A series of small-scale studies suggest that the health benefits of sex are similar to those of vitamin D and broccoli. It can not only relieve stress, improve sleep, and burn calories, but also reduce pain, soothe depression, improve blood vessel elasticity, boost the immune system, and lower the risk of prostate and breast cancer.

However, many of these studies rely on participants' recollections and candid accounts of their sexual behavior, and many cannot distinguish causality—that is, does sex make people healthier, or do healthier people have more sex?

More research is needed to assess these claims. Nevertheless, understanding the existing knowledge of the physiology of sex allows us to know that sex provides at least some health benefits while allowing for pleasurable sexual experiences.

Even without scientific evidence, some of the benefits of sex—besides, of course, procreation—are obvious. After a pleasurable sexual experience, you feel relaxed and satisfied…you lie there, feeling that life is good.

This feeling is largely due to chemical reactions in the body—during sex, a rapid increase and decrease in hormones and neurotransmitters occurs. This "awakening" stimulates the release of dopamine, which in turn activates the brain's craving and reward centers, similar to the effect of eating chocolate or winning money in a gamble.

Sex also increases oxytocin levels, a substance known as the "cuddle hormone" that fosters intimacy between people, reduces fear, and stimulates the production of endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers. This is why sex can provide temporary relief from back pain, migraines, and other physical aches.

What specific changes does sex bring to the body?

After orgasm, dopamine levels drop rapidly, while prolactin levels rise, causing drowsiness along with a sense of satisfaction, significantly improving sleep quality—a phenomenon particularly noticeable in men.

All these chemical changes produce a lasting effect that helps people relieve stress, as Brody described in a 2005 study published in the journal *Biological Psychology*. He first had 24 women and 22 men record their sexual activity over two weeks, then asked them to give impromptu speeches and perform rapid mental math problems in front of an unfriendly audience, during which time Brody measured their blood pressure. Compared to those who had other forms of sexual activity or no sexual activity at all during the first two weeks, those who had traditional sexual activity during this period experienced smaller spikes in blood pressure and recovered more quickly.

Sex is also touted as having good exercise benefits—but in reality, the benefits are not that great. While every couple is different, it's generally estimated that people burn about five calories per minute during sex, or a total of about 50 to 150 calories. To put it another way, orgasm requires three to four units of metabolic equivalents (an indicator of physical exertion)—equivalent to doing a small amount of housework.

Sexual activity can indeed increase heart rate and blood pressure—up to 125 beats per minute and a peak systolic blood pressure of 160—roughly equivalent to climbing one or two flights of stairs. Several studies have shown that regular sexual activity helps prevent cardiovascular disease. A British study found that men who reported having three or more orgasms per week had 50% fewer heart attacks than those with relatively less frequent sex—this may be because orgasm stimulates the production of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that helps improve blood flow and arterial dilation.

On the other hand, erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease—when drugs like Viagra first entered the market, some cardiologists worried that sexual activity might be dangerous for men with potential heart conditions. Overall, this concern has proven unfounded. According to studies in Germany, Japan, and South Korea, sudden death during sex is actually extremely rare. However, this is more likely to occur during extramarital sex.

Regular sex may also contribute to men's health in another way: it stimulates the release of testosterone, a hormone that in turn strengthens muscles, enhances male vitality, and improves cognitive abilities.

Sex can also improve women's mood—though the exact mechanism of this effect is debated. Semen contains testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, and prostaglandins, which enter the bloodstream through the vaginal wall, potentially boosting a woman's mood. However, groups advocating for safe sex add that unintended consequences of unprotected sex—pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections—can be very emotionally damaging.

Some of the most encouraging research findings suggest that regular sex can reduce the risk of certain cancers. Studies have found that men who ejaculate most frequently—at least 21 times a month—have a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer than men who ejaculate four to seven times a month. Emptying the "container" periodically may be beneficial for prostate health. However, the authors of the aforementioned article point out that the research data may contain some errors because the study asked these men to recall their monthly ejaculation frequency forty years ago; some of these men are now in their eighties.

Similarly, a 1989 French study showed that women who had little or no sex had three times the risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who had more frequent sex—but the underlying biological mechanisms behind this are still unclear.

So, should people make sex more frequent to improve their health?

Not necessarily. Jensen of the Kinsey Institute says that the "more the better" approach is overly simplistic. What we've learned from all these years of research is that what truly matters is the satisfaction and the meaning we give to sex. In short, if the frequency and manner of your sex life are in harmony with yourself, then your sex life is healthy.

https://www.romanoy.com/2025/11/07/what-does-sex-change-in-the-body/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5794517&forum_id=2...id#49409272)