We all know that sex is good for you. It is a natural human act that, when done carefully and consensually, can be pleasurable and improve your health. But do you know why? How does it affect your body? And most importantly: What happens when you don’t have sex for a while? Here are some of the most common side effects of not getting enough action.

Things That Happen To Your Body When You Don’t Have Sex For A While

Sex, though often still a very taboo subject, is an important part of health. It is a way to express yourself, deepen your connection with another person, and make you feel happy and energized. Sometimes, however, we go through periods of life where we are either focused on other things, or we have simply decided to take a break from the act. Have you ever wondered what happens to your body when you haven’t had sex for a while? These are some of the things you might experience.

Increased stress

Sex helps relieve stress and lowers cortisol levels. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, which can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. For women, particularly, this seemed impactful. A 2016 study found that good sex had a protective effect on women’s hearts later in life. (1)

“Sex has complicated ties to mood, self-esteem, and releasing happy hormones like dopamine and oxytocin,” said sexologist Dr. Jordin Wiggins, ND, owner and creator of Health Over All Inc. “people might feel more agitated than they’re used to feeling (than they did when they were having sex).” 

Decreased libido

When we are hungry or thirsty, the longer we go without eating or drinking, the hungrier and thirstier we get. Sex is not like that. The longer you go without, the more you tend to get used to life without it, and the less you feel that you need it. This goes for both men and women. Masturbation is a good way to help increase your libido if you feel as though it is dipping.

A Dry Vaginal Wall and Weak Pelvic Floor

This has turned into a bit of a myth that the vagina becomes tighter if you don’t have intercourse for a long time. This is 100% false. What does happen, however, is that the vaginal wall becomes drier and also your pelvic floor can become weaker. This is called vaginal atrophy. Not only will this make intercourse more difficult, but a weak pelvic floor can make it harder to reach orgasm. To help prevent this, perform pelvic floor strengthening exercises and consider getting a pelvic floor trainer (you can find them online)

Takes Longer To Become Wet The Next Time You Do Have Sex

While the vagina is a self-lubricating organ, if you haven’t had sex for a long time, it might take a touch longer to become fully wet when you finally have intercourse. Don’t let this worry or stress you out, though – just relax and ensure your partner gives you a proper warm-up

Touch Starvation

This refers to a lack of physical human connection. While it is often referred to in a sexual context, the reality is that it doesn’t have to be only sexual. This can happen to those who don’t receive hugs or other forms of non-sexual, physical touch from friends and/or family. Skin-on-skin contact releases oxytocin, particularly in a sexual context. When deprived of this, you crave that kind of connection, known as touch starvation. You are also more likely to get sick and feel emotionally upset