Scientists reveal how much sex is ‘too much’ and why it can have detrimental effects on your health
Topics: Sex Education, Sex and Relationships, Science
Joe Yates
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock
Topics: Sex Education, Sex and Relationships, Science
We've all heard that sex is good for us, haven't we? Of course it is, but everything in moderation.
Yes, believe it or not, scientists have revealed that you can have 'too much' intercourse and when you hit that point it can lead to detrimental effects on your health.
A recent study has suggested that men who get freaky under the sheets often significantly reduce the risk of heart disease in later life - fellas, shoot your shot and explain that you having sex today is a matter of life and death in years to come.
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It's like the skit in Ricky Gervais 2009 comedy The Invention of Lying where he pretends that the world is ending and so he has to bed a stranger.
Anyway, back to it. Scientists from China came to the conclusion citing that the reasoning was tied to the fact that engaging in sexual activity gets the heart pumping, improves circulation, and helps reduce stress, all things that are great for the heart.
The researchers noted in the Journal of Scientific Reports last December that it is important to consider sexual activity as a useful indicator of overall health.
The authors wrote: "Those with either excessively high or low frequencies should pay attention to the situation and seek medical attention if necessary."
Yes, those with too high a sex drive are actually putting themselves in danger.
Researchers considered too much sex to be more than once a day and found there were some eventual downsides.
They wrote: "It’s often overlooked that sexual activity itself constitutes a form of physical activity and aerobic exercise.
"Despite the well-established benefits of moderate physical activity, evidence suggests there may be a point of diminishing returns.
"In fact, high levels of aerobic exercise may detract from the significant health benefits observed with moderate levels."
So pretty much all things in moderation.
The study, from a Qingdao University team, analyzed several studies which involved 17,243 US adults to see how sex affects heart health and longevity.
After nearly nine years, they found that men who had sex less than 12 times a year had higher risks of heart disease and early death.
Men that have sex about 103 times a year had a lower risk. This works out to roughly twice a week. They did note that having less sex, 52 times a year, can still offer health benefits.
Dr Alexis Missick, who works with UK Meds, emphasized the many ways sex is beneficial, adding: "Never mind the ways in which sex may be good for your heart in terms of love, intimacy and emotions; sex is quite literally good for your heart."