What lack of sex can do to your mind and body

When it comes to sex, you don’t really know how much is too much. In fact, how often you have sex depends on many factors like long working hours, mood, age, surroundings or your relationship status. If you are spending more time in office than home, you may just crash on the bed once you reach home. You might also not feel like having sex if your bond with your partner is no longer strong. Some women also take a break from sex as they grow older. Having consensual sex is considered to be healthy, so if you share a great bond with your partner, having no sex isn’t a wise decision. In fact, lack of sex can affect your mind and body in ways that you don’t expect.

To find out how lack of sex can impact your health, Health Shots contacted Dr Seema Sharma, Associate Director – Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Chandigarh.

1. Your mental health takes a hit due to lack of sex

Are you getting easily irritated or having mood swings? These are just some of the effects of not having sex Dr. Sharma says that long term dry spells may even lead to increased stress, anxiety and depression as the brain is deprived of endorphins that are released during sex. You might also have low self-esteem.

2. Vaginal tissues get thinner due to no sex

The thinning of the vaginal walls may occur when your body has less estrogen, which mostly happens during menopause. Vaginal tissue thinning is also known as vaginal atrophy, and lack of sex might make vaginal atrophy even worse, causing discomfort in your body.

3. Immune system gets weakened due to lack of sex

At a time when there is a high chance of catching cold in winter, you should think about your immunity. While you can eat immune-boosting foods, you can also have sex. The immune system might get weakened if you don’t have sex. According to a study, a team of researchers at Wilkes-Barre University in Pennsylvania found that people who had sex once or two times a week got a 30 percent boost in immunoglobulin A in comparison to those who hardly had sex or never engaged in it. Immunoglobulin A, which is an infection-fighting protein, helps to defend against viruses, such as those linked with the common cold.

4. Expect late orgasms if you have sex after a long gap

Women can have multiple orgasms when they have sex, but they can have them late as well. That happens when you jump in bed with your partner after not having sex for long. In addition to late orgasms, sex could be painful for women who do it after a long gap, says the expert. She shares that due to lack of sex, there is no vascular circulation and it leads to vagina dryness. Once you feel dryness down there, you would enjoy sex the way you are supposed to.

It’s true that some people can abstain from sex for years and then there are some who find it hard to go without it for even a week! But it’s best if you simply have a healthy dose of sex in your life.