BENEATH THE SHEETS
Women at risk of DYING earlier if they don’t have enough sex – as scientists pinpoint optimum monthly bonk rate
For men, too much sex may have the opposite effect...
BIRD gets on it, the bees get on it, and now it appears that women who have lived for a long time get on it too.
A recent study from the US analysed the health data and sex lives of 14,542 men and women.
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It found that women aged 20 to 59 who had sex less than once a week had a 70 per cent higher risk of dying within five years compared to those who had sex more than once a week.
The women having less sex were found to have elevated levels of a protein linked to inflammation, which can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs.
The study authors from Walden University in Pennsylvania believe that sex contributes to good heart health, "possibly by reducing heart rate variability and increasing blood flow".
They concluded that "there are benefits for women to having sex more than once a week" or around four times per month.
Read more on heart health
The notion that sex is good for the old ticker is not known.
Infact, the act itself has previously been linked to myriad health benefits, including better sleep, improved brain function and looking younger.
However, the researchers were quick to note that while sex might improve health, it could also be that people in poor health have less ability to have sex.
To find the individuals for the study, published in , the team used a big database from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
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National survey data including information on depression, obesity, ethnicity and reports of sexual activity.
Also included in the database were answers to the question: 'In the past 12 months, how many times have you had vaginal or anal sex?'
What is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?
The options included: never, once, two to 11 times, 12 to 51 times, 52 to 103 times, 104 to 364 times, and 365 times or more in the past 12 months.
The reports showed that about 95 per cent of participants had sex more than 12 times per year, with 38 per cent doing it once a week or more.
Interestingly, the team also found that people with depression who had sex less than once a week were at 197 per cent risk of early death.
Dr Srikanta Banerjee, one of the study authors, suggested this was because "individuals with depression but high sexual frequency don't feel harmful effects of depression as much."
"Sex releases endorphins that may prevent severe health outcomes," he told the .
TOO MUCH SEX IS DANGEROUS
On the flip side, the study also revealed men who had lots of sex were actually doing themselves more harm than good.
"With high sexual frequency," the researchers wrote, "males were six times more likely to experience increased mortality than females".
This was true even when scientists removed variables like health, behaviour, occupation, income and ethnicity.
During sex, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol into the bloodstream, resulting in increased heart rate, and blood pressure.
Therefore, having sex many times also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, some studies have found.
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"This shows that sexual frequency interacts with gender to increase mortality," the researchers concluded in their study.
"The implications are that by addressing sexual frequency, other health disparities can be addressed more directly."
The 6 reasons why your sex drive is low - and how to fix it
A LOW libido can be worrying, but it's a common problem that actually affects most men and women at some point in their lives.
In most cases, a sluggish sex drive isn't a cause for concern -- but it can be worth looking at some of the possible triggers if you're keen to get your mojo back fast.
Up to one in three women and one in five men in the UK will experience low libido during their lifetime, according to .
The says that some of the main causes of a low sex drive include:
1. Relationship problems
Relationship issues are among the most common causes of loss of libido.
If you've been in a relationship for a long time, it's easy to become overfamiliar with your partner, which can stop you from seeing them in a sexual way.
How to fix it
The NHS suggests relationship counselling to help you reignite the fire.
Your GP may refer you both for psychosexual counselling or relationship therapy.
Both types of therapy can help you and your partner discuss any sexual and emotional issues that may be causing your lack of sex drive.
2. Mental health
Any mental health condition, be it stress, anxiety and depression can be all-consuming and impact all aspects of your life - including your sex drive.
How to fix it
Talk to your GP about your mental health, they will be able to offer treatment options, from talking therapies to medication, if needs be.
If you have a partner, it's also worth sharing your concerns with them as they can offer comfort and support.
Once you feel better, it's likely your sex drive will return and if it doesn't, it's worth revisiting your GP.
3. Pregnancy and having a baby
Having a baby or being pregnant can play havoc with your hormones.
Looking after a baby can also be very stressful and tiring, which can leave you less interested in sex.
How to fix it
Some show that most women are likely to take an interest in sexual activity within six months of giving birth.
However, many women have lower levels of sexual pleasure and emotional satisfaction for up to 18 months after giving birth.
Having a newborn can be exhausting, meaning sex might be the last thing on your mind.
Similarly, there may be physical setbacks. Your body is healing from labor and delivery, and that process might be slower if you had any perineal tearing or if you're recovering from a c-section.
Some women may also worry that intercourse will be painful, and for many some, the first sexual encounters after childbirth can be uncomfortable
So there is no pressure to get back into sex straight away - give yourself time to heal and find your mojo.
4. The menopause
During and after menopause, changes in levels of sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone may affect libido.
Testosterone, considered by some experts to be the hormone primarily responsible for sex drive, drops throughout a woman's lifetime.
At the same time, when a women reaches menopause, her oestrogen level sharply declines.
The fall in oestrogen not only affects sex drive, but can also reduce natural vaginal fluids that help make sex comfortable.
This can result in dry vaginal tissue which can make sex painful.
Pain during sex is also a key sign of cervical cancer, so it's important to get this checked out if you're worried.
How to fix it
It can be worth speaking to your GP about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) if you are going through menopause, as studies show women who take HRT report higher sexual desire.
5. Medicines
Some medicines, such as those for , hormonal contraception and antidepressants, can have an impact on your sex drive.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressant in the UK.
Antidepressants can make it difficult to become aroused, sustain arousal, and reach orgasm.
Some people taking SSRIs aren't able to have an orgasm at all.
How to fix it
Speak to your GP about how your medication may be affecting your sex drive.
Your doctor may suggest changing to a different medicine or type of contraception.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that your low sex drive could be the result of the condition you are being treated for.
For example, depression -- which can be treated with SSRIs -- can cause low sex drive.
6. Drinking too much alcohol
While a cheeky glass of wine can put you in the mood, long term drug and alcohol abuse can lead to a lack of libido.
This is because booze has been proven to reduce testosterone levels -- especially in men.
Current guidance states that men and women should not drink more than 14 alcohol units a week, and should take several days off a week from drinking.
This quiz will be able to help you identify whether or not you have a problem with booze.
How it fix it
Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink is a good place to start.
If this is a struggle and you feel that you misuse drugs and alcohol, it's worth seeing your GP for more help.
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