The health effects of abstinence were revealed in a study into sexual inactivity.
Originally published in 2019, the study used the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles on the British population to find why people may be sexually inactive.
It found that around 16 percent of men and 22 percent of women in the UK are sexually inactive, while other data reveals that over a quarter of relationships are sexless.
Some may choose to be celibate by choice, while others may want to do the deed despite having a partner who doesn’t.
But does abstinence have an effect on your health at all?
What is sexual abstinence?
Dr Ali Novitsky, an obstetrician and the founder of Exercising Intimacy, explained what the term means.
“Sexual abstinence is a choice to refrain from engaging in any form of sexual activity. This may be due to personal, relational, cultural or religious reasons,” the medical professional revealed.
The Exercising Intimacy is a programme which encourages a deeper connection between partners through exercise and sex.
What are the effects of being abstinent?
According to The Social Organization of Sexuality, which reported on a survey of 3,432 Americans, a “sexless marriage” is defined as a couple who aren’t engaging in sexual activity or are having sexual encounters which are few and far between.
But according to health experts, there are a number of emotional and physical effects which come with cutting out time between the sheets.
These can include:
- Low mood
- Change in hormones
- Vagi^al pain
- Decreased longevity
Novitsky added: “Abstaining from sexual activity can have a variety of effects on individuals, both physically and emotionally.”
She highlighted that “the most immediate effects” may be within your hormone levels, in a negative way.
“Regular sexual activity is known to boost the levels of certain hormones, like oxytocin and endorphins, which are associated with feelings of happiness and reduced stress,” the expert explained, adding that abstaining from sex could lead to lower levels of these hormones in your system.
Your longevity could also be impacted, as the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology discovered that having sex at least once a week over the course of a year, was linked with a 10 per cent drop in heart disease mortality and a 44 per cent drop in non-heart disease mortality.
Menopausal or postmenopausal women could be at risk of suffering worsened symptoms in association with vaginal atrophy.
Benefits of regular sex
It can improve mental health, with studies suggesting that regular sex can lower anxiety levels and help deal with depression.
Regular sex can also improve prostate health, as a 2016 study revealed that men who ejaculated at least 21 times a month had a lower risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who ejaculated just four to seven times in the same period.
As for women, studies show that orgasms can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which lowers chances of incontinence in later life.
Men and women can benefit from regular sex when it comes to their immune systems, with one study showing that university students having sex once or twice a week had greater levels of an antibody known as immunoglobulin A.
Relationship satisfaction tends to be higher in couples who have sex regularly, though it can also lead to longer relationships.
One study found that frequent sex is linked to marital quality and less relationship strain, though more for men than women.
