By Dan Roberts
Boosting self-esteem was one of the 237 reasons why people have sex, says a study conducted last year by researchers from the University of Texas.
This is no surprise to Julia Cole, author of How to Have Great Sex for the Rest of Your Life. She is convinced that a healthy sex life with a loving partner does wonders for the way you feel about yourself.
"After a bout of sex the body releases endorphins, known as 'happy chemicals'," she says. "From a physical point of view, it's similar to enjoying a good workout or going swimming - but if you're having sex with someone you love it also makes you feel cared for and promotes self-esteem."
The proviso, of course, is that if your sexual experiences are unhappy ones, they will have a negative effect on your psyche.
But, assuming the sex is good, it is thought to improve body image, as well as reduce anxiety and the incidence of psychiatric illness, depression and suicide.
A 2004 study of men from four different cultures found that sexual satisfaction was directly associated with an increased frequency in sexual intercourse, as well as being inversely related to depression.
During orgasm the body produces oxytocin, a hormone linked to a range of positive physical and psychological effects, particularly its beneficial effect on sleep.
"There's no doubt that sex is relaxing and so helps tackle insomnia," says Dr David Delvin, a specialist in sexual medicine. "Lots of people use sex, whether with a partner or on their own, as a way of getting to sleep. The surge in oxytocin is a natural sedative."
One of sex's main health benefits is its positive impact on how we deal with stress. In a study published in Biological Psychology, researchers subjected 24 women and 22 men to stressful situations. Those who had intercourse had better responses to stressful scenarios than those who had either engaged in other sexual behaviours or abstained.
Cole says this could be down to the soothing effect of another's touch which, she says, has a naturally calming effect, whether linked to sex or not.
Apart from the pleasurable sensation, touch is also thought to have a biochemical effect, reducing the levels of cortisol - the hormone secreted under stress.
Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, or IgA, which can protect you from colds and other infections. Scientists at Wilkes University in the US tested IgA levels in college students. Those in the "frequent sex" group had higher levels of IgA than those who were abstinent.
Frequent ejaculations may reduce the risk of prostate cancer for men in later life, an Australian study found. Men who had at least five-ejaculations weekly in their 20s, reduced their risk of prostate cancer by a third.
Research also suggests that regular sex could help women avoid breast cancer. A French study found a higher risk in those women without sexual partners or who had sex less than once a month.
Having sex and orgasms is a key part of intimacy and ensuring a healthy long-term relationship - which has been linked to a longer lifespan in a number of studies. It's down to oxytocin again.
"Oxytocin, the 'bonding hormone', is released during childbirth," says Cole. "It is also released in people in secure relationships and during sexual contact."
Studies in which couples were asked to go without sex for long periods found that their general relationship declined, indicating that sex has a powerful bonding effect: "Often when I see couples in trouble, they have stopped having sex, and one of them will say their partner no longer finds them attractive," says Cole
Sex has been linked with pain reduction for a range of conditions, including lower back pain, migraines, arthritis and premenstrual syndrome symptoms. It's down to those hormones again.
"Sex increases endorphins, nature's painkillers," said Delvin, pointing out that oxytocin is also linked with pain relief.
But there is a chicken-and-egg element. People who lead more active sex lives exercise more regularly - improving sexual health, another study found. Consistent exercise increased frequency of sex, improving performance, and the ability to reach a "satisfying" orgasm.
One long-term Welsh study into the relationship between sex and mortality found a 50% lower mortality risk among men who had frequent orgasms - two or more a week - and frequent intercourse was associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
"We know that having a strong relationship is a good indicator of longevity - and a healthy sex life is a big part of that," said Cole. - The Independent
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