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Lovemaking is a vital aspect of a relationship. Though it isn’t the ‘be all and end all’ of it, there’s no denying that it helps strengthen your bond and understanding with each other. And how can we forget the ‘feel-good’ factor that one experiences after lovemaking! Not only that, it has been believed for ages that lovemaking even has certain health benefits. Of course, we don’t really need science as a reason to get in between the sheets. But nevertheless, here’s a list of some of the advantages of regular lovemaking to your health:
1. Improves Immunity
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Regular lovemaking helps increase the number of antibodies that defend your body against a large number of bacteria, viruses, germs, etc. Combine this with good habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and good sleep patterns, and it is a win-win situation for all (1).
2. Helps Burn Those Extra Calories
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Vigorous lovemaking takes a lot of physical effort, don’t we all agree? Then here’s a bit of a scoop: apparently, lovemaking burns about 5 calories per minute! Multiply this with the number of times you indulge in it every week and bingo! You have an ideal exercise plan that is also fun. So, keep at it regularly (2).
3. Effective Pain Relief
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Do you regularly experience menstrual cramps? Instead of consuming painkillers, try making love as much as possible before the start of your next periods. When you experience an orgasm, your body releases oxytocin and dopamine that help increase the threshold of pain. Not only that, but an orgasm also helps block pain which might reduce any existing mild pain that you may be experiencing like a headache (3).
4. Improves Bladder Control
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A weak pelvic floor is one of the reasons for urinary incontinence, which affects about 30% of women in their lifetime. Lovemaking is like an exercise for the pelvic floor muscles. An orgasm causes contractions of these pelvic floor muscles which in turn strengthens them (4).
5. Reduces The Risk Of Heart Attacks
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Lovemaking is great for your heart as it increases your heart rate. Apart from this, it helps maintain the right balance of hormones like testosterone and estrogen. When either of these hormones is low, it may result in health problems like osteoporosis and heart disease (5).
6. Improves Sleep
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You might have often noticed how peacefully you sleep after a romp in the bed. This is because, after an orgasm, your body releases another hormone (other than oxytocin and dopamine), which is prolactin. Prolactin is responsible for the feelings of sleepiness and relaxation. Thus, the sound sleep (6).
7. Makes You Look Younger
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Who doesn’t wish to look younger? But instead of trying those expensive creams or looking for the elusive fountain of youth, just indulge in some good old lovemaking with your spouse regularly. According to a research conducted by Dr. David Weeks, who is a British consultant clinical psychologist and formerly a head of old-age psychology at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, regular lovemaking can make both men and women look younger by at least 5 to 7 years. This is because intercourse increases the release of the human growth hormone, which in turn makes the skin look more elastic and glowing, apart from other biological effects (7).
8. Stress Buster
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Nothing relieves stress better than a good dose of hugging and cuddling. And the intimacy of lovemaking just acts as an added bonus. All this touching and feeling up each other increases sexual arousal, which in turn release your body’s ‘feel-good’ hormones, and thereby help in reducing stress and anxiety (8).
9. Low Risk Of A Prostate Cancer
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According to a study, men who ejaculated more frequently (nearly 21 times per month) were at less risk of getting a prostate cancer. And the benefits were not restricted to lovemaking-ejaculation alone, but also masturbation. However, this surely doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t indulge in lovemaking with your better half (9).
10. Boosts Libido
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Do you know what’s better than lovemaking? More lovemaking! Yes, having a regular amount of physical intimacy improves your libido. For women, it improves vaginal lubrication and increases blood flow and elasticity of the lady bits. All of this will only help you crave for more of it (10).
Despite all the benefits, lovemaking still is an intimate choice. And, it is more fun when it is spontaneous and not planned like a routine. So, make love to your partner when you both really want to go for it! But make sure you do so safely!
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