your heart rate. Sex is similar to exercise. However, it has the
added benefit of balancing estrogen (women) and testosterone
(men) hormones. Both are critical to heart health.
Lowering blood pressure. When you combine happiness and
exercise, you lower your blood pressure. Sexual intercourse
does just that.
Some sexual activities, such as sexual intercourse, offer a
healthy mix of aerobic and muscle-building exercise.
Good medicine. Sexual stimulation, and particularly orgasm, is a
natural remedy for pain. Your body releases certain pain-
relieving hormones. This helps with back and leg pain. Also, it
helps with headaches, arthritis, and menstrual cramps.
Gender-specific physical gains. For men, ejaculation has been
shown to lower their risk of prostate cancer. This is based on a
man ejaculating a minimum of 21 times per month. For women,
sexual activity strengthens the bladder. This improves bladder
function. Regular sexual activity helps lubricate a woman’s
vagina, too. This makes it more comfortable for women to
engage in sexual activity, especially as they age.
Restful sleep. Your body produces relaxation hormones
(prolactin) immediately after orgasm. Also, women (and men)
release the hormone, oxytocin when they have an orgasm. This
promotes a restful sleep, as well.