If you purchase via links on our site, we may receive commissions. However, our experts carefully research and evaluate each product or service, ensuring it meets our quality standards.

Science-Proven Health Benefits of Sex for Women

By Rhiannon John, MSexol •

Updated on April 05, 2023

•

Medically reviewed by Anna Lindfors, MA, MBPsS, COSCA

Happy couple in bed showing emotions and love — Image by NDAB Creativity via Shutterstock

Sexual health, which includes sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual expression, relationships and pleasure, is fundamental to your overall health and wellbeing according to The World Health Organization (WHO).

Science supports that there are many physiological and psychological benefits to women having sex often.
Physiological benefits of sex for women include a reduction in the symptoms of migraines and hot flashes, increased pelvic floor and cardiovascular health, and increased life expectancy post-heart attack.
Psychological benefits of sex for women include improved memory recall for older women, improved memory for younger women, and increased happiness.

Research has found that sex has been found to positively affect a woman's biological and psychological health in many different aspects. But what exactly are the scientifically proven benefits of sex, specifically for women?

Sex can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles

Spice it up

Turn your bedroom play into a thrilling adventure of mutual pleasure.

Get up to 20% OFF

Try LELO

Sex, including masturbation, has been found to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles as it promotes blood flow to the area and contracts the muscles during orgasms. This greatly benefits women, as strong pelvic floor muscles help prevent incontinence. A review of the studies examining the use of vibrators for pelvic floor functioning found that women with stress urinary incontinence who use vibrators were able to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles enough that they reduced urinary symptoms and the need for pads.

Having frequent sex can make you happier

Scientists conducting a study of over 25,000 Americans from 1989 to 2012 found that those who had sex at a frequency of once a week were the happiest. Interestingly, the study found that having sex more than once a week didn't lead to increased happiness. The researchers state that the increase in happiness stems from the intimacy that partnered sex provides rather than the frequency of sex itself.

How does sex benefit the mind?

Sex improves brain functioning

A study examining sex and the brain found that women aged 50 to 90, who had sex, had better memory recall (remembering past experiences or things) than those women who had no sex.

Another study found that women aged 18 to 29 who had intercourse were better at remembering abstract words, suggesting that having sex may improve a woman's memory.

Sex has many physical and psychological health benefits for women, which many scientific studies have proved. Research supports that having regular sex aids sleep quality, strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, reduces incontinence, reduces the symptoms of migraines and hot flashes, improves cardiovascular health and brain functioning, and can make you feel happier.

How does sex benefit the body?

It can reduce hot flashes

A 2007 study of women with menopause symptoms found that sex improved hot flashes. The research compared women who had sex at least once and week with women who had no sex and found that those who had frequent sex experienced less severe hot flashes than those who didn't.

Having sex can help to reduce headaches

Scientists have discovered that sex can aid in treating certain types of headaches. One study found that 60% of people who had sex while experiencing a migraine reported that their symptoms had improved or were completely relieved. However, only 37% of people who had sex while experiencing cluster headaches saw some benefit.

Sex and orgasms can improve sleep

Researchers investigating how orgasms can affect a person's sleep found that those who had an orgasm with their partner and by themselves reported having a better night’s sleep. The study discovered that those who had an orgasm before bed believed that the quality of their sleep had improved and that they fell asleep quicker. The sleep improvement was slightly better for partnered sex than masturbation, but both forms of sex led to better sleep quality.

It may make you live longer

A study of older people who had suffered from a heart attack found that those who continued to have sex in the years after the heart attack lived longer. The study examined heart attack patients over the 22 years after their heart attack and found that many people decreased the amount of sex they were having due to medical issues. But the patients who continued to have regular sex had improved life longevity.

Sex can improve heart health

A 2016 study examining 2,204 older adults found that good-quality sex can help improve a woman’s cardiovascular health in later life. Good cardiovascular health has numerous benefits, such as increasing insulin sensitivity, lowering body weight, and reducing the risk of developing hypertension, osteoporosis, and, diabetes.