Psychologist Stuart Brody, from the University of the West of Scotland, in the United Kingdom, decided to study whether sex with a partner is healthier than alone , and concluded that shared relationships are much more satisfying than masturbation. It has its logic, because, if it were the other way around, perhaps humanity would have become extinct.
To arrive at this result, Brody measured the level of prolactin in the blood , a hormone with a relaxing effect that is released after climax , and found that it was 400% higher among those who had a conventional relationship than among those who were they self-satisfied.
Prolactin also has another consequence: it allows us to smell better , as confirmed by Professor Samuel Weiss, from the University of Calgary, in Canada, through research in mice, since it causes the number of new nerve cells in the olfactory bulb to double , the part of the brain that regulates odor.
Heart medicine
But if there is an organ that feels great, it is the heart. Its cardioprotective effect is similar to that of regular exercise. During intercourse, the heart rate goes from seventy beats per minute to about 180, and, as a result of this activity, the same calories are spent that we would consume by walking fast for half an hour.
Like any intense activity, sex tones the whole body , but especially the pelvic area. Contractions of the vagina and spasms of the anal and urethral sphincter – in both sexes – are as effective as Kegel exercises . These are recommended after delivery or to improve urine control in the elderly. Its effects among women are highly contrasted, as explained by gynecologist Ramón Serrano Vicéns in his book Female sexuality, a statistical investigation (Ruedo Ibérico, 1972). This pioneer in the study of the impact of sex on health pointed out that women who masturbate have more effective uterine contractions in childbirth than those who do not.
There are girls who turn to this medicine to combat painful periods . Discomfort decreases because orgasm activates the body center that mitigates pain, in the midbrain. When climax comes, it commands the release of endorphins and corticosteroids that have a sedative effect on the nerve endings associated with menstrual cramps and headaches. On the other hand, the oxytocin that is released also has anti-stress effects and lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
Dr. Serrano Vicéns argued that sex reflects a close relationship between the psychic and the physical, and provided some data that confirms it: only 15% of women who masturbate, that is, have a more liberated sexuality, suffer from dysmenorrhea; compared to 80% of the girls with a more anxious profile, who also do it, but with a feeling of guilt. People who have suffered a heart attack feel just as paralyzing. They would like to enjoy themselves, but they doubt whether their heart will hold it. Uncertainty is quickly cleared by doctors – not only can you bear it, you will appreciate it.
Alternative to ibuprofen
“Intercourse involves less risk for the heart than climbing a staircase or a typical Christmas family dinner,” explains Jesús Ramos Brieva, a psychiatrist at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid and a researcher in areas of sexuality. In this case, the specialists do point out – and not out of modesty – that as long as the relationship is with the couple, since the added stress of throwing a gray hair does entail greater danger. In her book Women alone, Brieva collects the testimony of a score of female users of onanism with multiple objectives, in addition to providing pleasure.
One of the most frequent is to try to fall asleep. “Who has not ever tried to overcome insomnia by plunging into the arms of Morpheus at the hand of Eros?” Asks this psychiatrist. It is not that an orgasm, as a couple or alone, can always replace anxiolytics, although in some situations it is an alternative to consider. In fact, according to psychologist and science popularizer Morton Hunt, 30% of people use it as a substitute for pills. In addition, compared to these, erotic pleasure has two advantages: it does not carry side effects and it does not have the danger of addiction from these drugs when taken for more than a month.
It is a formidable escape valve for dealing with stressful situations. “It’s a great relaxant even before a job interview or an exam, ” says Dr. Brieva. Rocío, whose experience is collected in Solo Mujeres, admits that she has used autoeroticism as an alternative to aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol. “I masturbate when my head hurts … and it works!” In another testimony, Laura explains that masturbating in the morning before going to work gives her energy for the whole day, something that scientific studies corroborate, according to Dr. Brieva: “It is not by chance that sex has stopped being forbidden in sports gatherings before a test; now it is even encouraged. “
Benefits for athletes
Plato said that Olympians should avoid pre-competition sex , but science has made amends for him: abstinence does not improve endurance, aerobic power, or top speed. Sex also brings mental advantages, as they have verified in the University of Pavia, in Italy. There, a group of neurologists has found that climax favors the synthesis of neurotrophins, proteins that play a crucial role in memory and learning.
