{"id":381,"date":"2015-12-27T12:05:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-27T12:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/?p=381"},"modified":"2018-06-18T12:33:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T12:33:15","slug":"the-science-of-sex-experts-reveal-why-love-hurts-how-sex-helps-us-live-longer-and-why-its-so-important-to-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/the-science-of-sex-experts-reveal-why-love-hurts-how-sex-helps-us-live-longer-and-why-its-so-important-to-kiss\/","title":{"rendered":"The science of sex: Experts reveal why love hurts, how sex helps us live longer &#8211; and why it&#8217;s so important to kiss"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Oxytocin is released during orgasm which makes us trust people &#8211; but it also means we feel miserable when a short-term relationship ends<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Kissing raises levels of pleasure hormones and so can improve sex<\/strong><strong>\u00a0later<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Sex can protect against heart disease, dementia, and osteoporosis<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>It can even improve vision by relaxing the eye, neck and shoulder muscles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/131122232657-sex-couple-feet-bed-medium-plus-169.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-673\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/131122232657-sex-couple-feet-bed-medium-plus-169-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/131122232657-sex-couple-feet-bed-medium-plus-169-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/131122232657-sex-couple-feet-bed-medium-plus-169.jpg 307w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Whether you call it sex, intercourse or making love, we all know what happens when we slip between the sheets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But how does the act of coitus change our brains and bodies? And why does it hurt so much when we are rejected after a fling?<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The act of sex sets off a cascade of hormones, which trigger pleasure, happiness, and bonding, scientists reveal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A plethora of studies now show\u00a0intercourse is good for our health, from protecting against heart disease and osteoporosis\u00a0to staving off dementia and improving mood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Below, they describe exactly how sex can help us live longer, and why sexual rejection breaks our hearts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_664\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-664\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-664 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699-621x420.jpg 621w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699-443x300.jpg 443w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19400000578-3369077-image-a-8_1450957840699.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-664\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The act of sex sets off a cascade of hormones, which trigger pleasure, happiness, and bonding (file photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-1\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-weight: bold;\">WHY LOVE HURTS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A key hormone released during sex is oxytocin, also known as the \u2018cuddle hormone\u2019. This lowers our defenses and makes us trust people more, says Dr. Arun Ghosh, a GP specializing in sexual health at the Spire Liverpool Hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">It\u2019s also the key to bonding, as it increases levels of empathy. Women produce more of this hormone, although it\u2019s not clear why, and this means they are more likely to let their guard down and fall in love with a man after sex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, the problem is that the body can\u2019t distinguish whether the person we\u2019re with is a casual fling or marriage material \u2014 oxytocin is released either way. So while it might help you bond with the love of your life, it\u2019s also the reason you may feel so miserable when a short-term relationship ends.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Men, on the other hand, instead of getting a surge of bonding hormone receives a surge of simple pleasure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018The problem is that when a man has an orgasm, the main hormone released is dopamine \u2014 the pleasure hormone. And this surge can be addictive,\u2019 says Dr. Ghosh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">That\u2019s why so many more men tend to suffer from sex addiction.<\/p>\n<p><strong>STAVING OFF DEMENTIA<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"ext-gen100\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Many of us are all too aware that our brain cells decline with age. In fact, it\u2019s said we lose 7,000 brain cells a day by the time we\u2019re 35, which makes the\u00a0rather depressing reading.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The good news, however, is that having regular sex may help us grow new brain cells, according to scientists from Princeton University in the United States.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">And the more sex you have, the more cells you can grow, it seems. Animal studies, published in the journal PLoS ONE, suggest that sex stimulates the growth of brain cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Factors such as stress and depression have been shown to shrink the hippocampus, yet exercise and sex counteract this effect.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Furthermore, sex could actually be protecting our brain cells against decline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018There is some evidence that older people who are sexually active are less likely to have dementia and this could be for a variety of complex reasons,\u2019 says Dr Ghosh.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_665\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-665\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-665 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118-300x256.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118-491x420.jpg 491w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118-351x300.jpg 351w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18D00000578-3369077-Older_people_who_are_sexually_active_are_less_likely_to_have_dem-a-19_1450958282118.