Recently, Tiktok quickly informed me that I violated community standards. To answer your question, I didn’t curse anyone out or single out any minority group offensively, and I was fully clothed. What I did do, was I said a keyword, that apparently is deemed a violation. The word, masturbation. As angry as I was at that moment, it further proves my point of the importance of introducing sexual health into the “chat. A few decades ago, people believed that masturbation caused blindness and insanity. The scientific community only just began studying the clitoris within the last two decades. So clearly, the owners of TikTok are somewhere between the 1950s and 1993 with their thoughts on sexuality.
Sadly, I thought there was enough advancement to not be told I was violating standards. So I wanted to write this article to break apart and give homage to sex. I don’t even have half enough time to discuss every benefit but I will give quite a few. We must change the narrative on conversations about sex, solo sex, and pleasure!
Here are Six Reasons why Sex (Solo/Partnered) Does the Body Good
Improved Memory People who have an active sex life take fewer sick days, implying improved immune function. In addition to improved cardiovascular health, and improved immune function, researchers point to numerous psychological benefits including, improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and depression, and higher self-esteem. Other more specific advantages include increased bladder control in women and reduced prostate cancer in men. Regular sexual activity increases vaginal lubrication and increases vaginal blood flow and elasticity, which boosts pleasure and libido. Sexual activity reduces sensitivity to pain without the side effects of pharmacological painkillers.
2. Sex Improves Joint Pain. It Provides Immediate Relief
AARP published an article where they indicate "Sex involves gentle, range-of-motion exercise, which minimizes pain and inflammation. It also releases endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers. Sex strengthens the muscles around the joints, which helps support them. It's also mood-elevating, which likewise helps alleviate pain."
3. Sex Can Help You Sleep Better
If you can't sleep, have sex! There is a direct link between sex and masturbation that can assist with insomnia and restlessness. When having sex, we release oxytocin and endorphins which reduce stress and create a calming effect to help sleep!
4. Dopamine, Dopamine, Dopamine
Wait there's more! When you orgasm, your brain releases a surge of dopamine. Dopamine is a type of neurotransmitter. During orgasm, your brain works in overdrive to produce hormones and neurochemicals. This is great because dopamine is responsible for pleasure, motivation, and a sense of relaxation.
5. Reduces Depression and Anxiety
MRI studies and thousands of research articles show us that the physiological responses our bodies have to sex can minimize the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Deficiencies in nitric oxide are associated with irritability, depression, anxiety, and less energy. Having sex increases your body's nitric oxide levels. Sex also increases the neurotransmitter serotonin! This is beautiful when you're feeling down. Why? Because serotonin is known to help regulate your mood, social behaviors, emotions, appetite, sleep, memory, and sex drive.
Some of the more prominent symptoms of anxiety and depression include erratic sleep, memory loss, hard-to-manage emotions, and mood swings that alter your social behavior. So have sex!!!
6. Overall Quality of Life and Work Balance
And finally, sex also releases noradrenaline. Noradrenaline affects the behaviors of individuals including modulation of arousal, attention, motivation, reward, and also learning and memory.
We need these things to be successful. Whether that's for work, completing our New Year goals, or committing to our hobbies and tasks. In the end, you need sex.