A new study has revealed a surprising link between intimate activity and life expectancy, especially in women.
The research indicated that women aged 20 to 59 who had intimate relations less than once per week faced a significantly greater risk of early death compared to those who were more sexually active.
Drawing from data involving 14,542 individuals, the study concluded that women with infrequent sexual activity had a 70% higher likelihood of dying from any cause within a five-year timeframe.
Experts suggest this may be due to elevated levels of a particular protein associated with inflammation, which can harm cells, tissues, and vital organs.
The research team from Walden University in Pennsylvania conducted their analysis using a large dataset provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Mail Online.
This dataset included detailed health information such as mental health status, body weight, racial background, and self-reported intimacy levels.
Participants were asked a central question about how often they had engaged in sexual activity over the previous year, with possible responses ranging from “never” to “365 times or more.”
“There are health advantages for women who engage in sexual activity more than once weekly,” the researchers concluded.
They highlighted that consistent intimate activity seemed to have a protective effect on health, possibly due to benefits related to heart health, improved blood circulation, and lower variability in heart rate.
Interestingly, while the study also explored the relationship between sexual activity and health in men, it did not find the same link between frequency and overall mortality risk.
However, there was an unexpected result: men who reported very frequent sexual encounters were found to be six times more likely to have a higher mortality rate compared to women with similarly high activity levels.
Dr. Srikanta Banerjee, the lead author of the study, pointed to another important discovery involving mental health.
He observed that individuals battling depression who maintained a higher frequency of sexual activity seemed to be less impacted by the harmful health effects typically associated with the condition.
“Those experiencing depression but engaging in frequent sexual activity tend to show fewer negative outcomes linked to their mental health,” Dr. Banerjee stated.
Further investigation revealed a striking statistic: participants who were both depressed and sexually inactive had a 197% higher risk of death compared to those who had depression alone.
This finding implies that regular sexual activity may help buffer some of the negative physical consequences of mental health struggles.
However, while the study underscores potential health advantages linked to sexual activity, researchers were careful to point out that the connection is not straightforward.
They noted that an individual’s overall health can influence their sexual behavior—meaning that low frequency might not only be a cause but also a result of poor health.
Dr. Srikanta Banerjee, the lead author of the study, pointed to another important discovery involving mental health.
He observed that individuals battling depression who maintained a higher frequency of sexual activity seemed to be less impacted by the harmful health effects typically associated with the condition.
“Those experiencing depression but engaging in frequent sexual activity tend to show fewer negative outcomes linked to their mental health,” Dr. Banerjee stated.
Further investigation revealed a striking statistic: participants who were both depressed and sexually inactive had a 197% higher risk of death compared to those who had depression alone.
This finding implies that regular sexual activity may help buffer some of the negative physical consequences of mental health struggles.
However, while the study underscores potential health advantages linked to sexual activity, researchers were careful to point out that the connection is not straightforward.
They noted that an individual’s overall health can influence their sexual behavior—meaning that low frequency might not only be a cause but also a result of poor health.