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-665\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Older people who are sexually active are less likely to have dementia, said GP Dr Arun Ghosh. One study found\u00a0having regular sex may help us grow new brain cells. Pictured are brain scans of dementia patients<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Sex causes increased blood flow to the brain, which improves oxygen levels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018MRI scans have shown that during orgasm the neurons in the brain are more active and use more oxygen,\u2019 explains Barry Komisaruk, professor of psychology at Rutgers University and a leading authority on sex and neuroscience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018It appears that the more active the neurons, the more oxygen they withdraw from the blood \u2014 so more oxygenated blood is supplied to the region, delivering a fresh supply of nutrients.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But as well as boosting brain cells, sex could also sharpen a woman\u2019s mind, says Dr Ghosh. That\u2019s due to a surge in sex hormones, particularly testosterone, which can help improve concentration and reaction times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><strong><span class=\"mol-style-large health-ccox\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">SMOOCHING MEANS BETTER SEX<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The lips are packed with nerve endings \u2014 100 times more than the fingertips.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">As a result, kissing kick-starts multiple mechanisms in the brain, releasing chemicals that lower stress and boost mood, says Dr. Ghosh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018You\u2019ll have much better sex if you kiss before intercourse,\u2019 says Dr. Ghosh.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mol-img-group floatRHS\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_666\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-666\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A100000578-3369077-image-a-11_1450957851698.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-666 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A100000578-3369077-image-a-11_1450957851698-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A100000578-3369077-image-a-11_1450957851698-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A100000578-3369077-image-a-11_1450957851698.jpg 306w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-666\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kissing kick-starts multiple mechanisms in the brain, releasing chemicals that lower stress and boost mood &#8211; and improving sex, Dr. Ghosh said<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-3\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\">It increases levels of the pleasure hormones and will make you a lot more receptive to what happens later.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018That\u2019s why loving sex can be more satisfying than a quickie \u2014 and that endorphin hit from dopamine is especially important for women.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-large health-ccox\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">A NATURAL PAINKILLER<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Orgasm (rather than sex) can block pain signals, says Professor Komisaruk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Research using laboratory animals and humans has found that orgasm can inhibit the release of pain transmitters from the spinal cord so they can\u2019t reach the neurons in the brain that respond to pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In fact, he says, it can raise the pain threshold so much that the equivalent effect in morphine is three times the usual pain-relieving dose.<\/p>\n<h2>MIND POWER<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A lot of sexual health research focuses on what\u2019s happening physically.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But experts say that for many people \u2014 especially women \u2014 the mind plays a key role in achieving orgasm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">While male brains tend to focus on the physical stimulation involved in sexual contact, the key to female arousal seems to be deep relaxation and a lack of anxiety.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The scans show that, during sex, the parts of the female brain responsible for processing fear, anxiety, and emotion start to relax more and more, reaching a peak at orgasm, when the female brain\u2019s anxiety and emotion are effectively closed down.<\/p>\n<h2>THE ULTIMATE HAPPY PILL<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018There is a known circuit in the brain that\u2019s involved in feeling happy,\u2019 explains Paul Thompson, professor of neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in brain imaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018This is called the limbic region, which is deep in the brain, and it\u2019s more active when we\u2019re rewarded. The same system is activated by sex, drugs, gambling \u2014 basically anything we enjoy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018There\u2019s more blood flow to the head, more neurons firing, more brain activity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Much of this deep brain circuit runs on the hormone dopamine. Anything pleasurable tends to cause these brain cells to exude more of it and this makes them fire faster.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Without a\u00a0doubt, sex has not only physical but psychological and social benefits, too,\u2019 says Dr. Ghosh.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_667\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-667\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-667 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772-631x420.jpg 631w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772-451x300.jpg 451w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E19D00000578-3369077-image-a-13_1450958097772.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-667\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">After orgasm, a hormone called oxytocin is released which helps people bond and trust each other. But it is also the reason why people feel so miserable when a short-term relationship ends (file photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-4\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\">\u2018The endorphins released during sex can really help treat depression and clear the mind.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018One is serotonin, also called the happy hormone, which creates a sense of bliss. People often say that sex is the last thing they feel like doing when they\u2019re depressed, but do try it if you can.