Cardio Max
The aerobic benefits of sex aren't that different from your regular gym workout (scientifically speaking, anyway). The calorie burn equates to about a brisk walk — or up to 5 calories per minute — and depends on how vigorous and how long, says Dr. Holly Thacker, director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Specialized Women's Health. "If you can walk up a flight of stairs — physically you can have sex," she says.
Better Bladder Control
Women who have sex generally have better pelvic floor strength because climax causes muscles to contract. "Those muscles can get weak with age," Thacker explains. "In women, when they get weakened, there can be a leaky bladder."
Stronger Immune System
Those who have sex were found to have higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, according to researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. Immunoglobulin A, a body secretion, is your first line of immune defense, Thacker says. "It's the first thing to ward off ... an infection with a bacteria or a virus."
A Happy Boost
Sex fosters healthier relationships and better mental health by releasing the hormone oxytocin, which promotes intimacy and bonding, Thacker says. "There is also a boost in neurotransmitters in the brain like dopamine, which is the feel-good neurotransmitter," she adds.
