5 body changes to expect when you stop having regular sex

There are certain periods when the yearn for sexual intercourse wanes and the body becomes less receptive to sexual arousal.

Almost every sex-having adult can relate to this phase.

For most, it is not a deliberate decision to withdraw from sex, rather it could be as a result of a break-up, death or disagreement, busy schedule, illness amongst other factors.

In the event of a temporary break from sex, here are five things that can happen to the human body.

Lower sex drive

When you’re not having regular sex, there is a possibility that your desire for sex reduces significantly.

Sex is associated with good feelings because the body is flooded with hormones while in the act, so when you stay away, all that energy can be directed to other activities, making sex lose its place.

“Your libido can increase your career drive and manifest more successful ambitions or, if you choose, you may direct your sexual energy into your children versus intercourse,” Fran Walfish, a Beverly Hills family and sex psychotherapist told Medical Daily.

“We can resume the same sexual drive, energy, and appetite we enjoyed before. However, don’t expect a sudden rise in libido if you never had a high sex drive.”

More stress

Sex is known to be a good way to relieve stress, therefore, a lack of regular sex can lead to elevated stress levels.

A 2005 study in Biological Psychology found that penile-vaginal intercourse is associated with better mental and physical performance, and lower stress levels.

People who hadn’t had regular sex showed higher blood pressure spikes in response to stress than those who recently had intercourse.

Less intelligent

A 2013 study discovered sex boosts neurogenesis — the creation of new neurons in the brain — and also improves cognitive function.

Sexual experiences lead to cell growth in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that’s vital to long-term memory. Therefore, sex has the potential to prevent deterioration that leads to memory loss, and dementia.

Weaker immune system

According to a 2004 study, regular sex, in moderation, can boost the immune system and make you less prone to cold.

Researchers measured levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antigen found in saliva and mucosal linings, to evaluate the strength of the immune system of participants.

IgA is the body’s first line of defense against cold and flu, as it binds to bacteria that invade the body, and then activates the immune system to destroy them.

Participants who had frequent sex showed significantly higher levels of IgA than their counterparts.

Erectile dysfunction

A study published in the 2008 American Journal of Medicine discovered that men who had sex less frequently were likely to develop erectile dysfunction two times more than men who had sex frequently.

900 men in their 50s, 60s, and 70s were studied for five years and it was discovered that having sex regularly preserved potency, even at old age.