It Reduces Stress
Sure, this is somewhat of a no-brainer. But the physical reason why an orgasm makes you blissful is because your body is flooded with with all sorts of feel-good chemicals (from oxytocin to dopamine) a few minutes after you climax. And that soothing vibe continues if you cuddle afterwards, since post-coital close contact helps keep them coming while reducing the stress hormone cortisol. And studies show that both men and women who have sex regularly have greater satisfaction with their mental health and reduced anxiety.
It Helps You Sleep
(and Boosts Testosterone)
Prolactin, a hormone that relaxes you, is also released after an orgasm. The combination of prolactin and all the rest of the “feel-good” hormones (not to mention the energy expelled) are why most people sleep better after sex. And while you could just jerk off before bed, science suggests having an orgasm with a partner if possible. Research has shown that the level of prolactin in both men and women after intercourse can be “400% greater than that following masturbation.” And, it should be noted, men require a good period of restful, uninterrupted sleep to produce testosterone. Without that, they could have lower levels of testosterone and suffer erectile dysfunction.
It Strengthens Your Immunity
In the book Feeling Good Is Good For You, researcher Carl Charnetski mentions a study he and other scientists conducted at Wilkes University. They asked more than 100 men and women about their frequency of sex and measured the level of an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA), which can protect against colds and flu. Those who had sex once or twice a week had higher IgA readings than those who had sex less than once a week or not at all. Found in mucous membranes within your respiratory, as well as in your saliva and tears, IgA is your body’s first line of defense to fight off sickness, according to John Hopkins Medicine. So the more of it you produce, the better you’ll be able to fight off an infection. And as an added bonus, frequent ejaculation also lowers your prostate cancer risk, according to a study from the Boston University of Public Health.
It’s Good for Your Penis
Practice makes perfect, right? Put more simply: The more sex you have, the better your sexual functioning will be. In a five-year Finnish survey of nearly 1,000 men, those who got some action just once a week were half as likely to develop erectile dysfunction than men who got lucky less often. But this goes for both partnered or solo sex, so you can take care of this one on your own.