Sex is a natural and healthy part of life, and for many people, it's an important aspect of their physical and emotional well-being. But what happens if you stop having sex? Whether it's due to a lack of opportunity, personal choice, or a medical condition, going without sex for an extended period of time can have some surprising effects on your body. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what happens to your body if you stop having sex.
Sexual activity is a complex process that involves the release of various hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. These hormones play a crucial role in regulating everything from mood to muscle growth, and they can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. When you engage in sexual activity, your body produces and releases these hormones, which can have numerous positive effects on your body and mind. But what happens if you stop having sex? Does your body undergo any significant changes, and if so, what are they? Let's find out.
What happens when you don’t have sex: physical health
People go through dry spells for lots of reasons. Sometimes people who aren’t in a relationship have a hard time finding a person they’d like to have sex with. The attraction between the people in a couple can diminish. Other times people just don’t want to have sex. So, what happens when you don’t have sex for a long time?
Immune system
Regular sex improves the immune system and prepares the body to fight
off illness by releasing endorphins. This means that having sex less
often might result in more frequent illnesses, like the cold or flu. A
study reported that saliva samples of college students who had regular
sex were found to higher concentration of certain antibodies called
immunoglobulin A, which fight the common cold.
Vaginal health
Having sex after a long break can be uncomfortable. It takes longer for the female body to become aroused and produce enough lubrication to make sex easy and comfortable. Regular sex or masturbation can keep the tissues in your vagina healthy by improving blood flow.
Period pains
Some people find sex to be an excellent remedy for menstrual cramps. The
increase in endorphins caused by sex as well as the uterine
contractions that occur with orgasm can both help alleviate cramps. You
don’t have to have sex to reap these benefits — masturbation can have
the same effect.
Cardiovascular health
If you do not have sex on regular basis, you are at a higher risk to
develop cardiovascular disease. In addition to being a source of
exercise, sexual intercourse helps keep your estrogen and progesterone
levels in balance, which can lower your risk of heart disease.
What happens when you don’t have sex: mental health
Some people equate having a sex life with having self-worth. Although this is not the case, they may feel more anxious and depressed if they go a long period of time without having sex. It’s important to remember that your value does not come from having sex with other people.
Aside from that, the effects on your mental health caused by abstaining from sex can include:
Stress and anxiety level
Having sex releases the hormone oxytocin and endorphins into the body.
These neurochemicals can help manage the effects of anxiety or stress.
Oxytocin has the additional benefit of helping you sleep. If you do not
have sex regularly, your body may release these hormones less often,
which might make it more difficult to cope with stress.
Libido
Surprisingly, going a long time without having sex can make you lose
interest in sex altogether. The more you have sex, the more you want to
have sex. Regular sex reduces stress and boosts your libido.
Relationship health
For many couples, regular sexual intercourse is an important way to
maintain their bond. Regular sex also often opens the door for better
communication. Generally, couples who have sex more often feel
emotionally attached and connected in comparison to those who do it less
often.
What happens when you don’t have sex for a long time? For some people, their relationship with their partner becomes stressful and they stop feeling connected. Other couples aren’t interested in sex or it’s not an important method of connection for them, preferring conversation or shared activities instead.
The benefits of not having sex for a long time
Many people choose to not have sex for a variety of reasons. Some people
don’t enjoy it or aren’t interested. Others find it to be a distraction
from the things they really care about. Although having sex can have
positive effects on your health, not having sex has benefits too. Some
of the positive side effects of not having sex for a long time include:
1. You don’t have to worry about getting pregnant: Although there are many very highly effective methods of birth control available today, the only 100% absolute, most certain way to not get pregnant is to not have sex.
2. You’re less likely to get a urinary tract infection: Naturally, not having sex is going to drastically reduce your chances of getting a sexually transmitted infection, but abstaining from sex also makes it less likely that you’ll get a urinary tract infection.
3. You get to know yourself better: Sometimes people have a hard time focusing on their pleasure when they’re having sex with somebody else. Going through a dry spell is a great way to take some time to figure out what pleases you by masturbating. If you decide to be sexually active again, you will have information you can share with a partner to make sex even more enjoyable.
4. You can have some much-needed space: Abstaining from sex can give you time to focus on any big emotional issues you may be dealing with, such as a breakup or the death of a loved one. Sometimes abstaining from sex is necessary after an illness or medical procedure and doing so can speed up the healing process.
Going without sex for a long time can be a frustrating experience if you would rather be sexually active. However, a period of abstinence can be an opportunity for personal growth and self-love. While you may temporarily miss out on the health benefits of sex, they will be waiting for you if or when you become sexually active again. If you find that a lack of sex is affecting your relationship with your partner, an earnest discussion may help you both better understand what you need in a relationship to feel satisfied.