Sexnot only feels good. It can also be good for you. Here’s what a healthysexlife can do for you.
1. Helps Keep Your Immune System Humming
“Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD asexual healthexpert.
People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often.
You should still do all the other things that make your immune system happy, such as:
Use acondomif you don’t know both of yourSTDstatuses.
2. Boosts Your Libido
Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve yourlibido,” says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication,bloodflow, and elasticity, she says, all of which make sex feel better and help you crave more of it.
3. Improves Women's Bladder Control
A strong pelvic floor is important for avoidingincontinence, something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives.
Good sex is like aworkoutfor your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causescontractionsin those muscles, which strengthens them.
4. Lowers Your Blood Pressure
Research suggests a link between sex and lowerblood pressure, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and medical director of Amai Wellness.
“There have been many studies,” he says. “One landmark study found that sexual intercourse specifically (notmasturbation) lowered systolic blood pressure.” That's the first number on your blood pressure test.
5. Counts as Exercise
“Sex is a really great form ofexercise,” Pinzone says. It won’t replace the treadmill, but it counts for something.
Sex uses about five calories per minute, four more calories than watching TV. It gives you a one-two punch: It bumps up yourheart rateand uses various muscles.
So get busy! You may even want to clear your schedule to make time for it on a regular basis. “Like with exercise, consistency helps maximize the benefits,” Pinzone says.
6. Lowers Heart Attack Risk
A good sex life is good for yourheart. Besides being a great way to raise your heart rate, sex helps keep yourestrogenandtestosteronelevels in balance.
“When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, likeosteoporosisand evenheart disease,” Pinzone says.
Having sex more often may help. During one study, men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die ofheart diseaseas men who had sex rarely.
7. Lessens Pain
Before you reach for anaspirin, try for an orgasm.
“Orgasm can block pain,” says Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, a distinguished service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It releases a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold.
Stimulation without orgasm can also do the trick. “We’ve found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back andleg pain, and many women have told us that genital self-stimulation can reduce menstrualcramps, arthritic pain, and in some cases evenheadache,” Komisaruk says.
Men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to getprostate cancerduring one study, which was published in theJournal of the American Medical Association.
You don’t need a partner to reap this benefit: Sexual intercourse, nocturnal emission, and masturbation were all part of the equation.
It's not clear that sex was the only reason that mattered in that study. Lots of factors affectcancerrisk. But more sex won’t hurt.
9. Improves Sleep
You may nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason.
“After orgasm, the hormoneprolactinis released, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness" after sex, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is apsychiatristin West Hollywood, Calif.
Sexnot only feels good. It can also be good for you. Here’s what a healthysexlife can do for you.
1. Helps Keep Your Immune System Humming
“Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” says Yvonne K. Fulbright, PhD asexual healthexpert.
People who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses, and other intruders. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often.
You should still do all the other things that make your immune system happy, such as:
Use acondomif you don’t know both of yourSTDstatuses.
2. Boosts Your Libido
Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve yourlibido,” says Lauren Streicher, MD. She is an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication,bloodflow, and elasticity, she says, all of which make sex feel better and help you crave more of it.
3. Improves Women's Bladder Control
A strong pelvic floor is important for avoidingincontinence, something that will affect about 30% of women at some point in their lives.
Good sex is like aworkoutfor your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causescontractionsin those muscles, which strengthens them.
4. Lowers Your Blood Pressure
Research suggests a link between sex and lowerblood pressure, says Joseph J. Pinzone, MD. He is CEO and medical director of Amai Wellness.
“There have been many studies,” he says. “One landmark study found that sexual intercourse specifically (notmasturbation) lowered systolic blood pressure.” That's the first number on your blood pressure test.
5. Counts as Exercise
“Sex is a really great form ofexercise,” Pinzone says. It won’t replace the treadmill, but it counts for something.
Sex uses about five calories per minute, four more calories than watching TV. It gives you a one-two punch: It bumps up yourheart rateand uses various muscles.
So get busy! You may even want to clear your schedule to make time for it on a regular basis. “Like with exercise, consistency helps maximize the benefits,” Pinzone says.
6. Lowers Heart Attack Risk
A good sex life is good for yourheart. Besides being a great way to raise your heart rate, sex helps keep yourestrogenandtestosteronelevels in balance.
“When either one of those is low you begin to get lots of problems, likeosteoporosisand evenheart disease,” Pinzone says.
Having sex more often may help. During one study, men who had sex at least twice a week were half as likely to die ofheart diseaseas men who had sex rarely.
7. Lessens Pain
Before you reach for anaspirin, try for an orgasm.
“Orgasm can block pain,” says Barry R. Komisaruk, PhD, a distinguished service professor at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. It releases a hormone that helps raise your pain threshold.
Stimulation without orgasm can also do the trick. “We’ve found that vaginal stimulation can block chronic back andleg pain, and many women have told us that genital self-stimulation can reduce menstrualcramps, arthritic pain, and in some cases evenheadache,” Komisaruk says.
Men who ejaculated frequently (at least 21 times a month) were less likely to getprostate cancerduring one study, which was published in theJournal of the American Medical Association.
You don’t need a partner to reap this benefit: Sexual intercourse, nocturnal emission, and masturbation were all part of the equation.
It's not clear that sex was the only reason that mattered in that study. Lots of factors affectcancerrisk. But more sex won’t hurt.
9. Improves Sleep
You may nod off more quickly after sex, and for good reason.
“After orgasm, the hormoneprolactinis released, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness" after sex, says Sheenie Ambardar, MD. She is apsychiatristin West Hollywood, Calif.
