Intimate life is a significant marker of physical and psycho-emotional well-being. We examined how intimacy affects health and why it remains important with age. Improves memory and concentration In animal studies, scientists found that intimacy promotes the formation of new neural connections in the brain’s hippocampus—the area responsible for information processing and memory. A large 2019 study demonstrated that sexual activity can prevent age-related decline in cognitive abilities in men. Older adults showed a correlation between the level of intimate activity and higher scores on cognitive tests. This applies particularly to working memory and executive functions—skills involving planning, self-management, and problem-solving. The study involved 73 people aged 50 to 83. Moreover, according to a 2018 study, older adults who had sex more often and had stronger emotional bonds with their partners performed better on tests of episodic memory. Sex instead of medicine—we asked a doctor if this works May help with kidney stones Regular sexual intercourse can help both men and women pass kidney stones. Researchers suggest this is due to the release of nitric oxide during intimacy, which then helps relax the ureter muscles. In one small study, a group of men with kidney stones were instructed to have sex three to four times a week. After two weeks, 82% of the participants passed kidney stones naturally, compared to only 53% in the control group. Scientists concluded that a sexual life can increase the chance of natural stone expulsion and partially alleviate associated pain. In another 2020 study, 80% of women with kidney stones who had sex three to four times a week passed their stones within two weeks. Researchers also noted that they required pain relievers less often. A study of nearly 3,000 women showed a correlation between frequent sexual activity and the age of menopause onset. Women who reported weekly intimate activity had a 28% lower likelihood of starting menopause compared to those who had sex less than once a month. Scientists hypothesized that more frequent intimacy signals to the body that the possibility of conception is still real and that ovulation should continue. However, it should be noted that this is an established correlation, not proven causation. Reduces the risk of prostate cancer in men Urologists and oncologists pay close attention to the role of regular intimate activity in preventing prostate cancer. A large cohort study revealed a significant inverse relationship between ejaculation frequency and the risk of this disease in men. Higher activity was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those with less active sexual lives. Scientists believe that frequent ejaculation helps flush potentially harmful compounds from the prostate that could contribute to the development of malignant cells. Does not increase the risk of heart attack Sex almost never triggers a heart attack, and most people who have had a heart attack can resume their sex lives. Researchers studied 536 patients aged 30 to 70 and found that the frequency of intimacy in the year prior to a heart attack did not increase the risk of subsequent cardiac events. Most patients had sex once a week or more, and only 0.7% reported intimacy within an hour before the heart attack. The physical exertion during sex is comparable to climbing two flights of stairs or a brisk walk, so it does not pose a serious strain on the heart. A 2024 study showed that the frequency of intimacy affects heart health and the risk of early death in adults aged 20–59. It was found that activity that is too infrequent (less than 12 times a year) or, conversely, excessive (more than 365 times a year) increases the risk, while moderate activity (about 1–2 times a week, or 52–103 times a year) is associated with the lowest probability of heart problems and premature death. The Essence Intimate life is an important indicator of physical and psycho-emotional health. It improves memory and concentration, supports cognitive abilities in aging individuals, aids in the natural expulsion of kidney stones, may delay the onset of menopause in women, and reduces the risk of prostate cancer in men. Sex almost never causes a heart attack, and the physical effort during it is comparable to climbing two flights of stairs. New data from 2024 shows that activity that is too infrequent or, conversely, excessive increases the risk of cardiovascular problems and early death, while moderate activity is associated with the lowest risk.
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