Sexual healthHeart healthGeneral wellness

8 reasons to have sex right now

You can improve your health just by being intimate.


LearnSexual health8 reasons to have sex right now
Your relationship may get stronger
It can help your heart health
It can help you start your day on the right foot
Your stress and anxiety levels will be lower
You could become a star employee
It may reduce aches and pains
You’ll likely sleep better
How to make time for sex

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Sex can be fun and relaxing, and can feel great. But did you know that having it regularly may also lower your stress levels, help you feel more confident, and improve your heart health? And that’s not all.

“Your sexual health is a really strong marker for your overall health,” says Christopher Starks, MD, a board-certified surgical urologist in Virginia. Here are eight ways being intimate can improve your health, plus easy ways to make more time for sex.

Sources: Meltzer AL, Makhanova, A, et al. Quantif... + 11
  1. Meltzer AL, Makhanova, A, et al. Quantifying the Sexual Afterglow: The Lingering Benefits of Sex and Their Implications for Pair-Bonded Relationships. Psychological Science. 2017. 28(5). 587–598.
  2. Ebrahim S, May M, et al. Sexual intercourse and risk of ischaemic stroke and coronary heart disease: the Caerphilly study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002 Feb;56(2):99-102.
  3. Cleveland Clinic. Heart Disease & Erectile Dysfunction. Reviewed July 17, 2019.
  4. Zarrindast MR, Khakpai F. The Modulatory Role of Dopamine in Anxiety-like Behavior. Arch Iran Med. 2015 Sep;18(9):591-603. PMID: 26317601.
  5. Maintaining an active sex life may lead to improved job satisfaction, engagement in work. Oregon State University. March 6, 2017.
  6. Leavitt K, Barnes CM, et al. From the Bedroom to the Office: Workplace Spillover Effects of Sexual Activity at Home. Journal of Management. 2019. 45(3), 1173–1192.
  7. Khajehei M, Behroozpour E. Endorphins, oxytocin, sexuality and romantic relationships: An understudied area. World J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 7(2): 17-23
  8. FamilyDoctor.org (AAFP). Health Benefits of a Good Sex Life. Last updated May 8, 2020.
  9. Cleveland Clinic. 5 Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life. June 10, 2022.
  10. Oregon Health & Science University. The Benefits of a Healthy Sex Life. Accessed December 14, 2022.
  11. AARP. 8 Reasons Sex Improves Your Health. Accessed December 14, 2022.
  12. Lastella M, O'Mullan C, et al. Sex and Sleep: Perceptions of Sex as a Sleep Promoting Behavior in the General Adult Population. Front Public Health. 2019 Mar 4;7:33.
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
Written by Olivia DeLong.
Medically reviewed by Joanne Perron, MD, MPH.November, 2024
Updated onAugust, 2026
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