Mr Dastyari said his Senate presence had become a distraction, but rejected ever abusing his "parliamentary oath".
"I have been guided by my Labor values, which tell me that I should leave if my ongoing presence detracts from the pursuit of Labor's mission," he said on Tuesday.
"It is evident to me we are at that point, so I will spare the party any further distraction."
Mr Dastyari had twice stood down from opposition leadership positions over his dealings with billionaire Huang Xiangmo.
He quit as deputy whip last month after a recording showed him making pro-Beijing remarks over the South China Sea dispute - in defiance of Labor policy.
It followed an allegation, published by Fairfax Media, that Mr Dastyari had warned Mr Huang that he was potentially under surveillance. Mr Dastyari denied passing on classified information, but said he had "put to Mr Huang gossip being spread by journalists".
Mr Dastyari said his Senate presence had become a distraction, but rejected ever abusing his "parliamentary oath".
"I have been guided by my Labor values, which tell me that I should leave if my ongoing presence detracts from the pursuit of Labor's mission," he said on Tuesday.
"It is evident to me we are at that point, so I will spare the party any further distraction."
Mr Dastyari had twice stood down from opposition leadership positions over his dealings with billionaire Huang Xiangmo.
He quit as deputy whip last month after a recording showed him making pro-Beijing remarks over the South China Sea dispute - in defiance of Labor policy.
It followed an allegation, published by Fairfax Media, that Mr Dastyari had warned Mr Huang that he was potentially under surveillance. Mr Dastyari denied passing on classified information, but said he had "put to Mr Huang gossip being spread by journalists".
Image captionMr Putin announced the move at the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria
Russia has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Syria, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.
President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.
Russian support has been crucial in turning the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of government forces, led by president Bashar al-Assad.
Mr Putin made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.
When asked how long it would take for Russia to withdraw its military contingent, Mr Shoigu said that this would "depend on the situation" in Syria.
The Russian president was met by Mr al-Assad at the Russian Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.
Mr Putin said: "I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.
"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he added.
Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not.
Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters.
Electoral concerns apart, Moscow views its two-year campaign in Syria as a success - and not only in terms of fighting international terrorism.
The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally, President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East.
Then there's the global stage. The operation in Syria prevented Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 had sparked Western sanctions and earned the country, in the eyes of some Western governments, the label "pariah state". The Syria operation forced Western leaders to sit down and negotiate with Russia's leadership.
Mr Putin said that if "terrorists raise their heads again", Russia would "carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen".
"We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia," he said.
He told President Assad that Russia wanted to work with Iran, the government's other key ally, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, to help bring peace to Syria.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionRussia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September 2015
Last week, Mr Putin announced the "total rout" of jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) along the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria.
Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in September 2015 with the aim of "stabilising" Mr Assad's government after a series of defeats.
Officials in Moscow stressed that it would target only "terrorists", but activists said its strikes mainly hit mainstream rebel fighters and civilians.
The campaign has allowed pro-government forces to break the deadlock on several key battlefronts, most notably in Aleppo.
The Syrian and Russian air forces carried out daily air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city before it fell in December 2016, killing hundreds of people and destroying hospitals, schools and markets, according to UN human rights investigators.
Moscow has consistently denied that its air strikes have caused any civilian deaths.
Image captionMr Putin announced the move at the Russian Hmeimim airbase in Syria
Russia has begun withdrawing some of its troops from Syria, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.
President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.
Russian support has been crucial in turning the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of government forces, led by president Bashar al-Assad.
Mr Putin made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.
When asked how long it would take for Russia to withdraw its military contingent, Mr Shoigu said that this would "depend on the situation" in Syria.
The Russian president was met by Mr al-Assad at the Russian Hmeimim airbase near Latakia.
Mr Putin said: "I order the defence minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.
"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he added.
Less than a week after announcing he will stand for re-election, Vladimir Putin flies to Syria and declares victory. Coincidence? Probably not.
Signalling the end of Russia's military operation in Syria will go down well with Russian voters.
Electoral concerns apart, Moscow views its two-year campaign in Syria as a success - and not only in terms of fighting international terrorism.
The Russians have succeeded in keeping a key ally, President Assad, in power. In the process, Russia has been guaranteed a long-term military presence in Syria, with its two bases Hmeimim and Tartus. Moscow has also raised its profile across the Middle East.
Then there's the global stage. The operation in Syria prevented Moscow's international isolation.
Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 had sparked Western sanctions and earned the country, in the eyes of some Western governments, the label "pariah state". The Syria operation forced Western leaders to sit down and negotiate with Russia's leadership.
Mr Putin said that if "terrorists raise their heads again", Russia would "carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen".
"We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia," he said.
He told President Assad that Russia wanted to work with Iran, the government's other key ally, and Turkey, which backs the opposition, to help bring peace to Syria.
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionRussia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September 2015
Last week, Mr Putin announced the "total rout" of jihadist militants from so-called Islamic State (IS) along the Euphrates river valley in eastern Syria.
Russia launched an air campaign in Syria in September 2015 with the aim of "stabilising" Mr Assad's government after a series of defeats.
Officials in Moscow stressed that it would target only "terrorists", but activists said its strikes mainly hit mainstream rebel fighters and civilians.
The campaign has allowed pro-government forces to break the deadlock on several key battlefronts, most notably in Aleppo.
The Syrian and Russian air forces carried out daily air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city before it fell in December 2016, killing hundreds of people and destroying hospitals, schools and markets, according to UN human rights investigators.
Moscow has consistently denied that its air strikes have caused any civilian deaths.