resources > sexuality

Good Vibrations: Uncovering the Health Benefits of Sex

A Happy Heart

In a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, British researchers examined whether sex affected the heart health of about 900 middle-aged men. They found that over 10 years, men who had sex twice or more a week had a lower risk of heart attack than men who had sex less often. The findings suggest that sex offers a cardiovascular boost - though it's also possible that men who are already in better physical health simply have more sex.

For Her

One study suggests that sexual activity might prevent endometriosis, a common gynecological condition that occurs when the tissue lining the inside of a woman's uterus also grows in other areas, such as on the ovaries or fallopian tubes. This growth can cause pelvic pain and sometimes infertility. The study, published in the journal Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, found that women who were sexually active during their periods were 1.5 times less likely to develop endometriosis than women who avoided sex during their periods. The researchers also found that orgasms during menstruation were associated with lower endometriosis risk.

According to study author Dr. Harvey J. Kliman, a research scientist at Yale University School of Medicine, the risk of endometriosis may go up if menstrual debris flows backward into the pelvic area. The contractions of the uterus that occur during sex, and specifically orgasm, may help push the menstrual debris out of the uterus, Kliman explains.

Stress Relief

Satisfying sexual activity can, of course, be an exhilarating mood lifter. If you're in a relationship, says Dr. Carol Rinkleib Ellison, a San Francisco-based psychologist and author of Women's Sexualities, sex can "bring the relationship into harmony and make you and your partner feel closer, so you feel less stressed and more relaxed."

And whether you are having sex with a partner or masturbating, an orgasm itself can also help release tension. During orgasm, there is a surge in a hormone called oxytocin, which may account for both the stronger emotional connection between partners and the tension relief.

Oxytocin appears to regulate blood pressure and body temperature, and is also thought to have a role in relieving pain and promoting healing. Ellison describes an orgasm as a way to "re-boot" your body and mind just as you would re-start a computer. But she notes that focusing too much on having an orgasm can be stressful and sometimes self-defeating. Instead, people should think about successful sex as "mutual erotic pleasure in whatever form it takes."

resources > health

"My life’s mission is to empower every woman to take charge of her own health. As an internist – and author and speaker – I seek to give every woman the confidence and simple tools she needs to become an active participant in her own health care. I urge you to be your own health advocate. It could save your life." -- Dr. Savard

Life-Saving Tests
All Women Should Have

• A complete physical exam, including a blood pressure and cholesterol check
• A yearly pelvic exam and pap smear by age 21—whether you are sexually active or not
• Regular breast exams
• Total skin checks every three years to analyze freckles and moles to catch skin cancer early. It is one of the deadliest cancers for women under 30.
• A thyroid check at age 35. An unhealthy thyroid can lead to depression, weight gain, mental and physical fatigue, and heart damage.

• An eye exam once a year after age 40. Make sure your doctor tests for glaucoma, a disease that can cause blindness without any symptoms or warning.
• A yearly mammogram
• A colonoscopy at age 50 to check for colon cancer, even if there is no family history of the disease
• For women 65 and older, checkups should include a blood pressure check, complete blood work, a urinalysis and a hearing test.
• Since women are more than twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis, get a baseline bone mineral density test to monitor your risk.