- You might already know that sex is good for both your brain and body but it can also ease certain health problems.
- It's possible that regular sex can help you ward off colds and flu.
- Sex can also act as an overall mood booster, making you happier and less stressed.
A healthy sex life is good for the body and the brain because sex is a great way to blow off steam and relax while connecting with your body as well as your partner's. But any kind of sexual activity — even solo sex — has some serious health benefits that you probably didn’t even know about.
INSIDER spoke with an OB/GYN, a urologist, and a professor of human sexuality, and they gave us the scoop on the health problems that sex can actually help ease, from sleepless nights to menstrual cramps.
Our experts told us that sex and masturbation— even if you don't reach orgasm — can help with a host of physical and mental health issues … giving you several solid reasons to get busy on the regular.
Regular sex can help you ward off colds and flu.
If you're diligent about hand washing and taking other preventive measures during cold and flu season, our experts gave us one additional immune booster: sex.
"Although it may sound like an obvious statement, sex does wonders for our bodies," explained board-certified urologist Judson Brandeis.
Dr. Brandeis told us that "our bodies create an antibody called immunoglobin A (IgA) that helps ward off sickness. According to a 1999 study at Wikes University, people who have sex between one to two times a week increase their A (IgA) levels by 30 percent."
"Anything that makes one more relaxed and happy can improve the immune system," added Dr. Felice Gersh, M.D., an OB-GYN and founder/director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine in Irvine, CA and author of the upcoming "PCOS SOS: A Gynecologist's Lifeline To Naturally Restore Your Rhythms, Hormones and Happiness." She told INSIDER that "even without an orgasm, just the human touch alone can be calming and improve immune function and reduce inflammation."
These immune benefits can also help with infertility as well.
The same antibodies that help fight off bacteria and viruses also can help with conception, according to Dr. Zhana Vrangalova, a professor of human sexuality at New York University and co-host of The Science of Sex podcast.
She cited a 2015 study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility which showed that having regular sex — even outside the fertile period — can increase the chances of pregnancy due to the antibodies produced by white blood cells that are helping to protect the body from invaders and, thus, preparing for pregnancy.
Sexual activity can help relieve stress and anxiety.
"During orgasm, our brains release chemicals like oxytocin that help us feel better and more relaxed," explained Dr. Brandeis. "A 2006 study published in Biological Psychology discovered that people not having sex experienced higher levels of stress during activities like public speaking compared to those that had sex at least once over a two week period prior to their speaking engagement."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider