What happens to your body when you stop having sex?

Sex is good for your body, mind and spirit – so what happens when you stop having sex?

For sexually active people, going through a “dry spell” can feel like a drastic change in your body and mind.

Some people may feel irritable and restless, while others experience extreme arousal with no feasible way to relieve it.

However, some people may not feel any different at all—neither missing the sex they’re having nor craving more, Body + Soul reports.

But when do periods of drought really start to change your physiology? Does not having sex have a tangible impact on how we feel?

Christine Rafe, sex and relationship expert at sex toy brand Womanizer, also expressed her opinion.

What happens to your body when you stop having sex?

Although your body may feel like it’s changed dramatically since you stopped eating regularly, science shows that’s not the case.

“While it’s well established that sex alone or with a partner (including intercourse or non-penetrative sex) has physical, emotional, and psychological benefits, that doesn’t mean that inactive sex brings Negative Consequences.” +Soul.

However, we may experience what experts call “dissonance,” which essentially means a reduced readiness for sexual intercourse.

“Similarly, we may experience decreased confidence, muscle tension and overall dysregulation from not exercising, and people who have not had sex or have stopped having sex for a long time may experience dysregulation of sexual activity and find that they have muscle tightness or pain, ejaculation control difficulty and loss of confidence in sexual activity,” Love said, but she noted that “these are not long-term biological changes.”

benefits of sex

She added: “There is no substantial research or evidence that people who choose not to have sex or stop having sex experience negative health effects.” However, there are certainly benefits for those who choose to do so.

Speaking of hormones, “Chemicals released during sexual pleasure, either alone or with another person, include oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine,” Love explains. “These are our happy/feel-good chemicals and they improve mood and energy levels [and] Increase motivation. “

Likewise, sexual activity and pleasure can help reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, “which can affect mood and the immune system,” she continues.

When it comes to relationships, for many people, sex is an important part of cultivating intimacy with a partner, which in turn has a knock-on effect of making us feel good.

One area that’s supported by research, Love said, is that “there is a correlation between higher frequency of ejaculation in adulthood and lower rates of prostate cancer in people with penises, which is usually not noticed until later in adulthood.”

But the good news is that while sex triggers many chemical reactions and may be the cause of ejaculation, “there are other ways to promote the same physical, relationship and mental health without having sex.”

How to get the benefits of sex without actually having sex

“Not having sexual pleasure doesn’t mean you can’t experience the same benefits of these chemicals as someone who is engaging in sexual activity,” the sexual health expert said.

When it comes to feel-good hormones, “we can stimulate the production of these chemicals through many other activities, such as exercise, dancing, massage, meditation, singing, listening to music, laughing, experiencing new things and/or moderate challenges sex”.

You can also produce these hormones through non-sexual relationships, which may include hugging, making eye contact, holding hands, having meaningful conversations, and feeling heard.

Likewise, “While sexual pleasure and activity can reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which affects mood and the immune system, other ways to reduce cortisol include meditation, exercise, sleep, healthy eating and setting boundaries,” Love says .

Meanwhile, other forms of intimacy could be non-sexual touch and affection, “emotional connection and anything that makes you feel safe and supported by another person,” she adds.

Likewise, when it comes to ejaculation frequency, it’s entirely possible to maintain that number without having sex with another person.

A pleasure, not a necessity

While having less sex may feel like a physical and mental adjustment, there’s no evidence that it’s bad for you. In fact, it’s normal for your sexual desire to change as you age.

“Throughout your life, your experiences of desire, sexual arousal, and pleasure are likely to experience fluctuations and changes, which may occur weekly, monthly (especially for those who menstruate), or during periods including puberty. The different stages of life fluctuate more gradually, relationship dynamics, parenthood, menopause, old age, etc.,” Love said.

So if you’re in a dry spell and don’t want to have sex, or have no one to have sex with, don’t be afraid.

In fact, the worst thing that can happen by not having sex is feeling miserable about it, which can affect your mental health and relationships.

Having sex is great for your health—it can enhance intimacy and resilience as a couple, increase body confidence, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve mood.

But you can definitely activate these benefits in other ways, cultivating intimacy, mental acuity, and feel-good hormones without sexual contact.

“Sex can certainly be part of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s not necessary to stay healthy,” Love said.

“If it doesn’t cause you concern or affect your life in any adverse way, then you can absolutely live a healthy and fulfilling life without sex.”