Matcom news follow-up: Sexuality and good health

SarahB

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Fri Jun-08-07 01:50 PM
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Matcom news follow-up: Sexuality and good health

Edited on Fri Jun-08-07 01:58 PM by SarahBelle

Matcom's original article: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6590019 I guess I just felt it deserved its own post.

Is Sex Necessary?

Fans of abstinence had better be sitting down. "Saving yourself" before the big game, the big business deal, the big hoedown or the big bakeoff may indeed confer some moral benefit. But corporeally it does absolutely zip. There's no evidence it sharpens your competitive edge. The best that modern science can say for sexual abstinence is that it's harmless when practiced in moderation. Having regular and enthusiastic sex, by contrast, confers a host of measurable physiological advantages, be you male or female. (This assumes that you are engaging in sex without contracting a sexually transmitted disease.)

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Six Ways Sex is Good For You

If someone's having a particularly cranky day, she may hear friends say, "Honey, you need to get laid." While that's an oversimplification of the many factors that cause bad moods, it's not an entirely off-base assessment.

Ever wonder why people seem to have a bounce in their step or a bit of a glow after having sex? The benefits of frequent, safe physical intimacy may be more science-based than you think.

Do it for your boss
"Orgasm triggers oxytocin release, causing you to feel more relaxed yet energized with a clear mind," says Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD. So instead of saving your energy before the big meeting, a romp in the sheets may be just the thing to help you focus? Yes, says Dr. Teitelbaum. "Sex has been shown to decrease stage fright and anxiety in front of audiences," he adds. "So ignore that old advice to picture the crowd naked‑-be naked with your partner instead" (before the presentation, of course).

Avoid sickness
Forget to have your flu shot? Light some candles and put on soft music. "Sex stimulates the immune system," says Dr. Deborah Anapol, PhD, author of The Seven Natural Laws of Love. Recent studies show that regular sex makes you less vulnerable to colds and flu. And for romantic types, tell your partner that prolonged, deep kissing has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the long term. In the short term, kissing releases bacteria that stimulates the production of antibodies, which help fight off infection. Even handholding, the New York Times recently reported, can bring immediate stress relief to loved ones.

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Not just good, but good for you. Mounting evidence suggests sex helps keep us healthy

July 1 - To paraphrase a great old slogan for Guinness beer: Sex isn’t just good, it’s good for you!

Okay, so maybe there’s some wishful thinking going on — the science isn’t exactly iron-clad — but evidence is accumulating that the more sex you have, the better off you are.

There is one caveat, though. “We do not have good data to show a direct connection ," says Jennifer Bass, the head of information services at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in Bloomington, Ind. "We know that healthier people have more sexual activity. But we do not know which comes first. Does the good health make you more willing to have sex, or does the sex have a positive impact?”

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Sex is good for you, and sexual dysfunction should be seen as major health issue

New York, NY (October 13, 2003) -- Sex has many health benefits -- including mental, cardiovascular, and immune system health -- according to two physicians and sexual health experts at NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center. Likewise, sexual dysfunction, which is largely untreated, has many associated health risks and should be treated as a major public health issue, they say, especially as more adults are enjoying sex later in life.

"Sex is good for you, with benefits including a longer, healthier, and happier life," says Dr. John Mulhall, Director of the Sexual Medicine Program and Associate Attending Urologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Associate Professor of Urology at the Weill Cornell Medical College. "Conversely, sexual problems like erectile dysfunction (ED) can contribute to a variety of other mental and physical problems, including depression and relationship discord. ED may also be a harbinger of diseases, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, coronary artery disease, among others."

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Thanks for reading,
Your friendly neighborhood (and not pointing blame or names on anyone) sex positive ob/gyn nurse. :D