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018And don\u2019t worry if you get emotional afterward\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s very common to end up crying after sex. This is caused by a combination of endorphins being released and heightened emotions.\u2019<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #33cccc;\">BETTER SLEEP<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">If you\u2019re struggling to nod off, it\u2019s better to have sex than take a sleeping pill, says Dr Ghosh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018In fact, it\u2019s more beneficial to have sex in the evening rather than the morning because the body wants to be relaxed afterward, not get up and go to work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018By having sex at the end of the day you\u2019ll reap more of the stress-relieving benefits. For a man, a powerful orgasm is an\u00a0equivalent of having on average a 2-3mg shot of diazepam (or Valium).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018That\u2019s why so many men nod off afterward\u00a0\u2014 there really is a biological reason for this.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_668\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-668\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-668 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769-300x250.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769-503x420.jpg 503w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769-360x300.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/25FDF21700000578-3369077-image-m-20_1450958358769.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you\u2019re struggling to nod off, it\u2019s better to have sex than take a sleeping pill, Dr. Ghosh said.\u00a0For a man, a powerful orgasm is an\u00a0equivalent of having on average a 2-3mg shot of diazepam (or Valium)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-5\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-weight: bold;\">IT\u2019S A GOOD WAY TO TEST YOUR EYES<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sex relaxes the muscles and alleviates neck and shoulder tension, says Dr. Arun Ghosh, a GP specializing in sexual health at the Spire Liverpool Hospital. And surprisingly, it might also tell you whether you need glasses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I\u2019ve had patients complain of poor vision after sex. What\u2019s happened is that, like all the other muscles in the body, their eye muscles have relaxed and are performing at their true ability, rather than straining and squinting as they would normally.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">So if your sight goes blurry after sex, it\u2019s worth going for an eye test.<\/p>\n<h2>IT PROTECTS AGAINST HEART DISEASE<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sex can have a protective effect on the heart. A study at Queen\u2019s University in Belfast found that having sex three times a week could halve the risk of heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Another study in Israel found that women who had two orgasms a week were up to 30 percent less likely to have heart disease than those who didn\u2019t enjoy sex or didn\u2019t orgasm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Dr. Lisa Turner, a sex and relationship therapist, says: \u2018One theory is that these women may have felt depressed, which has been linked with an increased risk of a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The endorphins released during sex also neutralize the stress hormones in the body, which are linked to heart disease.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_669\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-669\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-669 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743-631x420.jpg 631w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743-451x300.jpg 451w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E1A500000578-3369077-image-a-14_1450958139743.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-669\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A study at Queen\u2019s University in Belfast found that having sex three times a week could halve the risk of heart attack or stroke (file photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-6\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\"><strong>And the old cliche of sex causing heart attacks?<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018It\u2019s a very low risk \u2014 it accounts for less than 1 percent of all deaths,\u2019 says Dr. Graham Jackson, consultant cardiologist at the London Bridge Hospital and chairman of the Sexual Advice Association.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, if you\u2019re over 50, overweight and unfit, there is a risk to your heart \u2014 just as there would be if you suddenly and vigorously took up any form of exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018What also increases the risk is extra-marital affairs, and this has been proven by three large studies,\u2019 says Dr. Jackson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018In fact, this accounts for 75 percent of heart-related deaths from sex, 90 percent of which are older men. It\u2019s thought the combination of high-fat foods and alcohol \u2014 wining and dining \u2014 combined with vigorous exercise, often with a younger partner, is what tends to trigger the heart event.\u2019<\/p>\n<h2>IT\u2019LL STRENGTHEN YOUR BONES<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">U.S. research found menopausal women who had sex every week had estrogen levels twice as high as their abstaining counterparts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The hormone has a protective effect in bone health and a lack of it after the menopause has been linked with osteoporosis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Regular sex increases the production of estrogen,\u2019 says Dr. Peter Bowen-Simpkins of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.<\/p>\n<div class=\"mol-img-group floatRHS\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_670\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-670\" style=\"width: 208px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18900000578-3369077-image-a-16_1450958145691.