There are many benefits to being sexually active: It releases estrogen and increases oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins, and immunoglobulin A. This chemical and hormonal stew makes us both feel and be healthier. Having sex makes us feel powerful, giving, and connected, all of which feed our relationships with our partners.
I came across a recent study that affirms another benefit I often talk to women about: Sex is good exercise.
The study was conducted by Antony D. Karelis, who teaches exercise science at the University of Quebec at Montreal. Participants in the study wore armbands while having sex, and also jogged on treadmills to produce comparative data. The results? On the “metabolic equivalent of task” scale, on which sitting still ranks a 1-MET, sex ranked 6-MET for men and 5.6-MET for women. That puts it, according to Gretchen Reynolds, author of “Sex as Exercise: What are the Benefits?” as roughly equivalent to playing doubles tennis or walking uphill. To do your own comparisons, it’s categorized as “moderate exercise.”
Good to know, right? And I think we midlife women can use this knowledge to our advantage. Part of my counsel to women experiencing diminishing libido is to be intentional about remaining sexually active. There are two parts to my rationale: First, as our hormones diminish, we’ve got that “use it or lose it” thing going on that I’ve talked about before. Second, having sex begets having sex. That is, we women will want to have sex more often when we—wait for it—have sex.
There’s a line from the study conclusions that made me smile: “Both men and women reported that sexual activity was… highly enjoyable and more appreciated than the 30-minute exercise session on the treadmill.” I’m so glad to hear that!
So I start to wonder: How can we apply to our sex lives the same thinking that gets us religiously to yoga or Pilates several times a week? Neither we nor our partners want us to be thinking about sex as one more chore on the to-do list or an obligation on our calendars. But can we consider it a gift to ourselves and our health, as we do our morning walk or Zumba class? Will that give us the extra incentive to make the time and the commitment?
I’m hoping so.
Dr. Barb DePree, M.D., has been a gynecologist and women’s health provider for almost 30 years and a menopause care specialist for the past ten.
1 comment
Excellent. Keep telling people this. Instead of eating, running off to a dirty gym and hating exercise, be sexual! Nothing is more fun and wonderful in my estimation. Who wouldn’t want to float away in this gorgeous intimate way? Connecting, getting to one of the peak experiences humans can have? Lucky enough to have a partner whom you desire? This is probably the answer to Peace in the world.