Positive health effects of sexuality and sex

Sexuality is an essential part of all human life. It includes, among other things, sexual development, sexual orientation, biological sex and social gender identity, and reproduction. The sexual self-image is an important part of the personality and can be manifested in thoughts, beliefs, feelings, in the body and in the relationship to ourselves and others.

Good sexual health requires the experience of a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the opportunity for pleasurable and safe sexual experiences without coercion, discrimination or violence. At its best, sexuality gives you energy, positive power and freedom, and makes it easier for you to accept yourself and your emotional spectrum.

Sexuality can include sexual activity, i.e. sex, alone or with one or more partners. Sexuality reflects our identity, while sex is what we choose to do or not do. Knowing one's own sexual identity can also involve sexual well-being without involving sexual activity at all.

Every human being's fundamental rights include the right to personal integrity, which includes sexual self-determination. Everyone has the right to decide over their own body and sexuality, and only this makes the positive health effects of sex possible.

Known positive health benefits of safe, consensual sex, either alone or with one or more partners, include the following:

• Sex evokes positive feelings such as satisfaction and pleasure.
• Memory improves. An active sex life results in a larger hippocampus, an area of ​​the brain responsible for memory and learning.
• Pain and stress are relieved because the hormones released during sex, such as oxytocin, endorphins and dopamine, increase well-being and raise the pain threshold. In addition, these happy hormones often increase sex drive.
• The body and mind relax when the nervous system calms down.
• Even short-term, pleasurable sexual experiences reduce blood pressure and strengthen the heart.
• Sleep quality improves for the same hormonal and neurological reasons. After an orgasm, prolactin is secreted, which causes the body to relax and acts as a natural sleep medicine.
• You'll get a great workout. If you have sex three times a week, either alone or with one or more partners, you can burn up to 7,500 calories a year, which is the equivalent of running about 100 km. At the same time, your abdominal, back and thigh muscles will also become stronger.
• The pelvic floor muscles get regular exercise during sex, and blood circulation in the pelvic floor improves. This in turn strengthens the erection and increases women's ability to feel physical pleasure. The ability to hold tight is also improved.
• You can live longer. According to some studies, people who have sex regularly live, on average, several years longer than those who don't have sex at all.

Sexuality reflects our relationship with both our inner fantasies and our bodies. If you are able to love and respect your body as it is and let it enjoy itself, you will know how to respect your partner when you have sex, so that your partner also experiences the positive health effects of sex.

Source: FSHS psychologist