Can Great Sex Really Supercharge your Immunity?

We all know that great sex is one of the most pleasurable parts of life. But did you know that a little regular action between the sheets can benefit your immune system so powerfully that it can fight off colds, viruses, and illnesses – and possibly even lower your vulnerability to Covid-19? Here’s exactly why enjoying a little extra intimate time with your partner deserves to be elevated in status from a little bit of fun to a bona fide priority.

Did you know that sweating it out in the gym can literally work out your brain as hard as your biceps? It’s exactly why Einstein and Darwin never missed their sacred daily walks – because exercise can literally raise your IQ. Read on to find out how supercharging your workouts can supercharge your intelligence, too!

More Sex Equals Less Sickness

Yes, you read that right! As it turns out, having sex can boost your immunity by as much as 30% – which is great news for anybody worried about catching a cold this winter! If you’re concerned about Covid and other viruses & bacteria, you’ll be pleased to hear that hitting the snooze button to enjoy a little extra morning delight with your partner before work may even score you a promotion, as people who have sex more often tend to take fewer sick days.

Maybe that’s why a recent large-scale study published by the US Institute for the Study of Labor found that people who have sex 4 times a week earn more money than average! So you now have an official excuse for making more time for a little romance – it might make you richer in health – and wealth!

Immunoglobulin: The Language of Love

Okay, so talking about the benefits of elevated immunoglobulin (IgA) levels isn’t exactly going to heat up the passion between the sheets. Let’s face it, science talk isn’t generally considered to be an aphrodisiac by anyone. But for your body, sex really can become a biological language of love when it comes to its’ immunoglobulin-boosting benefits.

In fact, as it turns out, the effects of intimacy on elevating IgA levels represent a pretty cool reason for you and your partner to enjoy some extra quality time together. Here’s what immunoglobulin (IgA) is, why it’s so crucial that you know about it, and how, exactly, sex & intimacy power it so effectively.

Valued First Responders

For those of you lucky enough to be in love, having sex a couple of times a week will earn you the welcome but unexpected benefits of higher immunoglobin A (IgA) levels than people who have sex less than once a week. What, exactly, does that mean, and why, exactly, should you care? 

Here’s why. 

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the most abundantly produced antibody blood protein in our body. We can’t live without it, because it enables the healthy immune functioning of our mucous membranes (the inner lining of organs and body cavities, such as the stomach, mouth, lungs & nose). The more IgA you have, the more powerfully and quickly your body is able to fight off illnesses that try to beat down the natural mucosal defenses of your body. 

IgA works by stopping bacteria and viruses from attaching themselves to the epithelial cells of your body (epithelial cells line your skin and organs). It neutralizes bacterial toxins and viruses and eliminates pathogens and antigens via a special excretory pathway to get them out of your body, fast –  leaving you healthy & illness-free.

Sharing the Love

While we know that the IgA boosting effects of intimacy and sex with a loved one directly affect immunity, there are indirect and powerful effects, too, which offer equally beneficial outcomes for our health & happiness. Intimacy floods your brain with oxytocin, a lovely bonding chemical that makes you feel almost sedated, sleepy & content. It is clinically proven to improve sleep – and we know that one of the greatest beneficiaries of a great nights’ sleep is improved immunity! It also makes us feel more emotionally balanced and calmer.

Happily (for those of us who aren’t fans of the gym), sex also counts as a healthy form of cardiovascular exercise. Exercise has been clinically proven to boosts IgA levels alongside a whole host of additional emotional, mental & physical health benefits, so if the long cold winter nights starting to draw in makes you feel as if you just can’t face heading outside in the cold to the gym, some extra intimate time in your warm bed with a loving partner might just offer a useful alternative!

Sex: The Ultimate Stress Buster

More intimate time also lowers stress levels, mostly by downregulating the stress hormone cortisol. Chronically high levels of cortisol weaken the immune system by increasing inflammation and decreasing our white blood cell, or lymphocyte count, which in turn leaves us less able to fight off infections.

We tend to get elevated cortisol when we get sick, have a run-in with our boss, get burnt out by long work hours, or any one of the many daily stressors that come with juggling the demands of modern life.  

Happily, a romantic, sexual attachment can powerfully restore immunity & fight off the dangers of high cortisol, by lowering stress hormones and upregulating the hormones and neurotransmitters that make you feel good. Recent research reports that “Intimacy has been found to buffer psychobiological stress reactivity”, with sex offering a powerful way of powering up higher levels of white blood cells in our bodies.

The takeaway? By directly countering the immunosuppressing activities of cortisol, intimacy, romance & sex offers us a valuable way of slowing down – and restoring the white blood cell count that we need to reap the benefits of a more robust immune system.

Sex & Covid-19

This intimacy-cortisol relationship may play out particularly powerfully in the case of Covid-19, with recent research finding that, “people with higher levels of the hormone [cortisol] due to the experience of greater stress, may be more likely to become infected” – and that cortisol levels might even mediate the severity or relative mildness of Covid-19 symptoms that each individual ultimately experiences. 

While high cortisol levels might simply be a reflection of a healthy adrenal response to Covid-19, it might also represent a factor in our vulnerability to, and experience of, Covid-19. In our view, any activity that enables us to lower our own cortisol levels subsequently represents an excellent investment of our time & a great way of safeguarding health. 

Let’s face it, a little romance & intimacy with our partner is not only free but pleasurable, with regular orgasms, date nights, quality time, intimate lie-ins, and early nights with a partner not only a lovely way to spend our free time but a great way to boost our immune systems, too! However, you look at it, investing in a little extra one-on-one time to reconnect with your partner offers a true win-win when it comes to great health.

Want to Find Out More?

Doctors Studio are leaders in the field when it comes to sexual, functional & performance medicine. With over 15 years of experience, we can help you supercharge any aspect of your immunity, sex life, or health & wellness. If there’s anything you need help with, reach out to us and we will look forward to speaking with you and partnering with you on your journey to truly optimized health! Alternatively, check out our Doctors Studio Store for a wide range of healthful supplements, natural sleep aids, and powerful immunity boosters.