When you’re feeling a bit down, you may have less sex drive. However, research shows that sex can actually have a positive effect on your physical and mental health. Curious about the positive influence of sex? Then keep reading!

Relaxation

When you suffer from complaints concerning your mental health, taking the time to relax is very important. Sex has been shown to help you relax, and sexual contact produces the hormone oxytocin, also known as the hugging hormone. This hormone provides relaxation and tranquility. Sex also appears to help with relaxation in the longer term. A Scottish study shows that people who have recently had sex are better able to deal with stressful situations such as public speaking. Finally, it also appears that, if oxytocin is structurally available in your body, the effect of relaxation increases. It therefore seems a plausible conclusion that if you have sex more often, you will also experience more and more relaxation. In this case, practice makes perfect seems like an appropriate saying!

Physical health benefits

Sex is good for many aspects of your physical health. Good physical health in itself supports your resilience and mental health.

• Immune system

Research from the University of Wilkes (Pennsylvania) shows that students who were more sexually active (sexual contact once or twice a week) had a better resistance to bacteria and viruses than students who had less sexual contact.

• Fitness and heart health

When you have sex, your heart rate goes up, just like when you’re exercising. Just like exercising, sexual contact lowers the risk of cardiovascular problems and improves your fitness. Research shows that men who have sex twice a week have a reduced risk of a heart attack.

• Pelvic floor

During sex you use your pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor problems, especially in women, can be prevented by training the pelvic floor muscles regularly or by having regular sexual contact.

• Prostate

Research also shows that men who have an orgasm more than twenty-one times a month, have a reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to  men who orgasm four to seven times a month.

Sleep

Many people who suffer from mental complaints have difficulty falling asleep. Sex right before bed can help you fall asleep. This is due to the oxytocin that is released, which makes you relax and fall asleep more easily. Good sleep in itself also has a positive influence on your mental and phsyical health in many other ways; sex before going to sleep is therefore a win-win situation!

Feeling connected

Finally, sexual contact helps you to feel connected to someone else. Having contact with other people is important if things aren’t going well for you. Feeling connected with someone else can support the recovery of your mental complaints. Do you have a partner or a sexual relationship in a different form? Try to initiate some good lovemaking. Every little bit helps when you’re recovering from mental complaints. Maybe having more sex can support your recovery process.

Although there are many benefits to sex, it is important to add that we know that many people with mental complaints do not feel the need for sexual contact. It is important to listen carefully to your feelings. Sex against your will is of course never the intention!