When opting for a healthier lifestyle, you might consider quitting smoking or eating clean. But what about improving your sex life? That’s a goal you’ll want to stick to. 

Besides the obvious reasons (like that it feels great), sex offers an impressive range of physical and mental benefits. Orgasms enhance mood, relieve pain, and boost confidence, making them a powerful tool for your overall wellness. 

Whether you're solo or partnered, we can’t overstate the benefits of having regular sex. 

12 benefits of having sex regularly

So, is sex good for you? Absolutely. Engaging in regular sexual activity has a host of wellness benefits that extend far beyond the bedroom. Here are 12 reasons for “getting it on,” either through solo play or with others. 

1. Improves mood 

Sex releases oxytocin, a hormone that plays a crucial role in building emotional connections. Often referred to as the "love hormone," it fosters feelings of affection, trust, and empathy. And oxytocin also helps counteract the effects of the stress hormone cortisol.

2. May lower blood pressure

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that regular sexual activity may decrease blood pressure, improving overall heart health and reducing your risk of stroke and heart attack. Older women, in particular, are less likely to have high blood pressure if they're having satisfying sex.

3. May boost heart health 

What does sex do to the body? The same 2016 study found that sex increases your heart rate and blood circulation, which boosts overall heart health and reduces your risk of heart disease. Partnered sex, a form of exercise, is particularly beneficial for cardiovascular fitness. 

4. Improves self-confidence and compassion

Learning what makes you tick sexually and how to please your partner can boost your confidence and self-esteem. And bringing yourself to climax is an act of love that might boost your self-compassion.

5. Reduces stress

Remember those mood-enhancing endorphins released during sex? They also help lower cortisol, the stress hormone. Reduced stress can make you feel more relaxed overall to enjoy improved mental health and sleep. And less stress might also lead to better physical health, as research connects chronic stress to increased heart disease and diabetes.

6. Boosts your immune system 

Orgasms release DHEA, a chemical that enhances your immunity, helps repair tissues, and increases bone health. Sex also releases other hormones and antibodies that enhance your body's immune function, like immunoglobulin A (IgA), which wards off infections.

7. Decreases your risk of prostate cancer

When considering the importance of sex to men or some trans and nonbinary folk, a Harvard study found that frequently ejaculating may lower the risk of prostate cancer. In this study, those who ejaculated 21 or more times monthly had a 31% lower risk.

8. Enhances intimacy 

Frequent partnered sex is an incredible bonding activity that can enhance intimate connections, whether you're married, exclusively dating, or casually seeing one another. The release of oxytocin, the hormone that makes you feel so good during sex and climax, nurtures feelings of love and affection. And simply spending this quality time together can increase intimacy levels. 

9. Boosts cognition 

Sexual intercourse activates the brain’s reward, motor, and sensory areas, which may boost cognition. It also increases blood flow, which is excellent for overall brain health, and boosts neural connectivity, which releases those mood-enhancing chemicals everyone loves. 

10. Relieves pain

When considering the importance of sex to women or those with the female reproductive system, the endorphins released during orgasm act as natural painkillers. This is ideal for menstrual cramps but also great for things like migraines, colds, and backaches.

11. Improves sleep

Your excellent post-climax sleeps aren’t a coincidence. Sex releases hormones like prolactin, oxytocin, and vasopressin that prepare the body for sleep. And sleeping well is a significant factor in your overall health. 

12. Boosts libido

Sex is enjoyable and helps you connect with yourself or your partner, two experiences that might leave you wanting more. And regular sex promotes healthy blood flow and hormone levels, two more reasons your sexual desire might ramp up. Because who doesn’t want more of a good thing?

What if you don't have a partner?

No partner? No problem, because you can still enjoy the health benefits of sex through self-pleasure. While masturbation doesn't come with precisely the same surge of hormones as partnered intercourse, orgasms still offer some hormonal release and can boost your mood and reduce stress.

Plus, masturbation is an act of self-love. It allows you to explore your body on your terms to learn about what brings you sexual satisfaction without the added pressure that sex with a partner might bring. And self-pleasure fosters a positive relationship with sex so you can enjoy any benefits shame-free.

Solo sex also offers a safe, private space for exploring your fantasies, kinks, and fetishes. It teaches you what brings you pleasure so you can teach someone else, but only if you feel like it. 

Enhance your sex life with Quinn

Ethical porn is a great way to add some spice to a healthy sex life. If you're interested in exploring auralism, try Quinn, the audio erotica app created by women for everyone. It offers an incredible range of sexy audio designed to help you explore your body, mind, and desires, from narrated sex stories to kink and fetish-friendly content. 

To access thousands of audio stories, guided sessions, and playlists, download the Quinn app for iOS or Android.