Experts reveal the dangers of sexlessness

Marvin Gaye has a point.

Experts explain that a little love can go a long way, while a lack of love can be harmful.

Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, a sexologist and professor at the University of California, Fullerton, told the Daily Mail that not having sex or masturbating for a long time can be harmful to your health.

Even just a month without contact can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and anger, she explains, noting that these negative emotions can take away the joy that ultimately comes from intimacy.

“People who are stressed out are not capable of enjoying sex,” Suwinyattichaiporn told the outlet.

Research backs her up. A 2021 study in the Journal of Criminal Justice linked sexual frustration to violent behavior.

Suwinyattichaiporn said that in extreme cases of up to five years of inactivity, penile or vaginal atrophy may occur, leading to slight shrinkage of the genitals.

For men, masturbating can help prevent prostate cancer, according to a study from Harvard Medical School. The study found that men who ejaculated 21 times or more per month had a one-third lower risk of developing the condition.

Sari Cooper, a sex therapist in Manhattan, says couples who go through a dry spell also often let it affect their relationship.

“They don’t treat their partners with tenderness, vulnerability, and compromise,” she tells DM.

“They also don’t have conflict-repair skills and instead blame each other, constantly criticize the other person, or elicit guilt reactions to satisfy their own needs.”

Cooper adds that “dry periods” are normal, but it’s also important for the long-term benefit of the relationship to let go of the fear – otherwise, the partner may seek an extramarital affair.

If things get to this point, “address these obstacles with professional guidance,” she advises.