15 Reasons Sex is Good For You

If you’ve spent any time on social media in the past few years, you’ve likely come across the term “sex positivity.” Sex positivity is simply the acknowledgement of the positive effect of sex in our lives. It’s an intentional departure from narratives that focus solely on risks, fears and the prevention of pregnancy and disease.

I am a sexuality researcher and the idea that sex is good for you, like, really good for you, is not one that I see commonly accepted or internalized.

Blame it on that shame and arbitrary morality that gets away.

Work 60 hour days and you’re virtuous but enjoy a daily wank and you’re a sinner.

Drives me bananas. But I digress. Let’s just get to the facts.

In the context of health and sex, I am a fan of the model created by late sexologist Gina Ogden, which posits that sexual wellness has four components: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

If you know anything about my work you’ll know that the last one makes me positively orgasmic.

So let’s break down some of the commonly known benefits of sex in these categories:

PHYSICAL:

1. Better immunity
2. Losing weight and better cardiovascular health
3. Better sleep quality through the release of prolactin
4. Lower risk of prostate cancer in men
5. Delayed onset of menopause in women
6. Pain reduction, particularly during menstruation

MENTAL

7. Stress reduction

8. Increased empowerment and self confidence

EMOTIONAL

9. Excitement, pleasure and anticipation of life

10. Lower anxiety

11. Increased connection, intimacy, and safety with a partner

SPIRITUAL

12. Collapsing of boundaries between self and other

13. Experiences of transcendence

14. Unleashed creativity

15. Feelings of unconditional love

Putting all this together, sex might be one of the most critical factors impacting our overall well-being. Indeed, Kahneman and colleagues (2004) found that sex was more important than socializing when it came to happiness, and we know from a gazillion studies from around the world that healthy relationships are the key to a long and fulfilled life. Similarly, Killingsworth and Gilbert (2010) found that sexual activity was the best predictor of moment-to-moment happiness, beating out factors such as conversation, eating, and prayer.

Bigger than prayer?
Jesus.

A clarifying note: the goal here is not to add to the pressure to have more sex — there’s enough of that in our everyday consciousness.

The key takeaway is that contrary to what you may have been told or taught, a healthy sex life is good for you. So call it in in a way that feels whole and fulfilling. Read also: The Science of Good Sex.

“We can be discerning about our sexual choices rather than judgmental about them “

— Gina Ogden

References:

Anderson, R.M. Positive sexuality and its impact on overall well-being. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2013 Feb;56(2):208–14. doi: 10.1007/s00103–012–1607-z. PMID: 23361205.

Kahneman, D., Krueger A.B., Schkade D.A, Schwarz N., & Stone A.A. A survey method for characterizing daily life experience: the day reconstruction method. Science. 2004 Dec 3;306(5702):1776–80. doi: 10.1126/science.1103572. PMID: 15576620.

Ogden, G., Jernigan, L., & Nevin, T. The Four-Dimensional Wheel: A Client-Centered Approach for Expanding Women’s Sexual Health, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 14, Issue Supplement_4b, May 2017, Page e283, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.04.364

Killingsworth M.A., Gilbert D.T. A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science. 2010 Nov 12;330(6006):932. doi: 10.1126/science.1192439. PMID: 21071660.