The Surprising Health Benefits of Sexual Desire That Make It Oh-So-Much-More Than a Nice-To-Have

“What’s better than an apple a day?” asks Anna Cabeca, DO. “An orgasm a day!” The triple board-certified ob-gyn, known as “the girlfriend doctor,” loves to tout the health benefits of sex to patients. And it’s not just a fleeting afterglow. A growing body of evidence shows that sexual desire and intimacy can lead to major longevity benefits in women. So whether you’re enjoying intimacy with a partner, as solo play or simply engaging in some fun mental fantasies, there are amazing health benefits that go far beyond the bedroom. Consider this your public service announcement on why keeping your sex life alive matters to your overall health and happiness.

The link between sexual health and overall health

Dr. Cabeca wants to spread the word: “Sexual health is necessary for optimal health.” Your sexual health can even be a bellwether for our broader health picture. You may have heard that your dental health can reveal a lot about your heart health. The same is true for your sexual health. When your sexual organs and tissues are healthy and functioning well, and your hormones are balanced, those are clear signs that your overall health is on track. Another case in point: Men with erectile dysfunction run around a 45 percent higher risk of heart disease than their sexually healthy peers, according to the Mayo Clinic.

All the systems of the body are connected. So Dr. Cabeca says, when things aren’t working in the bedroom, she focuses on treating what she calls “The three Ds: desire, discomfort and disconnect.”

Your desire matters. Get expert-backed answers about low desire and what you can do about it in our Desire Hub.

Why doctors are changing their view on desire and longevity

Sure, there’s always been an immediate feel-good benefit to sex. But now science is broadening that view to include numerous, significant perks that come with a healthy sex life. Just as we now understand that menopause affects every body system—from bones to brain health—we’re also discovering that sexual health impacts far more than we once thought. An active sex life influences your heart, sleep, stress levels, immune system and even how long you live.

10 surprising health benefits of intimacy and desire

Here are the remarkable ways intimacy supports your health:

It reduces stress and lifts your mood

We know that stress is a longevity killer. On the flipside, sex is stress-relieving. Dr. Cabeca points to research on the bonding hormone oxytocin, which is released when a woman engages in sex or cuddling. “It’s the most powerful hormone in our body,” she says. “It’s known as the ‘love drug,’ but it’s so much more.”

“Oxytocin acts to block fear, anxiety and panic. It has incredible mood-enhancing benefits,” Dr. Cabeca explains. “Within our own body is the most amazing pharmacy in the world.” That’s why she “prescribes” pleasure to patients.

Even if sex or masturbation aren’t on your bingo card right now, you can still boost your feel-good oxytocin levels in other ways, says Dr. Cabeca, by laughing, smiling, making eye contact with others, practicing gratitude or complimenting people.

It can ease pain

We can credit oxytocin here too. The hormone works like a gentle pain reliever. Sex educator Carol Queen, PhD, says, “Good sex is a mood-booster—whether solo or partnered. It gives us a wash of pleasure chemicals, and it can ease pain.” Research cites headache and migraine pain, specifically.
That’s why she recommends masturbation. “This can be a self-care ritual,” she says. “It is your birthright.”

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It may protect the heart

Like any form of physical exercise, sex elevates your heart rate and burns calories. Studies have linked regular sexual activity to improvements in cardiovascular health. Is this what Olivia Newton-John was talking about when she sang, “Let’s get physical?”

It can boost immunity

Research published in Psychological Reports shows that people who engage in regular sexual activity have higher levels of an immune-boosting antibody that helps protect against colds and infections. As a result, they have stronger everyday immunity.

It improves sleep

Here’s another perk: “Good sex helps us sleep,” adds Queen. A Journal of Sleep Research study found intimacy with a partner that culminated in orgasm led to significantly better sleep. Why? A hormone called prolactin—which rises following climax—helps your body relax and shift into a restful nervous system state.

It strengthens social connection and longevity

Landmark Harvard research reveals the greatest predictor of a long, healthy life is the quality of your closest relationships. And what builds stronger connections better than intimacy?

“Intimacy in adulthood contributes to having stronger social connections,” confirms family medicine physician Louis Lerebours, MD, who treats women with low desire. “When healthy sexual desire is present, communication will be improved among partners as well as provide an increased feeling of connection. It may also contribute to quality of life and long-term resilience.”

It boosts confidence

Several experts report that confidence in the bedroom often translates to feeling more confident out in the world. Queen explains, “It gives us a sense of agency over our own pleasure experience, and sometimes this gives a boost to our confidence outside of sex as well.”

It supports the pelvic floor

Regular sexual activity naturally exercises your pelvic floor muscles, improving circulation and strength in that area. This can help reduce the chances of pain and other issues after menopause, supporting your comfort and wellness.

It delivers beauty benefits

Here’s a nice bonus: There may be some science to the magic of a sexual afterglow. Dr. Cabeca says, “The love hormone oxytocin also helps reduce appetite, increase lean muscle [mass] and anti-age us.”

It elevates happiness

You don’t even have to engage in a sexual act to experience health benefits—just thinking about intimacy and anticipating a future encounter plays a role in boosting your happiness and mood. That’s the science of anticipation, a growing field of research. One study published in the Journal of Happiness found that adults enjoyed the anticipation of an upcoming event even more than the event itself. So simply planning a sex date with your partner and putting it on the calendar can boost joy.

How to keep desire alive at any age

Now that you know how powerful intimacy can be for your health, you might be wondering how to make it a priority in your life. The good news? It’s never too late to start, and even small steps can make a big difference.

If you feel your sex drive has disappeared to the point where you miss wanting intimacy, talk to your doctor. Low sexual desire can have many causes—from hormonal changes to stress to certain medications—and your doctor can help identify what’s affecting you and discuss treatment options.

Given all the health benefits of intimacy, it’s worth troubleshooting anything that’s getting in the way of your desired sex life. Some helpful tools:

• Consider using this handy telehealth platform to connect with knowledgeable health-care providers.
• Use our convenient conversation-starting pink scripts to talk about low desire with your doctor.
• Ask about treatments, including the only FDA-approved once-daily prescription pill Addyi for both pre and postmenopausal women under 65 with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), or the FDA-approved occasional-use prescription shot Vyleesi for premenopausal women with HSDD.

Don’t miss out on these impressive health benefits. Your body—and your future self—will thank you.