Physiological and Psychological Effects of Making Love According to Research
You probably don’t need 11 reasons to make love with your partner. After all, it makes the world go round – It can make or break a relationship, be a source of frustration or bliss, and makes for a spicy conversation topic. You might not think about it, but love and intimacy are also great for your health.
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Making Love According to Research
Here are some of the health benefits of making love that are reported in medical studies:
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Reduce stress
Research shows that people who don’t make love have the highest stress levels. According to a small Scottish study published in the journal Biological Psychology, making love can improve your performance in stressful situations and makes you less anxious.
In addition, you’ll get the best dose of the feel-good hormones oxytocin and endorphins, which will help you feel relaxed and happy. However, other forms of behaviors act in a soothing way as well, such as hugging and holding hands. These activities trigger the release of happy chemicals and make you feel more confident and content.
Read more about the effects of stress in my article How Stress Affects Your Body.
Other ways to reduce stress are mentioned in the articles 14 Effective Natural Remedies for Stress and Anxiety and 7 Simple and Effective Meditation Techniques to Reduce Stress.
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Bring your blood pressure down naturally
Many studies showed that when you regularly make love you have lower chances of developing high blood pressure. Article published in Biological Psychology described the positive effects of frequent intercourse on diastolic blood pressure (the second, lower number in a reading), and other studies suggested that systolic pressure (the first number) gets lower too.
For women, just hugging their partner appears to be enough to bring their blood pressure down, which protects them against many chronic diseases.
Read my articles on How to Reduce High Blood Pressure Naturally and How to Lower Blood Pressure With Blueberries.
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Have stronger pelvic muscles and better bladder control
This one is particularly important for women, as about 30% will suffer from incontinence due to weak pelvic floor muscles.
When you make love, your pelvic muscles need to work out. To double the effect, do some Kegel exercises as you’re frolicking away. This will heighten the pleasure of being intimate, as well as make your muscles stronger.
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Reduce the risk of prostate cancer
Different factors influence your cancer risk, and making love might be one of them. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, men who got intimate more than 21 times a month reduced their risk of prostate cancer.
According to Australian researchers, it is particularly important what men do in their twenties. Their study suggested that those who had five or more ejaculations weekly, managed to reduce the risk of getting prostate cancer by a third.
Further reading: Read about the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer You Shouldn’t Ignore.
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A Form of Exercise
As unromantic as it might sound, making love is a form of a cardiovascular workout. 30 minutes of this pleasurable activity (from the start of foreplay to the end) burns at least 85 calories (and it goes up to 250 calories if you’re really going for it!). It might not sound much, but it all adds up.
According to the American Journal of Cardiology, this activity can act as a moderate workout on a treadmill and will tone your back, butt and thigh muscles. So, you might prefer to regularly sweat in the bedroom than to go out cycling or jogging.
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Keep your heart ticking
Men who get intimate at least twice a week half their risk of heart diseases compared to men who are less lucky in the bedroom, studies show. This activity keeps your estrogen and testosterone levels balanced, which helps to reduce your chances of a heart attack, as explained by Joseph J. Pinzone, MD.
To maintain your heart in top condition, avoid these 10 Habits That Harm Your Heart That You Probably Didn’t Know About.
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Look younger and feel healthier
Looking good and youthful is another thing to consider. According to an experiment performed at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland, people who got intimate four or more times a week with a steady partner looked 7 to 12 years younger than their actual age!
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Have stronger immune system
Bonding with your partner is also linked with your immunity. In a study conducted by Wilkes University in Pennsylvania , students who made love once or twice a week, increased their levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A or IgA, which protects you from colds and other infections.
If you’re single, don’t worry. There are other ways to fend off illness. For example, another study found that stroking a dog can also boost your IgA levels.
Find more ways to boost your immune system in my articles How to Boost Your Immune System Naturally
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Bond with your partner
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina found that in women, intimate contact increased their levels of the so called love-hormone oxytocin. This hormone bonds us with our partner and increases the feelings of trust and intimacy.
By the way, oxytocin can also make you more generous, so don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel the urge to buy your partner a gift.
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Experience less pain
Oxytocin is also credited for reducing the sensation of pain. A small study published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, showed that volunteers who inhaled oxytocin vapor and then had their fingers pricked, experienced much less pain compared to the control group.
The Headache Clinic at Southern Illinois University also showed that endorphins released when you climax resemble morphine. Headache, arthritic pain and even period cramps.
Read about the Top 16 Essential Oils to Relieve Pain and Inflammation and Top 22 Natural Painkillers in Your Kitchen.
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Sleep soundly
Some might complain about their partner falling asleep immediately after the climax, but it’s just the way the body is designed. Physical exercise combined with the release of prolactin, the hormone of relaxation, promote a feeling of sleepiness and make you sleep better.