Side effects and benefits of not having sex

Sex is a workout - probably not the most intense one or the one that would have a very visible effect on your body, but even so, it does get your heart pumping and blood racing. You end up using muscles that otherwise might lie dormant during the rest of the day. It makes you sweat and is said to help you burn about 69 (for women) to 101 (for men) calories during a 25-minute long medium-intensity session, according to a study published in the journal Plos One in 2013. Having an active lifestyle, which includes about 150 minutes of exercise per week, could easily make up for not engaging in sexual activity though.

Read more: Intense Bodyweight Exercises You Can Do At Home

Stress and anxiety are major parts of our lives. While low levels of stress can be healthy, feeling burdened by it frequently can have a negative impact on your health as well as your quality of life. Managing stress with appropriate interventions and lifestyle changes, like taking up yoga or identifying and reducing access to triggers, is essential for everyone. Engaging in consensual sex with a partner you trust can also be one of the ways to relieve stress. This has been established by many studies, including research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships in 2012, which found that having sex had a positive effect on stress levels in men and women both.

If you’re someone who is prone to feelings of stress and anxiety and find that sexual activity helps you deal with it, there are other alternatives that you could try. Masturbating until orgasm could generate a similar chemical reaction in your body that would lead to the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which are commonly referred to as ‘feel-good' hormones.

Read more: Home Remedies for Stress

Sex does have an association with heart health but it’s one with many conflicting views. A study published in The American Journal of Cardiology stated that regular sexual activity was linked to a decreased risk of cardiovascular events. Another study from 2016 came to similar conclusions; it showed that a higher frequency of sex decreased risk in men whereas better quality sex provided women with the same protection. The study also suggested that women who were more satisfied with their sex lives were at a lower risk of hypertension.

On the other hand, some studies have also found there to be a slight risk of angina during sex in heart patients. As per experts, though, this risk is very low and even more reduced in those who are physically active.

Read more: Heart disease

There are many factors that affect an individual’s immune system, from the quality of their diet and how often they exercise to their sleep schedule and hygiene habits. Another factor that may have an effect on your immunity is how active your sex life is.

A research study suggested that having sex once or twice a week boosts the immune system. The researchers came to this conclusion after studying the IgA (an antibody) levels of the participants; they claimed that sexually active individuals may come in contact with more infectious agents, triggering the release of antibodies, and that could be the reason for such results. Not having sex could mean that you wouldn’t get this boost, but you could always make sure you’re doing everything else possible to keep your immune system in the best shape possible.

Read more: How to increase immunity

Sex is known to reduce the risk of many diseases - most prominently, prostate cancer. A research study claimed that men who ejaculate the most during their 20s-50s have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. Ejaculation, not only during sex, is said to help rid the body of built-up carcinogens. Having safe sex, where the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases in minimal, can help provide the same benefit.

Similarly, evidence suggests that oral sex could be associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women. As sex also works your pelvic muscles, it reduces your chances of developing urinary incontinence, a common bladder problem, later in life. These risks wouldn’t be (or remain) reduced in case you stop having sex.

When they say practice makes perfect, it really does apply to sex. The more you engage in sexual activity, the better it gets. A study suggested that going through a ‘dry spell’ or not having sex for an extended period of time could lead to a higher risk of developing erectile dysfunction in men. For women, not have sex for a while could lead to vaginal pain and discomfort when they do engage in sexual activity again, possible because of inactivity of the muscles involved as well as an inability to produce as much natural lubrication. This often only occurs in older women and can be combated easily with the use of lubricants.

Sex can be exhausting, yes, but that’s not the only reason most people fall asleep quickly after engaging in it. Studies have shown that sex triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. Prolactin, another hormone, is also released in the body soon after an orgasm and is also associated with sleepiness. If sex is part of what gets you to sleep better, it may be best to look for alternatives if you’re not having sex anymore. Other routines like light reading and meditation could help you snooze as well.

Read more: Sleep disorders

Sex can have two very opposing aspects to it. On the one hand, there are people who experience pain during sex. On the other, there are those who turn to it for pain relief. When you engage in sexual activity, your body produces endorphins, which are hormones said to provide you with a natural form of pain relief. This can be particularly helpful when dealing with period pain. If you stop having sex, you could consult with your doctor to come up with the best way to deal with the pain.

One of the biggest risks of unprotected sexual activity is contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STIs) like gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, chlamydia and HIV. Even using barrier methods like male or female condoms and dental dams do not provide 100% protection. So it’s necessary to be extremely cautious and get regular testing if needed. Many STIs, if high-risk or left untreated, can have severe consequences like cancer and infertility. Refraining from sex can help avoid these risks.

Women are said to be at a higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection when they’re sexually active, given that it introduces bacteria into the body and the smaller path to the bladder. As per a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, intercourse was associated with a higher risk of UTIs. They can also become recurrent, which can be physically as well as emotionally taxing for the patients. Other infections, like those caused by viruses, can also be transmitted during sex because of the close proximity. However, not having sex does not mean that you won’t get a UTI (there are many other risk factors like diabetes and poor hygiene) or other infections, it does reduce the chances.

(Read more: Home remedies for UTI)

Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience when it fits into your future plans. An unwanted pregnancy, on the other hand, can derail your life. While there are many types of contraceptives, none can give your 100% protection against pregnancies. Many of the common methods are up to 99% effective, like the birth control pill, but that’s not good for regular use. If you’re taking a break from having sex, you can be sure that an unwanted pregnancy won’t be something you need to worry about.

Read more: Misconceptions about contraceptive pills

As per Kamasutra, there are over 100 different sex positions. Some are simple and straightforward like the missionary position and others can get quite complex. Attempting something new in bed while being caught up in the frenzy can result in a variety of sex injuries, ranging from mild (like a hickey or bruises) to severe (penile fracture). Taking a break from sexual activities would successfully keep such injuries at bay.

Read more: Common mistakes during sex

People all over the world struggle with their sex lives for a million reasons. Some could hold religious beliefs that don’t align with their needs, while others may be dealing with self-esteem or trust issues. Whatever the reason may be, it can make you not want to engage sexually. Taking time away from sex can be a time to come to terms, heal and discover your sexual needs in a way that makes you feel more comfortable with them.

Read more: Sexual Anorexia