The benefits of sex range from slashing stress levels to lowering your risk of cancer and heart attacks. Sex facilitates bonding and feelings of intimacy with your partner. This kind of connectedness does more than make you feel warm and fuzzy, it actually reduces anxiety and boosts your overall health.

Sex and sexuality are a part of life. Aside from reproduction, sex can be about intimacy and pleasure. Sexual activity, penile vaginal intercourse or masturbation, can offer many surprising benefits to all facets of your life:

• Physical
• Intellectual
• Emotional
• Psychological
• Social

Sex not only feels good. It can also be good for you. Here’s what a healthy sex life can do for you.

1. Sex can be a great stress reliever

2. Sex can burn calories

3. Sex might keep the common cold away

4. Sex can help you bond emotionally with your partner

5. Sex can be good for your heart

6. Sex might boost your self-esteem

7. For men, regular sex might lower prostate cancer risk

8. Sex might relieve headaches

9. Sex might help you sleep better

10. Lower Your Blood Pressure

11. Improve Women’s Bladder Control

12. Strengthen Your Well-Being

13. Look Younger

Sex is an important part of life and overall well-being. In relationships, orgasms play a significant part in bonding. Physical and emotional benefits like reduced risk of heart disease, improved self-esteem, and more can come from having sex.

You can still have similar benefits without sex. Engaging in other pleasurable activities like exercising, interacting with a pet, and having a strong network of friends could potentially offer the same benefits. Sex is just one way of improving your quality of life.

But if sex is part of your life, due to a relationship or desire, it’s important to be able to communicate and experience sexual satisfaction. You may find relief and an increase in happiness when you take the time to have sex.