10 Reasons to Have Sex Tonight

 1. It feels good
Surprise! Most people in heterosexual relationships find sex 'very or extremely pleasurable', reports The Australian Study of Health and Relationships. A satisfied 79 per cent of women and 90 per cent of men agree on this. Aussies in heterosexual relationships for 12 months or longer have sex an average of 1.8 times a week, but most of us report wanting still more time between the sheets (awake, that is!). The majority of survey respondents also find significant emotional satisfaction in sex, with statistics revealing the better the action, the bigger the psychological pay-off.
2. It counts as exercise
A racing pulse, heavy breathing and flooding endorphins: sex sounds just like exercise, and in one sense it is. Half an hour of intense ardour can burn as many kilojoules as seven minutes on an exercise bike does. But most of us don’t have sex for 30 breathless minutes. A US study says that sex therapists found seven to 13 minutes to be the ‘most desirable’ stint for penetrative sex, and three to seven minutes to be ‘adequate’ for sexual satisfaction—more like a healthy sprint, perhaps.
3. It helps you live longer
Studies suggest the more sex you have, the less likely you are to die prematurely. A major study of Welsh men found that those who reported at least two orgasms a week had less than half the risk of dying from various causes over the next decade compared with those who had orgasms less often. The caveat is that the sex must be part of a secure, loving relationship for you to reap the health benefits.
4. It improves sleep
To achieve orgasm, it’s necessary to let go of anxiety and fear—to relax—studies show. During orgasm, our bodies release the hormone oxytocin, reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation and sleepiness. At the same time, the body releases the hormone prolactin which, for men, correlates with feeling sexually satisfied and sleepy. (It’s prolactin that has to filter out of a man’s system before he can go again.)
5. It eases pain
We should reframe the old saying “Not tonight, dear; I have a headache” as “Yes! Tonight, dear! I have a headache!” Oxytocin is such an effective pain reliever that women’s pain thresholds more than double during orgasm. This also means the euphoria-inducing powers of endorphins can blur the pain of a sore back or an aching hip.
6. It boosts immunity
Healthier people have more frequent sex, and it looks as though the reverse may also be true: sexed-up people are also healthier. One of the bonuses of ‘getting busy’ is an increase in your body’s levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), one of the body’s first lines of defence against colds and influenza. So, use this coming flu season as your cue to add regular sex to your usual protective arsenal. Making love once or twice a week raises levels of the antigen by 30 per cent, say experts.
7. It increases immunity
Oxytocin is called the ‘love drug’ because it brings people together. Mothers release the hormone while breastfeeding, which strengthens their emotional bond with their babies. Oxytocin promotes feelings of nurturing and caring, dampening aggression. Women’s bodies release this potent peacemaker as soon as they feel a sexual attraction, and men release it when they climax. In addition, endorphins the body releases during sex induce not just euphoria, but also a sense of relaxed wellbeing. Under the loving, bonding influence of oxytocin (and with a deep sense of relaxation and happiness thanks to endorphins), couples feel more intimately connected.
8. It enhances mood
The mood-lifting, stress-reducing effects of oxytocin and endorphins are the standard answers to why making whoopee makes you feel good. The left-field theory is that semen itself may be an antidepressant. It sounds like something a lads’ mag may have invented, but Gordon Gallup, PhD, a psychologist at The State University of New York, has found that women who don’t use condoms score lower (better!) on a depression index than women who do. He also found that women who usually have sex without condoms become increasingly depressed as more time elapses since their last sexual encounter. This was not the case for women who used condoms. Semen contains substances including testosterone, oestrogen, prolactin, luteinising hormone and prostaglandins—all of which elevate mood. Scientists believe that these hormones are absorbed through the vaginal wall and into women’s bloodstreams after sex. Gallup also noted that women who weren’t having sex at all scored worst on the depression index.
9. It makes you look younger
Good sex puts a smile on your face, and that’s not even the full extent of its beautifying powers. Couples who have sex at least four times a week look more than 10 years younger than the average adult (who makes love twice a week), according to neuropsychologist David Weeks, PhD. Weeks thinks the ‘youth effect’ is about stress reduction, better sleep and greater contentment. It’s also clear that loved-up people make an effort to look good and stay fit for their lovers.
10. It keeps you attracted to each other
The less sex you have, the less sex you want. This downward spiral is a result of the various love potions our bodies make in response to our neglecting to ‘top up’ our lovemaking. For example, testosterone, which experts believe increases sexual desire in both men and women, is one of the hormones our bodies release during sex. Oxytocin also plays a role: experiments suggest it prevents you from becoming immune to the charms of your loved one, allowing you to continually experience the best in your lover. If this is true, the key to long-lasting love is sex. Try it!
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