Benefits of Sexual Expression

While growing up many of us were told that sex was something we should stay away from — or at least not talk about! Sensuality is an innate part of our being. Sexual pleasure comes with many emotional and physical health benefits. In 1994, the 14th World Congress of Sexology went forward with that and adopted the Declaration of Sexual Rights. This document of “fundamental and universal human rights” included the right to sexual pleasure. This international gathering of sexuality scientists declared, “Sexual pleasure, including autoeroticism, is a source of physical, psychological, intellectual and spiritual well-being”.
Most of us know that sexual activity can be a gateway to deep pleasure, intimacy, and in some cases, shared ecstasy. But regular safe and loving sexual activity can also help foster peak mental and physical health, while helping calm your soul. Unfortunately, in today’s society the attention on sex is always pointed at the risks and dangers. Public information is limited when it comes to the physiological and psychosocial health benefits of sexual expression. The discussion are absent about how pioneering researchers have found that there are various benefits associated with sexual expression; physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions.
There have been many studies conducted that were focused on the relationship between sexual activity and physical health. These studies have found that both masturbation and partnered sexual activity can benefit our well-being: happiness, immunity, longevity, pain management and sexual and reproductive health. There has even been evidence that sexual activity can be attributed to the reduction in two leading causes of death in the United States – heart disease and cancer.
A study done in Wales with a 10 year follow-up examined the relationship between the frequency of orgasm and mortality. From 1979 to 1983, almost 1,000 men between the ages of 45 to 59 were observed. The men were given a physical examination that included their medical histories, blood pressure, electrocardiogram and cholesterol screenings. Information about the frequency of their orgasms was also recorded. After 10 years, the researchers found that the mortality risk was 50 percent lower among the men who had orgasm more frequently (two or more a week) than the men who had orgasms less than once a month. Even when the factors were controlled (age, social class and smoking status), there was a significant relationship between the frequency of orgasm and the risk of death. The researchers concluded that “sexual activity seems to have a protective effect on men’s health”.
Another research program was conducted in North Carolina over a period of 25 years to determine what circumstances come into play in determining lifespan. Three of the considerations were the frequency of sexual intercourse and the levels of enjoyment from past and present sexual intercourse. In the men studied, the frequency of intercourse was indicative of longevity. For women, however, the frequency of intercourse was not a significant predictor. Women were found to have increased longevity based on their past enjoyment of sex. Even though there was no explanation associated with this study, it does imply that there is a positive association between sexual intercourse and pleasure and longevity. An interesting survey was conducted in early 1980’s regarding longevity among America’s elderly population. More than 800 adults over the age of 60 were studied and 92.7 percent of the men and 70.4 percent of the women were still sexually active. Seventy-five percent of the participants believed that their continued sexual activity was a positive force with regard to their current health status.
Research has also looked at the relationship between physical health and sex – focusing on heart disease, stroke and Type-2 Diabetes. A research study known as the Caerphilly study reviewed the relationship between sexual activity and suffering with heart disease or stroke. The research found that frequent sex (twice or more times a week) had a direct effect on the lower incidence of fatal coronary events. Ten years after the original data was collected, those who reported a low frequency of sexual intercourse (once a month) had rates twice as high as those that had more frequent sexual experiences.
Using a similar method, research also found that frequent sex did not increase the risk for stroke. This was an important finding as society has had a belief that frequent sexual intercourse can cause a stroke. Medical research in middle-aged men has also found that there is a relationship between the level of the hormone dehydroepiandrostone (DHEA) which is released with orgasm, reduced the risk of heart disease. Testosterone, which the hormone important for the sex drive in men and women, has also been found to reduce the risk of heart attacks and harm to the coronary muscles if a heart attack has occurred.
As for Type-2 Diabetes, sexual activity has been found to help prevent common adult-onset cardiovascular and endocrine diseases like type-2 diabetes. Periodic vaginal intercourse, infrequent masturbation and a small degree of noncoital partnered sexual activity has been found to directly be related to a decreased hip and waist circumference in both men and women. For women, both a larger waist size and a higher waist-hip ratio have been attributed to coronary heart disease. In men, a larger waist size is considered to be the most “anthropometric” measure of coronary heart disease. Both sexes were found to be more susceptible to type-2 diabetes based on an increased waist circumference.
Important for women is the risk of breast cancer. Researchers believe that sexual activity may lead to a decreased risk of cancer due to the increase in level of oxytocin and DHEA – both of which are associated with arousal and orgasm. In France, there was a case-control study done in 1989 that found increased sexual activity was directly associated with a reduced incidence of breast cancer among childless women. The study looked at 51 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer less than three month before the interview. There was a higher risk of breast cancer attributed to the lack of a sexual partner and seldom sexual intercourse (less than once a month). Remarkably, there has been finding that the exposure to sperm is believed to provide a protective effect against breast cancer. A fetal antigen hypothesis proposed that a fetus inherits breast cancer genes from the male partner. These genes indirectly provide a protective effect to the mother through an immune response. The study evaluated this hypothesis and found that a woman’s lifetime risk decreased as the number of male sex partners increased. This finding led to further speculation that this immune response may actually be a result of sperm antigens along with fetal antigens.
There are many general physical well-being benefits to frequent sexual activity. One is that further research has shown that sexual activity and orgasm can actually increase the immune system in women and men. In 1999, a study was done of 112 college student in the United States. Their immunoglobin A (IgA) - vital to the immune system’s response to viral infection - was examined. The study found that the student who had sexual intercourse once or twice a week had IgA levels that were 30 percent higher than those who refrained from sex. Second, sexual release actually helps people go to sleep. Orgasm causes a surge in oxytocin and endorphins that are thought to act as a sedative. One study done saw that 32 percent of almost 2,000 women who reported masturbating in the previous three months did so to help them fall asleep. Third, is the effect of sex on youthfulness. Over a 10 year span, a study was conducted of more than 3,500 European and American men and women who exhibited a youthful appearance. The men and women whose age was underestimated by seven to twelve years had one of the strongest correlations between their youthful appearance and an active sex life. They actually reported engaging in sexual intercourse three times a week in comparison to the control group’s average of twice a week.
