What are the scientific reasons for having sex?

The Register (UK) ^ | 10 oct 06 | Dr Stephen Juan

[white trash redneck]

What are the scientific reasons for having sex?

Asked by Jill Howard of Alexandria, Virginia, USA

The reasons for not engaging in sex include transmission of diseases, heart attack due to exertion, and many others. The reasons for engaging in sex are numerous. Among these are:

• Sex helps boost the immune system. According to Dr Carl Charnetski of the Department of Psychology at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, people who reported one or two sexual "episodes" per week enjoyed higher levels of Immunoglobin A. This is an antibody that helps fight disease.

• Sex helps boost longevity. In one study cited by Dr Charnetski, men who had more orgasms over a 10 year period boosted their longevity compared with those who had fewer.

• Sex helps ward off cancer. In another study cited by Dr Charnetski, men who had more ejaculations over a 35 year period had 33 per cent less prostate cancer compared to those with fewer ejaculations.

• Sex results in a more youthful appearance. According to a study by Dr David Weeks, a clinical neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland and co-author of Superyoung (1999), men and women who reported having sex an average of four times per week looked approximately 10 years younger than they really were.

• Sex helps reduce stress. Numerous studies show that it does this through lowering anxiety levels, boosting relaxation, and aiding sleeping.

• Sex helps fight depression. A study by Dr Gordon Gallup of the Department of Psychology at the State University of New York at Albany found that women who regularly engage in heterosexual sex in which they come in contact with semen were significantly less depressed than those women that did not. he causal relationship is unclear. Dr Gallup speculates that "possibly because when absorbed through the vagina, semen may have an effect on mood in women". However, Dr Gallup is quick to point out: "Regardless of the findings, this study does not advocate that people abstain from using condoms. Protecting oneself from an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease is far more important."

• Sex helps coping with middle age. This is the inference drawn from research by Dr GA Bachmann at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey and published first in 1995 in the International Journal of Fertility and Menopausal Studies and continuing in The Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2006.

• Sex is good exercise. Exercise helps circulation, lowers cholesterol, and releases helpful endorphins.

• Sex helps in losing weight. Well, at least a little. One burns approximately four to five calories per minute or perhaps 300 calories per hour during sex (depending upon how, shall we say, "vigorous" the sex is). About 7,000 to 8,000 excess calories must be burned to lose one kilogram of fat (3,500 to lose one pound). You do the calculations.

Stephen Juan, Ph.D. is an anthropologist at the University of Sydney.

[wideawake]

Both precepts are of equal force and both are to be fulfilled.

[A Texan]

I agree 100% with your demographics point.

As for the gun with blanks, sorry to hear that, it is just God's way of letting you know that your the best version of that type of model he could make, anymore would be sub-par.

[najida]

I'm not talking about relgion, I'm talking about having kids purely for numbers...

Not because you're a great parent, not because you'll love them to pieces, not because you want to bring more good humans into the world....

But because you've got this quota to meet.

To have a child for the wrong reason is cruel--- whether to be a field hand, to be an 'heir' to your name or to outnumber your enemy. The kid knows it....

[wallcrawlr]

dude...you did math stuff on a sex thread

[RockinRight]

[SoothingDave]

If the all so wonderful folks in charge of Western Civ can't protect freedom by establishing that purpose in law, so that freedom itself doesn't depend on the number of detractors, there's little to be admired in that system.

Oh yes. Just let the "Wester Civ" take care of you. Don't expect to have to do your part.

"Ask not what you can do for your civilization"

SD

[SoothingDave]

It's not the number of kids. It's the quality of kids.

Keep on saying that to yourself. I'm sure it gives the French a lot of comfort.

SD

[CzarNicky]

still there

[durasell]

Plus, it's a known fact that women make far too much of that being in labor is painful thing...


(gonna get flames on that one)

[Enchante]

She's "scientific" enough for ME!!!

[HonorsDaddy]

Bah. Two frikken' seconds...

You might want to work on that - thats a little on the quick side...

[steve-b]

More precisely, Europe is in trouble because of welfare statism. Without that, people who won't bother to become educated simply can't afford to crank out kids.

[teenyelliott]

Who cares if it hurts?

Women are nothing more than a vessel through which to repopulate the world.

It is pure selfishness to try to limit the number of children she bears.

[Texas Songwriter]

One photo? One photo? Please, I don't understand. Can you lecture me more with this type of instruction?

[wideawake]

When it comes to religion, there's no guarantee that will work. His kids could convert, or marry Muslims, in which case his efforts will have backfired.

Among the main factors that contribute to children remaining in their parents' religion is a unified religious environment within the home, a large religious network outside the home and a close relationship with and mutual respect between parents and children.

I like my chances.

of course your argument has one big flaw: while there is always a possibility that one's actions will not achieve the desired result, the only reason not to try at all is a 100% probability of failure.

I had more kids not to outcompete Muslims, but to outcompete stupid people.

I assume that's a dig at me.

My primary purpose in life is not to compete with Muslims, but I am aware that my children will be growing up in a very different world than the one I grew up in.

[Cobra64]

Hey,it sure beats getting a root canal.

When Bubba saw Monica, he found a root canal.

[durasell]

Please don't stand too close to me. You're gonna get flamed like there's no tomorrow...

[Clemenza]

You a BAD boy! ;-)

[wideawake]

Your comment reminds me of the teacher in the film Blackboard Jungle who, when complaining about his Hispanic students, said: "They can't add or subtract. All they know how to do is multiply."

I'm not imputing his racism to you, of course.

[wideawake]

Feel free to make a substantive argument as you disagree.