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WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Carol DerSarkissian, MD on March 06, 2022

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The perks of sex extend well beyond the bedroom.

Sex not only feels good. It can also be good for you. Here’s what a healthy sex life can do for you.
“Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD a sexual health expert.
People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often.
You should still do all the other things that make your immune system happy, such as:
Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve your libido ,” says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication, blood flow, and elasticity, she says, all of which make sex feel better and help you crave more of it.
A strong pelvic floor is important for avoiding incontinence , something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives.
Good sex is like a workout for your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causes contractions in those muscles, which strengthens them.
Research suggests a link between sex and lower blood pressure , says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and medical director of Amai Wellness.
“There have been many studies,” he says. “One landmark study found that sexual intercourse specifically (not masturbation ) lowered systolic blood pressure.” That's the first number on your blood pressure test.
“Sex is a really great form of exercise ,” Pinzone says. It won’t replace the treadmill, but it counts for something.
Sex uses about five calories per minute, four more calories than watching TV. It gives you a one-two punch: It bumps up your heart rate and uses various muscles.
So get busy! You may even want to clear your schedule to make time for it on a regular basis. “Like with exercise, consistency helps maximize the benefits,” Pinzone says.
A good sex life is good for your heart . Besides being a great way to raise your heart rate, sex helps keep your estrogen and testosterone levels in balance.
“When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, like osteoporosis and even heart disease ,” Pinzone says.
Having sex more often may help. During one study, men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die of heart disease as men who had sex rarely.
Before you reach for an aspirin , try for an orgasm.
“Orgasm can block pain,” says Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, a distinguished service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It releases a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold.
Stimulation without orgasm can also do the trick. “We’ve found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back and leg pain , and many women have told us that genital self-stimulation can reduce menstrual cramps , arthritic pain, and in some cases even headache ,” Komisaruk says.
Going for the gusto may help ward off prostate cancer .
Men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to get prostate cancer during one study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .
You don’t need a partner to reap this benefit: Sexual intercourse, nocturnal emission, and masturbation were all part of the equation.
It's not clear that sex was the only reason that mattered in that study. Lots of factors affect cancer risk. But more sex won’t hurt.
You may nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason.
“After orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness" after sex, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is a psychiatrist in West Hollywood, Calif.
Being close to your partner can soothe stress and anxiety .
Ambardar says touching and hugging can release your body's natural “feel-good hormone.” Sexual arousal releases a brain chemical that revs up your brain ’s pleasure and reward system.
Sex and intimacy can boost your self-esteem and happiness, too, Ambardar says. It’s not only a prescription for a healthy life, but a happy one.
Patti Britton, PhD, past president, American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists.
Gina Ogden, PhD, sex therapist and marriage and family therapist, Cambridge, Mass.
Joy Davidson, PhD, psychologist and sex therapist, author, Fearless Sex .
Brody, S. Biological Psychology, February 2006.
Brody, S. Biological Psychology, March 2000.
Light, K. Biological Psychology , April 2005.
Charnetski, C. Psychological Reports, June 2004.
Ebrahim, S. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, February 2002.
Mulhall, J. Journal of Sexual Medicine ; online Feb. 8, 2008.
Meston, C. Archives of Sexual Behavior, August 2007.
Zak, P. PLoS One, online Nov. 7, 2007.
Uryvaev, Y. Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine , November 1996.
Leitzmann, M. Journal of the American Medical Association, April 7, 2004.
Giles, G. BJU International, August 2003.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: "Pelvic Floor (Kegel) Exercises for Urinary Incontinence in Women."
American Cancer Society: "Ways of Dealing with Specific Sexual Problems."
Lancel, M. Regulatory Peptides, July 15, 2003.
WebMD Feature: "The Dream Diet: Losing Weight While You Sleep."
Here's how to avoid the most common mistakes.
What do you know about locking lips?