The sexual and reproductive health of women and men is directly influenced by their sexual experiences. A 2002 retrospective case-control study of 2,012 U.S. women reviewed the relationship between sexual behavior and orgasm and the incidence of endometriosis. Researchers found that women who did not develop endometriosis were more likely to report having engaged frequently in sexual behavior during menstruation than those women who developed endometriosis. They were also more likely to report having experienced orgasm during menstruation. The researchers concluded that sexual activity and orgasm during menstruation has a potentially protective effect against endometriosis.
Frequent sexual activity and excitement may also enhance fertility. Studies of menstrual cycle variability and frequency of intercourse have demonstrated that regular intimate sexual activity with a partner promotes fertility by regulating menstrual patterns.
Having sexual intercourse four or more times a week gives an 80 percent chance of conceiving within six months. Sperm can also be affected by the frequency of sexual activity. Studies have shown that the quality of sperm motility and morphology decreases with abstinence — in healthy men these declines can take effect after only being sexually inactive for five days. Research has found that men with certain conditions that cause infertility may actually increase their sperm count through repeated ejaculation within a range of four-24 hours — some by more than 200 percent. Increased excitement in men during sexual intercourse and masturbation has also been shown to improve the quality of sperm.
Much of the publicized research about the impact of sexual activity on emotional health looks at the potential hazards of sex, such as abuse and sexual dysfunction. There is a growing body of research, however, demonstrating that sexual expression may have health benefits for improving quality of life and self-esteem and for reducing stress, depression, and suicide.
Sexual experience and satisfaction are closely interrelated with overall quality of life. A 2002 analysis of the sex practices of adults in mid-life found that sexual satisfaction was a strong predictor in reports of higher quality of life. Also, current sexual activity levels were found to be directly related to previous experience - people who had frequent and enjoyable sex during midlife reported more active and satisfying sex lives during their later years. The analysis suggests that sexual activity may be an indicator of current and future quality of life. During a study of mood, sexuality and the menstrual cycle of more than 4,000 American women found strong associations between sexual interest and sense of well-being. Although a causal relationship has yet to be demonstrated, a U.S. survey of nearly 3,500 women and men showed that personal happiness is associated with the frequency of sexual activity and orgasm — especially among women. There is an agreement found while surveying 500 American adults that sexual health is highly important. Eighty-four percent of married women and 91 percent of married men believe a satisfying sex life is important to their individual lives and their relationships. Nearly 100 percent of those surveyed believed that sexual enjoyment improves one’s quality of life at any age.
Our mental health is also greatly affected by sexual activity. A 1994 study of psychiatric patients in the Netherlands found that having sexual intercourse decreased the need for psychiatric medications. Also, a Canadian study examined the relationship between sexuality and mental health. An anonymous questionnaire was given to 75 men between the ages of 18 and 27. The information gathered was about sexual orientation and sex practices. Models implemented to measure mental health, depression, and suicidal tendencies. The research found that abstinence and celibacy was directly related to high scores on depression and suicide for self-identified homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual men. A study of nearly 300 sexually active college women found that exposure to semen — having sexual intercourse without a condom — was associated with lower levels of depression and fewer suicide attempts as compared to women who occasionally used condoms, women who always used condoms, and women who abstained from intercourse.
Can sex calm the wild beast? According to scientists studying the human and animal world over the last thirty years, it has been found that sexual pleasure and a violent disposition have a reciprocal relationship – the presence of one inhibits the other. Research done in 2005 found that 67 percent of 24 cultures that accepted premarital sex were considered to be nonviolent, while 73 percent of 11 cultures that did not approve of premarital relationships experienced high levels of violence. A stronger reciprocal relationship was seen when levels of cultural acceptance of extramarital relationships were compared — 74 percent of 19 cultures that permitted these relationships were nonviolent, while 78 percent of 23 cultures that did not experienced high levels of violence.
This decrease in violent tendencies might have something to do with the findings that sexual activity and orgasm have been shown to reduce stress. This is likely due to the surge in oxytocin that accompanies orgasm. For example, low levels of oxytocin are correlated with higher incidence of anxiety disorders. Further, increased levels of oxytocin have been shown to reduce stress and alter an individual 's response to stress. Orgasm relieves tension as oxytocin stimulates feelings of warmth and relaxation. One study of 2,632 U.S. women found that 39 percent of those who masturbated reported doing so to relax.
The social health benefits of sexual expression have been long recognized. Recent studies have shown that the expression of sexual desire is the basic ingredient in relationships which are an essential social unit of all kinship structures, cultures, and societies. Hormone levels, especially T-levels, play an important role in “pair-bonding”. A study of Harvard Business School graduate students found that T-levels were much lower in men who were in a relationship than in single men. This lowered T-level may be one of the reasons why being in a relationship is attributed with reduced morbidity and mortality rates.
Sexual satisfaction is also related to the stability of relationships. One study believed that early (less than 15 years old) pre-coital sex may be associated with the rapid development of long-term relationships. Masturbation has been found to not only improve individual sexual satisfaction but it also may be associated with improved relationship satisfaction. In these many interwoven ways, satisfying sexual expression has demonstrated benefits essential to social health.
The most current research in sexuality remains quite focused on the potential negative outcomes of sexual expression. The full scope of the health benefits of sexual expression can only be understood if research stops focusing on the negatives like dysfunction, disease, and unwanted pregnancy. Unfortunately, America’s current view revolves around abstinence-until-marriage and the politics back those views so the funding to explore the benefits is limited. Given the melting pot of attitudes, beliefs, values, and opinions that is the United States, finding middle ground might be difficult but it is not impossible. We need to start a nation dialogue that is honest, open and respectful. We need to appreciate the diversity that makes us the country we are while embracing the science that is available to us so we can reap the rewards of good sex!

