There are many studies that show that couples who have an active sex life have far less stress than those who do not. However, lets examine this a little closer. The question I have is does the sexual intimacy help just keep stress away from the beginning or does the sexual intimacy actually work on the stress to lessen it. I have seen studies both ways. For me, I feel that it actually does both. I think that sexual intimacy allows you to avoid stress by keeping you relaxed and better able to handle situations as they arise. However, I also believe that the chemicals released during sexual intimacy can have a dramatic effect on the stress level in people. So, I really don't think it matters which way you look at it.
I also came across this interesting study and wanted to share it with you. - Rob
This information comes from Jennifer Bass, the head of information services at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction in Bloomington, IN.
A recent study of college students at the State University of New York in Albany suggests that semen acts as an antidepressant. Females in the study who were having sex without condoms (see safe sex caution, above) had fewer signs of depression than women who used condoms or abstained from sex.
“These data are consistent with the possibility that semen may antagonize depressive symptoms,” the authors wrote, “and evidence which shows that the vagina absorbs a number of components of semen that can be detected in the bloodstream within a few hours of administration.”
I kid you not, ladies. Semen is good stuff. It gives a shot of zinc, calcium, potassium, fructose, proteins -- a veritable cornucopia of vitality!