There are a variety of reasons to have sex: You sleep better, it improves heart health and you greatly reduce your stress levels when you get laid among them.
But what happens to a woman’s body when she STOPS having sex? Is it true that if you don’t use, it you’ll lose it?
Well, according to Health.com, you’re in luck if you choose to go down road less traveled. Below is an explanation of what really happens to your lady parts if you opt to give them a break from sexual intercourse.
The health and wellness website recently spoke with Christine Greves, M.D., OB-GYN at the center for obstetrics and gynecology at Orlando Health in Florida. She cleared up some of the longstanding myths about sexual intercourse, specifically how a lack of the act affects the female reproductive organs.
MYTH No. 1: Your vagina will close up.
Not so fast, folks! According to Dr. Greves, it is an urban myth that your vaginal opening will close off or grow a new hymen if you don’t have sex for an extended period of time. Your body still produces estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that keep the vaginal walls open and flexible. In particular, estrogen helps moisten and maintain the folds that allow the vagina to expand during intercourse. It is still possible for the vaginal opening to decrease in size, Dr. Greves states, but that usually takes place after menopause and following an extended period of abstinence.
MYTH No. 2: You can experience more dryness.
This one is actually true. Despite the work of estrogen and progesterone, without sex, your vagina may be a bit dryer than usual, says Dr. Greves. This isn’t necessarily an issue, but it can be uncomfortable. The physician suggests that if you’re going to opt not to have sex for awhile, make time for self-pleasure. Dryness is less likely to occur if you do so regularly, “since the stimulation can lead to increased moisture,” the article states.
MYTH No. 3: You will see a slight decrease in your sex drive.
Another true statement. According to Dr. Greves, a slight dip in your desire to have sex is possible because you may not be feeling as sexual as you do when you’re regularly engaging in activity. The good news? Once you decide to become sexually active again, you’ll likely begin to feel more in the mood, prompting your libido to rise.
MYTH No. 4: You will become aroused in the same amount of time as you would if you were regularly having sex.
This one is not true at all. Following a sex hiatus, “it may take more time for the vagina to get sufficiently lubricated or for the tissues to fully relax,” Dr. Greves says. With regular sex, your vagina automatically goes into arousal mode. But after a long pause, it needs a bit of a warmup before engaging in sexual intercourse.
Having a sex drought isn’t very much fun, but if it is a conscious decision spearheaded by focus on other or more important things, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with waiting to get down in the sack.