REFERENCES
Gianotten, W.L. & Golub, D. (1997). “The Health Benefits of Sexual Expression”. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/research-papers/health-benefits-sexual-expression-26783.htm

Hitti, M. (2007). “Estrogen May Cut Breast Cancer”. WebMD Health News. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20070320/plant-estrogen-may-cut-breast-cancer?src=RSS_BLOGGER

Davey Smith, G., Frankel, S. & Yarnell, J. (1997) “Sex and Death: Are They Related? Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study.” British Medical Journal, 315, 1641–4. Retrieved on May 7, 2009 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9448525

McHugh, B. (2006). “Sex and Stress”. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://mental-health.families.com/blog/sex-and-stress

Stritof, S. (n.d.) “Frequent Sex in Marriage – Emotional and Physical Benefits”. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://marriage.about.com/cs/sex/a/sexfrequency.htm?terms=benefits+of+physical+fitness

Titus, C., (n.d.) “What Are the Health Benefits of Sex?”. Ehow. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5011774_what-health-benefits-sex.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Weiss, P. (2009). “An Orgasm A Day Keeps the Doctor Away.” Men’s Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.mensjournal.com/3-orgasms

References: Gianotten, W.L. & Golub, D. (1997). “The Health Benefits of Sexual Expression”. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.plannedparenthood.org/resources/research-papers/health-benefits-sexual-expression-26783.htm Hitti, M. (2007). “Estrogen May Cut Breast Cancer”. WebMD Health News. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20070320/plant-estrogen-may-cut-breast-cancer?src=RSS_BLOGGER Davey Smith, G., Frankel, S. & Yarnell, J. (1997) “Sex and Death:  Are They Related?  Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study.”  British Medical Journal, 315, 1641–4. Retrieved on May 7, 2009 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9448525 McHugh, B. (2006). “Sex and Stress”. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://mental-health.families.com/blog/sex-and-stress Stritof, S. (n.d.) “Frequent Sex in Marriage – Emotional and Physical Benefits”. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://marriage.about.com/cs/sex/a/sexfrequency.htm?terms=benefits+of+physical+fitness Titus, C., (n.d.) “What Are the Health Benefits of Sex?”. Ehow. Retrieved May 7, 2009 from http://www.ehow.com/facts_5011774_what-health-benefits-sex.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art Weiss, P. (2009). “An Orgasm A Day Keeps the Doctor Away.” Men’s Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from http://www.mensjournal.com/3-orgasms