What happens when you don’t have sex for a long time: 11 effects on the body

Do you know what not having sex for a long time does to our body?

Prolonged periods of no sexual activity can affect our bodies both physically and emotionally.

The absence of sexual activity can affect us in subtle ways that we do not realize. In other times it can be quite evident in our body.

The longer you don’t have sex, however, the more apparent these symptoms can become. Find out more about these indicators below.

1) Not having sex increases stress

Sex and orgasms relieve the the stress felt during the day, since they help our muscles and body relax.

They also release hormones related to pleasure and reduce the levels of cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”) in the body, bringing a wonderful feeling of relaxation.

You tend to relax after great sex and a nice orgasm, don’t you?   

Have you ever noticed that people fight less after having orgasms?

Not having sex causes a build-up of tension in the body and makes some people very stressed.

Have you ever heard the expression “Did you get any today…”? Maybe this is the case.

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2) Not having sex lowers immunity

Did you know that having sex once a week increases your immunity by an average 30%?

Orgasms increase the body’s levels of immunoglobulin, which is responsible for fighting colds and the flu.

Who would say that great sex and orgasms would even help you fight the flu?

If you are more stressed, your levels of immunoglobulin decrease, making you more vulnerable and lowering your immunity.

3) Not having sex affects sleep

In fact, there is a vicious cycle here.

Lack of sleep affects sex and lack of sex affects sleep… do you know why?

Sleep deprivation generates more fatigue and many people have a lower sex drive because of that. But how can the absence of sex affect sleep?

Simply because all the chemical reactions that orgasms produce in the body function as a natural tranquilizer.

With sex, your body spends energy and discharges all tension, leaving you calm and rested. Don’t you feel like sleeping after sex?

Besides this, sex is also a type of physical exercise.

After sex, the body releases endorphins (the pleasure hormone) and dopamine (the hormone that reduces anxiety), improving the quality of sleep immensely.

We are more stressed without sex. With sex, we relax and tend to have even better sleep.

4) Not having sex reduces your libido

The more sex you’ll have, the more sex you’ll want to do.

The opposite is also true: if you don’t have sex, the tendency is that your desire for sex will decrease.

The less sex you have, the lower your sexual desire will be.

The absence of sexual activity will reduce the response to excitement in your body.

Just as you need to go to the gym frequently to keep your muscles toned and strong, you also need to keep having stimulations that excite you, for example, caresses, touches, a smell, and much more… all of this helps keep your flame burning.

There are other factors which also contribute to lower libido, but not having sex definitely lowers a person’s sex drive.

5) Not having sex causes aggressiveness and compulsiveness

As a psychologist, I see in practice how aggressiveness and compulsiveness can increase with sexual abstinence.

The more deprived you are of what you desire, the more repressed that desire will be.

When you need to “unload”, this feeling may appear in aggressiveness and compulsiveness.

Did you know that some compulsion episodes can be related to not having sex?

Chocolate, for instance, generates a feeling of pleasure. Therefore, chocolate or sugar cravings can be a sign of your body needing pleasure. 

6) Not having sex affects cardiovascular health

Having orgasms raises the levels of estrogen in the blood, improving our cardiovascular system.

During sex, your blood flows more quickly, releasing several hormones that are important for your health and the health of your heart.

Research recommends sex as a cardiovascular exercise, which may even increase your chances of fighting cancer while also reducing menopause and pre-menstrual symptoms.   

You’re not going to let sexual abstinence affect your heart, right?!

7) Not having sex negatively influences in depression

Dopamine (neurotransmitters of pleasure) and serotonin are substances that are released when you have sex. 

Not having sex leads to depression, because great sex is able to even regulate some emotions.

Of course that other factors can also contribute to depression. However, if your sex life is not going very well, that will create a negative effect on you for sure.

8) Not having sex affects your self-esteem

Quality sex – involving respect, commitment and consent – can contribute a lot to your self-esteem.

Whether you are alone or with someone, getting to know yourself and understanding what satisfies you sexually is very powerful!

Feeling good about your body also helps you rescue your self-esteem and pleasure.

Think of how you feel when you want something and are able to achieve it. Do you feel powerful? Capable? In love with yourself?

Good sex helps in all of this.

9) Not having sex leads to Erectile Dysfunction 

Attention men: Not using your penis cause erectile dysfunction. But why does this happen? 

The lack of blood flow in the region can cause the death of some tissues of the penis… so make sure to use it.

Read also: What to do if you can’t get it up

10) Not having sex increases menstrual cramps

Just as regular physical exercise can help you maintain a good quality of life, having sex regularly helps in menstrual pains as it triggers the release of estrogen, the hormone that helps reduce these pains.

More estrogen = less menstrual cramps.

11) Not having sex affects women’s lubrication and the muscles of the vagina (vulva)

Studies indicate that the process of lubrication in women needs regularity.

So having sex is a great form of physical exercise, training all sexual organs and muscles of the region, which favors lubrication and also strengthens the muscles of the vagina (our dear vulva).

Women, do not stop practicing.

Which symptoms do you notice in your body due to not having sex for a long period of time?

Rediscover your sexuality and what makes you feel good. Increase your quality of life.

Shall we do it? Get started now.

Sources:

Psychologist Aline Cristina de Moraes
Aline Cristina de Moraes

Psychologist from Uniasselvi - Faculdade Metropolitana de Blumenau (Fameblu). Registered at the Brazilian Regional Council of Psychology under number CRP 12/14188. Professor, Specialist in Clinical Psychology at the Granzotto Institute of Psychology, Training in Somatic Illness. Postgraduate student in Human Sexuality at FAVENI. Co- author of a book and creator of the page “O prazer é nosso” ("It’s our pleasure"), conducting workshops and lectures on the topic.


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