When you are in the throws of parenthood, with days that are a whirlwind of potty training and temper tantrums and lunchbox packing and rushed montessori pick-ups, come bedtime, the majority of us collapse into bed at night with little else on our minds than sleep.
Blissful, uninterrupted, glorious, glorious sleep.
Sex, unfortunately, often gets pushed down the agenda, and skipped in line by anything from a run and Netflix to a much needed shower or bath.
But, according to experts, we are doing both our relationships and even health a big disservice if we don’t get down to business with out other halves on a regular basis. As in; you wouldn’t actually believe how good for you sex, in fact, is.
Still not convinced enough to swap your granny pants for sexy undies before bed tonight? Well; how’s this for reasons to do just that:
1. Sex can cure a moderate cold
Congested and sniffling your way through winter? Well, how about some sex? In 1999, researchers at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of a certain antibody that provided a boost to their immune systems, compared to students who had sex less.
2. Sex lowers your blood pressure.
Worried about your blood pressure? How about some sex? According to a 2012 study by the American Heart Association, sexual intercourse has a significant impact on lowering systolic blood pressure (the first number on your blood pressure reading, or the force with which your heart is squeezing to release blood outward.)
3. Orgasms reduce pain.
Killer headache? How about some sex? “Orgasm can block pain,” Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, and distinguished service professor at Rutgers, told WebMD. ” It releases a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold.”
4. Sex counts as exercise
Feel guilty you didn’t make that spinning class this evening? How about some sex? In fact, according to WebMD, a 30-minute romp can burn up to 100 calories. Meaning, of course, the longer you can make it last, the more calories it burns. (Note: Clearly the spinning class would have helped you burn even more calories, but would it have been as enjoyable? We think not.)
5. Sex reduces your man’s risk of dying of a heart attack.
Worried about your man’s mortality? History of heart disease in the family? How about some sex? One study found that men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die from heart disease than men who had sex less often. That’s a huge decrease in risk, and considering that most men are big fans of sex to begin with, let’s assume this news will make him really happy.
6. Sex trumps money in the happiness factor.
Wish you could feel happier? How about some sex? According to one recent U.S. study, sex makes people happier for a longer period of time than money.
7. Sex helps you sleep better.
Struggle to nod off when you go to bed? How about some sex? “It all has to do with hormone production during intercourse, Saralyn Mark, M.D., associate professor of medicine and OB/GYN at the Yale School of Medicine, told Women’s Health, which also points out that sex boosts the production of euphoric oxytocin and decreases the production of stress hormone cortisol. This means, of course, that sex leaves your body in a relaxed state, making it easier for you to fall asleep.
8. Sex makes you look younger
Worried about aging and those laughter lines? How about some sex? According to a study done by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, people ho were enjoying lots of sex with a steady partner—four times a week, on average—were perceived to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual age.
12 years younger! Researchers looked at participants through one-way mirrors and guessed their ages; they found that the hormones released during regular sex, like testosterone and estrogen, keep the body looking young. Well, that’s all the reason we needed, thank you very much!
9. Sex can regulate your menstrual cycle
Worried about your all-over-the-place period cycle? How about some sex? Endocrinologists at both Columbia and Stanford University in the US found that women who have sex at least once a week have more regular menstrual cycles than those who have sex less frequently.
10. Sex brings you closer.
Worried about your union? How about some sex? We all know that sex brings you closer physically (duh!), but did you know it also does wonders for your spiritual relationship? This, according to science, is due to the boost in oxytocin that happens in our bodies when we have sex, and can explain why, even if we are not in a relationship, we tend to feel attached to people we sleep with.
