Sex is beautiful and it is a thing of joy. It is God’s command for us to recreate and multiply. It also has other great benefits. It is not only a great way to maintain a healthy relationship, it is also a fantastic way to maintain a healthy you. Of course, when the mood strikes, the last thing on our minds are the long-term health benefits of sex, so, they are here listed, so you can know that apart from reproduction and filling the earth, a glowing you, sex also has great health benefits. Dr Yinka Griffin, Medical Director, Teju Specialist Hospital, Ring Road Ibadan, highlights some of these health benefits of sex.

Sex improves self-esteem:

Your self-esteem is important for not only you, but for those around you. How you feel about yourself dictates how you interact with others; and so can be a deciding factor on how you live your life both socially and at work.

Having the kind of sex you want when you want it can makes you happier within your own skin. Being with someone who loves you for who you are and gives you what you need can be a great confidence booster.

Sex reduces stress

Long-term exposure to stress could lead to a lot of physical problems in your body which includes; high blood pressure and lowered immune response. Increased susceptibility to anxiety and depression can be caused by increased stress levels. So it is important to keep your stress levels in check.

The actual act of sex and the cuddles after can lower your blood pressure. I can also boost confidence level which will allow you stand up to some of the problems contributing to your stress.

Sex also allows you and your partner to express how you feel about each other. It gives room for good communication level between partners.

Sex burns calories

Excess weight could lead to health problems. If you are not sure about your weight now, please check out using Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation.  If you need toshed weight, do not hesitate to do so right away.

We all love to look for new and trendy routines to help us lose weight. However, the answer can be right on our doorstep, or bedroom, or even our front room; wherever takes our fancy, because sex is a good exercise and can help burn up lots of calories whenever you engage in it.

Sex strengthens relationships

Being in a positive relationship can improve your overall health and well-being. Happily married couples are less likely to develop health complications, such as cancer and heart failure, and could live longer.

Your body experiences a whole roller coaster of hormones when you have sex and during the pillow talk after. The most important hormone is oxytocin, which is appropriately labeled the ‘love hormone’. This particular hormone is important for the need to bond and nurture and is released when you are cuddled and have contact with your partner.

Sex fights prostate cancer

The prostate is a small gland that is important in the male reproductive system. It produces the alkaline components of semen, which help protect the sperm. Men who ejaculate on a regular basis; about five or more times weekly, are less likely to develop prostate cancer.

This is because the process of ejaculation, which involves the prostate, actually flushes away the products that can lead to cancer.

Sex improves heart health

No matter how much you concentrate on your diet, you could still be at risk of a heart attack if you don’t exercise.

Not engaging in enough exercise is the single worst risk factor for heart problems, yet majority of adults ignore this.

Sex is a good form of exercise and the heart, most importantly, benefits when we exercise. Even older men who fear that sex can trigger a stroke or cardiac event should not worry as long as they take it slow.

Sex reduces pain

Having chronic pain can create problems with how we live our day-to-day life. Common problems with long-term pain sufferers include depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances, which are all completely understandable if you feel like there will be no end to your pain.

Your partner can help you get your prescription of natures painkillers. If you suffer from joint pain, headache or premenstrual tension, sex can offer great pain relief.

The hormone oxytocin and endorphins are released and help combat pain by lowering your perception of the pain signals from your problem areas.

Sex helps you sleep better

The importance of sleep is greatly known, yet we still don’t know why. Currently there are four main theories why we slumber.

• Sleep is a time where the body’s cells repair themselves after the day’s activities.

• Sleep allows us to replenish the body’s fuel – so when we run low our brain tells us to rest so we can refuel.

• During sleep, the brain does a little ‘tidying up’ looking through what you’ve learnt and perhaps deleting what you no longer need.

• Whilst we sleep the brain takes this time to replay and commit new memories, making sure you remember what you wish to keep.

After sex you are more relaxed and receptive to sleep. This is due to the cocktail of hormones that are rushing through your system after an orgasm. Oxytocin and endorphins released after sex are sleep promoters, which help you get a good night’s sleep