We talk about it on the radio. We talk about it—and even do it—on TV and in movies. However, for some or other reason, sex still has a stigma attached to it that makes it somewhat of a “taboo” subject. Let’s face it: Sex is the key component of  lifes on earth. Millions of people work really hard to get in shape just so they can have more sex and do it better.

According to journalist Kara Meyer Robinson, “Sex not only feels good. It can also be good for you.”1 In fact, Robinson shares ten “surprising health benefits of sex”:

1. Helps keep your immune system working optimally.

2. In a recent study published in the journal Psychological Reports, psychologists from Wilkes University, found that those college students who had sex at least 1 – 2 times per week had much higher levels ofimmunoglobulin A (IgA), which is the key antibody that plays a role in immune system function, compared to students who had sex less often.

3. Sex boosts your libido. This follows the lines of the “use it or lose it” mantra. If you are having sex it will actually lead to better sex and an increase in libido.

4. Improves women’s bladder control. “Good sex is like a workout for your pelvic floor muscles.” Lowers your blood pressure.

5. Multiple studies have shown that sex can lower systolic blood pressure.

6. Counts as exercise. When it comes to exercise, many experts suggest that you should find something that you enjoy doing.

7. Although it isn’t a replacement for strength training or aerobic conditioning, sex is indeed a form of exercise that boosts heart rate and (generally) involves using a variety of the body’s muscles.

8. Lowers heart attack risk. In one study published in The American Journal of Cardiology, researchers at the New England Research Institute in Massachusetts found that men who had sex at least twice a week cut their risk for heart disease in half.

9. Lessens pain. The old saying that “motion is lotion” rings true, but also, sexual intercourse and having an orgasm result in the release of various “feel good” hormones and neurotransmitters that can ease pain.

10. May make prostate cancer less likely. In one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that men who ejaculatedfrequently, 21 times/month, significantly reduced their risk of developing prostate cancer.

11. Improves sleep. Some of those same feel-good hormones that ease pain can also help promote a sense of relaxation that makes falling asleep easier.

12.  Eases stress. As you’ll see, the act of touching and engaging in the physical activity of sex can lead to the release of a special “love hormone” that can also combat stress.

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