Sex May Lead to Less Stress, Good Sleep

By Connect Mason Sports Director Damien Sordelett
Photo by Flickr's 'Mark Sadowski'

While mixing alcohol and sex is always viewed as a bad thing, mixing safe sex and health is something that should make every couple smile from ear to ear.

Many do not talk about it or it is not widely known, but studies have shown that safe sex has been linked to several major health benefits. For college students who are still young and relatively healthy, there are still a few health aspects that can be beneficial.

Studies have shown that during times of stress, students are prone to breaking down and becoming depressed. While sex may the be furthest thing from a student's mind during finals week, sex has been shown to help reduce stress and develop a better sleeping pattern. So, for students who do not get enough sleep because of stress, there is one way to solve both issues.

Now, students should not just look for a random partner to engage in sexual relations. Dr. Dean Ornish, who authored Love and Survival: the Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy, said in his book that "an open heart can lead to the most joyful and ecstatic sex... [and] anything that promotes feelings of love and intimacy is healing.” So, having a loving and caring partner who is willing to engage in sexual activity be beneficial to the relationship and, in the long run, be beneficial to each person's health.

The list goes on and on...

As Joy Davidson, Ph.D., a New York psychologist and sex therapist, said in an interview with WebMD, "...the idea that we are vital, sexual creatures is still looked at in some cases with disgust or in other cases a bit of embarrassment. So to really take a look at how our sexuality adds to our life and enhances our life and our health, both physical and psychological, is eye-opening for many people."

Though, Davidson's point does raise questions. As Jennifer Bass, the head of information services at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in Bloomington, Ind., said in an interview with the Associated Press, "We know that healthier people have more sexual activity. But we do not know which comes first. Does the good health make you more willing to have sex, or does the sex have a positive impact?”

That latter point is still in the debate stages, but there is one point that cannot be avoided: if intimacy and closeness in sex is beneficial, what happens when partners enjoy the fun between the sheets to be a bit rough? As Dr. J. Francois Eid, a urologist with Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital put it, "It is possible for a young man who is very forceful and who likes rough sex, to damage his erectile tissue." So, gentlemen, be respectful to the ladies and yourself.

However, that is not the only thing that can go wrong for a man in a healthy sexual relationship. Some gentlemen may begin taking risks outside of the bedroom in a sexual relationship to either have more sex or draw attention to himself. “Risk-taking is a natural way of increasing your relative success, but, of course, there’s a downside to it, what we’re seeing right now in the economy,” said Kevin McCabe, professor of economics, law and neuroscience at George Mason University.

Now, on to happier thoughts. Sex is one of those things that is enjoyed by almost everyone, even when they may seem to be getting too much or not enough for that person's standard. Looking back, sex has more than enough benefits. It is, however, necessary to be fully aware of how to truly benefit from sex.

The Office of Health Education Services is open and the staff there is willing to answer any questions regarding sex. So, if any article, video or discussion about sex this past week has raised your curiosity about sex, please make that your first stop in preparing for a healthy sexual life.