself as less
sexual. Think of it as a snowball effect.
12 LOWER SELF-CONFIDENCE
When women are concerned about having too
little sex, they often blame themselves for doing something wrong, says
gynecologist Sheila Loanzon, M.D. “If compounded over periods of time
this can impact self-confidence and desire for intercourse,” she says.
In addition to addressing any medical or emotional cause of libido loss,
prioritizing pleasure, getting to know your own body through
masturbation and giving yourself permission to enjoy sex as you wish can
help restore lost confidence.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BRING SEXY BACK
If you’d like to get in the sexual saddle
again, see your doctor if you suspect a medical issue at play. To re-up
or maintain desire, gynecologist Sheila Loanzon, M.D., suggests spicing
things up with variety. “Research on sexual function consistently
demonstrates increased libido and pleasure in new relationships,” she
says. “Although I would not advocate that people seek new partners to
improve their sex life, I would encourage exploring and investigating
novelty, change and a shift in perspective in their current
relationship.” Managing stress, fatigue and poor body image can also
help, she adds.
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