© 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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You can bottle up your sex-related questions or ask your idiot friends. Or, you can call up doctors and experts for sex advice on their one surefire trick in the bedroom. Listen and learn. (By the way, they go great with these sex positions .)
"If anybody trains you on a sport, they're going to train you first on your breathing. If you begin to work with your breath, just like you would in a yoga class , or if you're running, or doing anything physical where you coordinate your breath and your movement, all of a sudden you create a rhythm... Finding the rhythm of your own breath—not only through sex but all things—is going to improve your life, your endurance, and your ability to remain calm and not anxious."
— Kumi Sawyers, an instructor at Sky Ting Yoga in New York
There are few places where feedback can be more important than in the bedroom . Knowing what's working (or not) can lead to better, more rewarding sex. When done well, dirty talk can drive your partner crazy. When done poorly, it can drive them, well, home. Literally. Successful dirty talk isn't always about the actual words used, but more about connection and intention. This may seem obvious, but if you aren't sure what kind of dirty talk your partner likes or if they like dirty talk at all, ask them!
— From Giulia Rozzi's Guide to Dirty Talk
"I think it's important to cue up the videos in advance, to know what your favorites are, because this process is very drying. If you feel awkward in the moment, be like, 'Yo, I'm feeling hella awkward right now.' Because it can start with you guys making fun of it." And then, debrief on what you liked—and didn't like. That will transfer to the bedroom.
— Shan Boody , sexologist and author
According to not one but 34 sex therapists, the scientifically proven " desirable " length for intercourse is seven to 13 minutes. That's not including foreplay.
"It's been proven that women who feel confident about the appearance of their genitals are more open to different kinds of sexual activity, and are more likely to orgasm because they feel relaxed... When a man goes down on his partner, he should be enthusiastic, tell her how beautiful she is and how great she tastes. Don't treat it like a chore."
—Debra Lynne Herbenick, Ph.D., Indiana University, Kinsey Institute
"There is a degree of manipulation when it comes to the amount of neurotransmitter released... Looking at a nude picture will trigger a quick and strong release of dopamine and possibly oxytocin, but it fades quickly... Let her work for it a little; she'll enjoy the prolonged neurological orgasm more."
— Andrea Kuszewski, Behavior Therapist and Consultant, Boston, Massachusetts
"The only difference between a gigolo and a regular guy is that a gigolo listens to what a woman wants in bed. So, ask. I would also advise that you ask her while not in the bedroom—raise the discussion while out walking or doing some other casual yet intimate thing together."
—Dr. Helen Fisher, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University
"Arginine is the basis for Viagra, so men should stick with foods high in it—such as oysters, fish, and other lean proteins. Everything that's good for you above the waist is good for you below the waist as well: greens and beans; high protein/low-fat foods; and brightly colored fruits and vegetables, high in antioxidants. The Standard American Diet is ... a detriment to performance."
— Lynn Edlen-Nezin, Ph.D, co-author of Great Food, Great Sex
"There's no proven human pheromone to make you irresistible. So, until one is found, wash well—you can have too much of a good thing. (But why not leave a worn T-shirt at her house? It will keep you always in her mind.)"
— Dr. Tristram Wyatt, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford
"If you're thinking, 'I hope it works! I hope it works!' it's not going to work. Take penetrative sex off the table for a month—do everything but that. Avoid making intercourse the be-all/end all. In most cases, once men stop worrying about it, it starts working. You can definitely stress yourself out of a boner."
— Emily Wentzell, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Iowa
"For women to get aroused, parts of their brains associated with stress and anxiety need to de-activate, according to neurological studies in the Netherlands. If women aren't relaxed, they're not going to enjoy sex. So dim the lights and share a fantasy. A Harvard study found that when you hug a woman longer than 30 seconds, it increases her oxytocin levels and anticipation of sex."
—Ian Kerner, Ph.D, FAACS, author of She Comes First: the Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman
"Find out what position of intercourse is most stimulating to her—it's usually woman on top, facing away, also known as the reverse cowgirl. The angle of the penis through the anterior/front wall of the vagina stimulates the area of the G-spot."
— Beverly Whipple, Ph.D, Professor Emerita at Rutgers University and co-author of The Science of Orgasm
"Sensual touching releases a powerful sex hormone called oxytocin, which increases a woman's testosterone levels and ignites her sex drive. The seductive silky feel of oil being rubbed on skin is a turn-on for more passionate sex—for both of you."
—Carol Cassell, Ph.D, former president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Western Region

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