Health Effects of Sex

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Health Effects of Sex

Sex is one of the most discussed topics in many circles. People allude to sex in their daily lives, including the advertisements and marketing campaigns. People have sex for different reasons. Some do it for the purposes of recreation while others do it for pleasure and enjoyment. The meaning and understanding of sex differs among people and cultures. While some people hold open discussions about sex, others consider it a personal topic that should not be discussed. Information about sex has increased today, especially with the advance of the internet. People can access the internet and they can get the information they need concerning sex. Having sex can have negative and positive consequences. Other than pleasure and enjoyment, sex does have some effects on a person’s health. It has both positive and negative health consequences.

Sex is good for mental and emotional health. Some studies show that having sexual intercourse has the ability to improve someone’s mental performance and increase the production of new neurons. The neurons are responsible for formation of new memories. This means that sex has an effect on a person’s intelligence. People tend to be more relaxed when they have sex, and this contributes to better sleep. Therefore, sex is a form of relaxation for some because they do not have any difficulty sleeping. Some people consider sex beneficial because it helps in increasing their self-esteem and this is good for their emotional and psychological health.

Sex is good for physical health. It is a form of exercise and it actually burns calories. This means that it is good for physical health. In addition, it also lowers the heart attack risk, as it increases the heart rate. This helps keep the male and female hormones in order. It is good for controlling blood pressure and improving women’s bladder control. People who have more sex have reduced levels of systolic blood pressure. Women who have more sex improve the working of their pelvic muscles and strengthen them, and this helps them to control their bladder (Robinson & Smith).

Any benefits of sex are realized if the action is between consenting people. Sex does have some negative aspects to it. Having sex increases the risk of contracting some sexually transmitted diseases if the partners do not take the necessary precautionary measure. People risk contracting diseases such as aids, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, herpes, and hepatitis C among others. This can have an effect on someone’s way of life. It can be disruptive since the person has to seek medical attention. In addition, some conditions such as HIV/AIDS can be serious. They can affect other parts of the body and this can affect the person negatively.

Sex can have negative consequences if only one person in consenting to it. It can lead to violence and aggressiveness, which manifests itself in the form of rape and sexual coercion. It can also lead to risky and unhealthy sexual behavior (Steptoe et al. 61). Someone might consent to sex for the sake of pleasing the other partner, even though he might not want to have sex. This can happen if one of the partners happens to be dominating. Cases of child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and rape in marriage have occurred because of this.

Young people who engage in sex report negative outcomes. Some experience depression and other mental health outcomes (Vasilenko, Lefkowitz, and Maggs). Some of them note that they experienced guilt and regret when they had sex. This shows the negative emotions that can appear when adolescents decide to have sex when they are not ready. Some teenagers engage in sex because they want to fit in and be like their peers. However, they might not necessarily be prepared for it. Others reported that their relationships with their partners deteriorated when they had sex. Other young people lack basic information concerning sex. This group realizes the most disadvantages of having sex. They might end up contracting diseases or becoming pregnant. Many adolescent girls feel that they are being used when they engage in sex. This is despite the fact that they did so willingly (Vasilenko, Lefkowitz, and Maggs). They might have engaged in sex with the intention of strengthening their relationship.

Sex is not a bad thing if it happens at the right time and between two consenting and knowing adults. The partners have to have all the details of engaging in sex. They have to be aware of what it will involve. They also have to be aware of all the consequences. Sex can be a pleasurable and enjoyable activity if it happens at the right place and with the right person. However, it can have lasting negative consequences if not all the partners involved consent to it. This can happen if the person is forced or coerced. Rape and sexual molestation can have negative consequences and they can affect a person’s physical and psychological health. It is important for people to be ready when they have sex so that they can reap the maximum benefits.

Works Cited:

Hurley, Dan. “How Sex Affects Intelligence, and Vice Versa.” The Atlantic. 13 Jan 2014. Web. 13 July 2015

Robinson, Kara M. and Michael, Smith W. 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex. 2015. Web. 13 July 2015

Steptoe, Andrew. Handbook of Behavioral Medicine: Methods and Applications. New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2010. Print

Vasilenko, Sara A. Eva Lefkowitz S. and Jeniffer, Maggs L. “Short-Term Positive and Negative Consequences of Sex Based on Daily Report among College Students.” Journal of Sex Research 49.6 (2011): 558-569