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-670 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18900000578-3369077-image-a-16_1450958145691-208x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18900000578-3369077-image-a-16_1450958145691-208x300.jpg 208w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18900000578-3369077-image-a-16_1450958145691.jpg 306w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18900000578-3369077-image-a-16_1450958145691-291x420.jpg 291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 208px) 100vw, 208px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-670\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sex increases the production of estrogen, which can protect against brittle bones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-7\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-weight: bold;\">IT MAKES YOU MORE FERTILE<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018I\u2019m often asked whether penis length affects fertility and the good news is no,\u2019 says Dr. Ghosh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But the amount of sex you have is important. The more often you make love, the better quality your sperm will be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018If you\u2019re trying to conceive, you need the sperm to be as fresh as possible \u2014 not stuff that\u2019s been sitting in the prostate for three or four days,\u2019 he adds.<\/p>\n<h2>IT STAVES OFF\u00a0 PROSTATE CANCER<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Researchers at Nottingham University have found that men who enjoy a regular sex life in their 50s are at lower risk of developing prostate cancer. \u2018Clearing the prostate out regularly is the reason behind this,\u2019 says Dr Ghosh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018The link was suggested after research showed that monks appear to have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer.\u2019<\/p>\n<h2>IT\u2019LL HELP YOU\u00a0 QUIT SMOKING<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Here&#8217;s a simple way to get your man to kick his smoking habit \u2014 remind him that it causes the penis to shrink and can cause impotence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Erections are all about good blood flow, and lighting up worsens blood flow to the spongy tissues in the penis, says Raj Persad, consultant urological surgeon at Bristol Royal Infirmary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018As a result, they become starved of oxygen and the delicate cells die away. They then become fibrotic \u2014 forming scar tissue \u2014 which is less elastic and less able to expand during an erection than regular healthy tissue.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Smoking is also a known cause of erectile dysfunction as it causes hardening of the arteries and hampers good blood flow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A study of more 7,000 Chinese men, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that the more cigarettes smoked a day, the higher the risk of impotence.<\/p>\n<h2>IT GUARDS AGAINST INCONTINENCE<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Providing that a woman is fairly active during sex, then it\u2019s a good workout for her pelvic floor muscles, says Dr. Gillian Vanhegan, a spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The muscles that stem the flow of urine, reducing leakage and incontinence, all benefit and this reduces the risk of stress incontinence and prolapse later in life, both of which are very common.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018After having children many women don\u2019t have the time to do dedicated pelvic floor exercises, so sex provides a natural workout.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap fff-pic\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_671\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-671\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-671 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/en.iatsex.com\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-300x229.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-550x420.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-78x61.jpg 78w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386-393x300.jpg 393w, https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/files\/2015\/12\/2F98E18500000578-3369077-image-a-17_1450958171386.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-671\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Researchers at Nottingham University have found that men who enjoy a regular sex life in their 50s are at lower risk of developing prostate cancer (pictured under the microscope)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"share-pictures-8\" class=\"share-pictures-overlay\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-weight: bold;\">AND FINALLY&#8230;USE IT OR LOSE IT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018Just like smoking or diabetes, a lack of regular blood flow to the penis will over time cause some of the tissues to die,\u2019 says Mr. Persad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Indeed, Finnish research has confirmed that men who had sex less than once a week at the start of the study were twice as likely to develop erectile dysfunction as those who had it at least once a week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In the study of 1,000 men aged between 55 and 75, those who had sex three or more times a week lowered their risk fourfold.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">There\u2019s no reason not to enjoy a full sex life in old age, adds Dr. Jackson.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018We have some patients in their 80s taking Viagra-type drugs and studies have shown that a regular sex life can prolong life \u2014 it\u2019s basically another form of exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\u2018There seems to be a myth that you\u2019re past it once you hit 65, but that\u2019s rubbish.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">By ANNA HODGEKISS FOR MAILONLINE \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a024 December 2015<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hisexnow.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>The world&#8217;s largest one-night stand, hook up, swingers club, casual sex dating free chat<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oxytocin is released during orgasm which makes us trust people &#8211; but it also means we feel miserable when a short-term relationship ends Kissing raises levels of pleasure hormones and so can improve sex\u00a0later Sex can protect against heart disease, dementia, and osteoporosis It can even improve vision by relaxing the eye, neck and shoulder [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[24],"class_list":{"0":"post-381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miscellaneous","8":"tag-miscellaneous"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.igosex.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}