Having sex responsibly and safely will always provide physical and mental benefits for both men and women. And it is not just me who says it, it is science. After all, in this energetic sexual exchange, about 9 hormones are released, which together provide a great well-being.
I will only mention them because I think they deserve a special column of their own, and they are: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, adrenaline, norepinephrine, phenylethylamine, acetylene, endovalium and gonadotropins.
When you have an orgasm, the whole brain exercises and increases blood flow, which ends up distributing all the nutrients and oxygen needed for the mind.
Science qualifies sex as one of the most complete exercises, and not only because of the calories burned, but also because many of the muscles that are used benefit the body. All of this happens because of said cardiovascular practice.
For example, if you spend about 30 minutes having sex, you could burn 69 calories if you are a woman, and 101 if you are a man. During an orgasm, you lose an average of 27 calories and 70 calories more during foreplay (caresses and kisses). In short, women would lose approximately 166 calories and men 198 calories in a normal sexual encounter.
Swedish, American and Scottish scientists agree that having sex three times a week increases life expectancy by an average of 10 years. Likewise, if you have an active sex life, it boosts self-esteem, stimulates creativity, promotes self-knowledge and revitalizes. As they say: ‘too good to miss.’
But the reality is different, despite enjoying so many benefits, most couples do not have “enough” sex, due to multiple factors such as fatigue, occupations, or the sum of several obstacles that end in a high degree of stress.
Passion in a couple lasts, approximately, one year but, although it is believed that desire arises spontaneously, the truth is that it does not always work that way. When couples meet at the beginning, they are under the spell of the hormonal cocktail we previously talked about; there is also the novelty, the illusion, the surprise, only that this effect disappears little by little.
Experts agree that there are three factors that negatively influence sexual desire: monotony, routine and lack of surprise. This is how the number of times couples have sex ends up decreasing. The data indicate that the average sexual frequency is 3.2 sexual encounters per week during the first year. In the second year, it goes down to 1.9 weekly encounters and, in the third year, the average is 1.1.
In a study with stable couples, other essential factors for maintaining desire were analyzed, such as: admiration, novelty and missing each other. The other side of the coin is that there are also couples who do not have sex. On average they have less than 10 sexual relations in a year.
There are many reasons for this to happen. The sexual bond is lost due to lack of sexual coupling; that is, they do not feel comfortable with each other or willing to have sex. Another reason why could be that there are other factors that are blocking their sexuality such as arguments, lack of affection and routine.
Another factor that experts have analyzed is poor sexual communication. Many couples find it difficult to talk about sex, openly express their likes or dislikes and share them with their sexual partner. It could be uncomfortable at the beginning but, as you talk, the subject will come up naturally and fluently.
Remember that practice makes perfect and, if your physical activity is almost null, you will always have the alternative of practicing sexual cardio, at least three times a week; your life expectancy will improve as well as your sense of love, your creativity and your self-esteem.
Do not lose that adventurous and conquering spirit, and enjoy all the good things that sex offers you.
Traducción del español: Catalina Oviedo Brugés
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