Experts explain the surprising effects a lack of sex can have on your body and mental health, with women potentially facing more impacts
It’s been reported the average Brit will have sex a whopping 5,778 times before they shuffle off this mortal coil.
Whether you think that’s a bit on the low side or perhaps a tad too ambitious is entirely your own affair. But let’s face it, even the most passionate among us can hit a “dry spells”.
Perhaps it’s a conscious choice, or maybe it’s just how the cruel cookie of life sometimes crumbles.
Regardless of the backstory to your barren bedroom antics, an absence of sexual activity will inevitably have a ripple effect on your physical and mental well-being.
Here’s a rundown of what you might encounter when regular romps are off the cards.
Firstly, your libido might take a nosedive
Indeed, when it comes to your sexual appetite, it appears to be a matter of “use it or lose it.
“For some people who refrain from sex, they begin to feel more sluggish, with less vitality and hunger for sex,” Sari Cooper, LCSW, a certified sex therapist, shared with Reader’s Digest.
“Out of sight out of mind is how some of my clients describe the scenario.”
However, this isn’t a universal experience. Some folks find their desire for sex intensifies during a dry spell.
Secondly, your vaginal walls could weaken
This is particularly relevant for women going through menopause.
Sari explains: “Without regular frequency of intercourse as you get older the walls of your vagina thin out and can lead to painful sex when you finally get back into the sack.”
In fact, the North American Menopause Society even advocates for regular penetrative sex to maintain vaginal health during menopause.
Thirdly, you might notice a decrease in lubrication
Another consequence that predominantly affects older women is that the vagina can struggle with natural lubrication when sexual activity resumes following a break.
The culprit behind this – alongside the thinning of vaginal walls – is depleted levels of the hormone oestrogen.
Dr Lauren Streicher breaks it down: “If you take a young woman who’s 20 or 30 years old she’s going to have plenty of oestrogen around to make sure those tissues stay healthy, elastic, and lubricated when she’s not having sex,” before adding, “if you take someone who’s 60 and has no estrogen, she has lost that piece of it.”
To counteract the dual impact of sexual inactivity and the ageing process, expert Sari recommends taking action.
“The vaginal lubrication lessens with age, and if you’re not being turned on through self-pleasure, erotic books, videos, or a partner, the juice can begin to lessen more quickly.”
Your period pain may get worse
Without question, it’s women bearing the brunt of these effects.
It might sound surprising, but engaging in sexual activity during menstruation can actually ease period cramps.
Dr Streicher elaborates: “The uterus is a muscle and many women will actually have a uterine contraction when they orgasm, which will cause the blood to expel more quickly, which will in turn decrease menstrual cramps,” continuing, “Also, there may be an increase in endorphins, which also will help with menstrual cramps.”
HOWEVER – you lessen your risk of getting a UTI
At last, here’s some welcome news. It goes without saying that steering clear of intimate encounters significantly slashes your odds of picking up an STD, and the same goes for urinary tract infections.
Dr Streicher explains the connection: “It’s intercourse that’s responsible for potentially increasing the risk of recurrent bladder infections,” pointing to how bacteria can spread during sex.
The stats are eye-opening – a whopping 80 per cent of UTIs in premenopausal women crop up within 24 hours of getting between the sheets, with the American Family Physician journal noting: “Frequency of sexual intercourse is the strongest predictor of recurrent urinary tract infections.”
Men face a higher risk of erectile dysfunction
It’s a classic case of use it or lose it. Research highlighted by Bustle revealed that going without increases the likelihood of erectile dysfunction in fellas, particularly affecting older gents.
Your stress levels might shoot up.
Feeling wound up about your non-existent sex life?
Turns out the absence of bedroom action could be what’s ramping up your anxiety.
Regular romps are thought to be brilliant stress-busters, whilst those enduring a dry spell have been shown to suffer more dramatic blood pressure surges when under pressure.
