The short- and long-term symptoms of lack of sex can be diverse and distressing.
Whether you’re single or in a long-term relationship, it’s not uncommon to go through periods of “sex drought.”
The reasons can be diverse, from a busy schedule, to stress, low libido or lack of interest, there are a number of reasons why some simply give up sex for a period of time. But the lack of sex can affect the body in many ways, both long-term and short-term, because sex itself offers health benefits, from boosting immunity to lowering stress levels.
Studies have even tried to determine how much sex we should have weekly or monthly to maintain health. So it stands to reason that not having sex could also have its downsides.
General health suffers in the absence of sexual activity. Photo: Shutterstock
Some of them seem like natural consequences, like increased anxiety or poorer sleep, but as time goes on, your body reacts to lack of intimacy in surprising ways.
Pain occurs
Dr Susanna Unsworth, gynecology expert at Intima, said: ‘Sex during your period has been shown to help relieve the painful symptoms that can come with your period, from menstrual cramps to migraines. This is because sex and orgasm can increase the production of feel-good chemicals that dampen pain signals and act as a form of relief.”
This was echoed by sexologist Rebecca Alvarez Story, who stated that sex can heal pain caused by muscle aches and headaches.
So giving up sex could mean more and more persistent pain than if you had sex.
Anxiety
Having sex can release a cocktail of endorphins, aka “happy hormones,” including oxytocin and dopamine.
These substances can lower stress levels and boost positive mood, which is why fertility specialist Lucky Sekhon stated that “periods of sexual abstinence can predispose to depression, anxiety and increased stress.”
Quality time between the sheets can also make you feel closer and more connected to your partner, so a lack of sex can alienate you and make you feel more insecure or worried about the state of your relationship.
Lower quality sleep
The cocktail of hormones released after the body has experienced intense pleasure during sex also includes vasopressin and oxytocin, which reduce stress in your body and help you fall asleep quickly.
Noradrenaline and serotonin then help to achieve deep sleep. As a result, lack of sex can lead to poorer sleep quality.
Decreased libido
Have you ever noticed that if you want sex more when you have it regularly?
Sexologist Carol Queen told Well Good that during a period of sexual abstinence, where your body almost loses the habit of needing sex or responding to arousing stimuli leads to a loss of libido.
“For some, this will have the effect of making it even harder to initiate sexual activity, even if you want to,” the doctor explained.
Fattening
Like any physical activity, sex burns some calories. Articles published on WebMD claim that you can burn about five calories per minute during a typical session of sex, about as much as a brisk walk. While this may not seem like much, it adds up in the long run.
So it could mean you gain a few pounds during a “sex drought” period, especially if you don’t make up for the lack of sexual activity with exercise.
Vaginal dryness
Obstetrician Ali Novitsky, founder of Exercising Intimacy, told The Telegraph that after menopause, a woman’s vagina can become tighter and her vaginal lining tissues thinner if she doesn’t have regular sex.
This makes you more susceptible to sores and bleeding when you have sex.
Erectile dysfunction
According to WebMD, men who have sex less than once a week have twice the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) than those who have sex weekly.
Loss of clitoral sensitivity
The clitoris can be incredibly sensitive and responsive, but prolonged periods of abstinence can cause it to temporarily shrink and lose sensitivity. It’s called clitoral atrophy, and it’s commonly caused by a lack of blood flow to the area and a lack of stimulation to the clitoris.
Fortunately, this is not permanent. As you engage in sexual activity more often, the vagina gains elasticity, the body gets used to being touched, and the clitoris regains sensitivity.
Hypertension
Sex can benefit the cardiovascular system, especially if the sessions are particularly aerobic. If you don’t supplement the lack of activity between the sheets with other activities that can keep your blood pressure low, you may see your levels rise.
This can be a vicious cycle, as men with high blood pressure sometimes have trouble getting or maintaining an erection that is good enough for sex, according to Blood Pressure UK.
Source: The
Sun
2023-12-27 10:37:43
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