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.

[girlangler]

LOL.

I knew you'd have something to say in this thread. Yea, I noticed a war going on when I went to this thread earlier, figured it would die out and the fun would begin.

I just returned from a conference in Alabama, and headed for another one in Kentucky this coming weekend. Wish your grand nephew could be there. The group I spoke about finally was able to muster up quite a few vets and are bringing the wife and kids (that's good).

Boy, I have a LOT to tell you about the past few weeks. When I get time I'll freepmail you.Think you'll know some of the people involved.

As for sex, this time of year, with all the conferences, etc., I don't even have time to even think about it (grin).

[steve-b]

Come back when you have something meaningful to add to this discussion.

I've given you many meaningful reminders that your homework assignment is required, and now overdue....

[Killborn]

Welcome to FR. :)

Hijack? What hijack? :)

[ArrogantBustard]

Your continued refusal to add anything meaningful to this thread is noted.

Do you have anything useful to say? Do you understand the nature of my objection to #331? Do you know what is meant by "cherry-picking" data? Do you have any comprehension of what would consititute a complete data set?

Enquiring minds ...

[Warren_Piece]

Sex makes you live longer, healthier, wealthier, smarter, wittier, burns fat, better speaker, reduces mortgage loans, makes your favorite sports team win, blah blah blah..."

So THAT'S what's the matter with the Titans!

[phoenix0468]

There are some rather illogical comments made on this site, but this one takes the cake, IMO.

I understand you reasoning for making the comment, just can't quite come to grips with the logic.

[phoenix0468]

Well, seeing that there are almost seven billion humans on the planet, reproduction doesn't seem like the top priority to me either.

[phoenix0468]

Yeah, so millions of teenagers could brag about it after the Prom, right? /sarc

[phoenix0468]

Already emailed mine. LOL.

[Killborn]

Start the romancin', if you want to do the victory dancin'. :)

[phoenix0468]

People who intentionally limit their reproduction are handing their future over to the Muslims, who aren't.

Actually this statement is patently false. Nations, ours included, that have increadibly liberal immigration regulations that provide the means for Muslims to "overtake" the population are the cause of that. Not lack of reporoduction.

[phoenix0468]

Unfortunately, some folks have turned it into a trivial game for playboys, with disastrous consequences.

Of course, the downfall of Western Civilization is directly a result of Playboy, Penthouse, and the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Issue!!! /sarc

[phoenix0468]

If you've been "doing it" than why should you care about the reasons!!?!!

[phoenix0468]

Well, wideawake, you and Mark Steyn are both wrong. Lack of reprocution isn't causing Western Civilization to Crumble and allow Muslims to take over. It's the fact that these Nations had extremely liberal immigration policies that allowed these lowlifes into their country in the first place. In addition, they have social programs that also propogate these segments of their populations to procreate at a higher level. We have the same problem in the US with Welfare. When a woman can make more money on Welfare by having four babies instead of one, why wouldn't she go out and procreate? That's the reason, not our lack of it.

[phoenix0468]

I've heard it said that women need a reason to have sex and men need a location.

Or better yet, a favorite position!!

[phoenix0468]

Well, unfortunately crack is a stronger aging force than sex is an anti-aging one.

[phoenix0468]

This is the scientific (or practical) reason not to have sex.

[phoenix0468]

You want nine children? Good luck.

[Larry Lucido]

Of course, the downfall of Western Civilization is directly a result of Playboy, Penthouse, and the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Issue!!! /sarc

I can't accept your premise unless I do more research. Much more.