The best part? The more sex the women in Wise’s study had, the better they felt about their bodies and the more sex they wanted to have.
3. Orgasms help you sleep better.
Having a good time in the sheets helps you fall asleep when you get between them. “Lots of people say that orgasms help them relax and possibly fall asleep,” says Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject.
Better sleep is, in fact, one of the biggest health benefits of sex. Here’s why: Weiss says the post-sex rush of the hormone prolactin helps you doze off quicker. The oxytocin and vasopressin that orgasms release can also make you sleep more soundly.
4. Your brain gets a workout during orgasm.
“I conducted research on how the brain responds to sexual stimulation and orgasm,” says Wise. “We found that orgasm increased blood flow to so many brain regions, that the brain lighted up like a Christmas tree. Increased blood flow means that the brain is getting a wonderful and nutritious workout.”
5. Orgasms lead to healthier hair.
The same improvement in circulation you get from orgasming which helps your complexion also goes to your scalp and helps your hair grow faster. All that increased blood flow that intimacy brings will leave you with stronger, shinier, and longer-looking locks.
6. Orgasms boost estrogen and collagen, and give you a more youthful appearance.
Since orgasms help keep your blood pressure low, they slow down the aging process. They also boost your estrogen levels, increasing collagen, which is what helps keep your skin looking plump and youthful. Plus, the improvement in your sleep diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and lines.
7. Orgasms boost your immunity.
Orgasms release the chemical DHEA, which helps balance your immune system, promotes bone health, and assists in repairing tissues. Orgasms are self-care!
8. Orgasms make you feel happier.
You might notice a change in your mental health if you’re having sex or masturbating more frequently. The oxytocin released during orgasm literally makes people happier. It’s called one of the feel-good hormones for a reason.
Or as Elle Woods said so brilliantly in Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.”
9. Orgasms help you bond with your partner.
Orgasms can help promote our ability to bond with our partners, explains Wise. “Having a regular and rewarding sex life is one of the most wonderful ways to lubricate our relationships—and having good relationships is associated with improved well-being across the board,” she says.
10. Orgasms relieve pain (including cramps).
“Sexual stimulation and orgasm release your bodies’ own natural painkillers,” says Wise. In addition to making you feel happy, oxytocin also can help to relieve everything from headaches to arthritis. They also relieve menstrual cramps (all the more reason to give period sex a try).
