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BN Health & Fitness: What You Need To Know About Sex

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Although sex is a major part of our daily lives, it is still somewhat of a taboo to talk about it in the Nigerian circles. The article just lists a few helpful facts and tips to have a healthier sex life.

Benefits of Sex

Healthy
Sex is exercise. Therefore, it is good for your heart. However, it depends how vigorously you do it. In men, research has shown that men who have regular sex (about two times a week) are less likely to have heart attacks than those who do not. Sex on its own is not enough to keep a majority of people fit and healthy. This is because the average peak heart rate at orgasm is the same as during light exercise such as walking. So please remember to do other forms of exercises to maintain a healthy lifestyle and heart.

Reduced Stress
Having a stressful day? Rather than going for a drink, go home to your partner. Studies have shown that sex reduces stress. It stimulates the production of endorphins which are natural mood boosters and stress relievers.

Pain Reliever
Women, you will have to stop that headache excuse now! The endorphins released during sex also act as natural pain-killing hormones. These help to soothe nerve impulses that cause pain such as menstrual cramps, headaches, migraines and even joint pain. Furthermore, a hormone produced before orgasm called oxycotin (also known as the ‘love hormone’) also affects our emotions which can lead to the forming of strong emotional bonds between the couple.

Glowing Skin
Women this is for you! Have you noticed that after sex people say you look good or have a glow? If you have more sex, you have higher levels of oestrogen. If you have higher levels of oestrogen, you get glowing smoother skin. More sex= glowing smoother skin. Simple.

Strengthened Immune System
Research has shown that people who have regular sex have higher levels of Immunoglobulin A. Immunoglobulin A is an antibody that aids protection from infections. However, further research has shown that people who have much more sex than normal have lower levels of Immunoglobulin A. So don’t overdo it!

Increased Attention
When you are sexually active, you ooze pheromones. Basically, pheromones make us more attractive to the opposite sex. So the more sex you have, the more your partner will want you. But beware; you might even have to start fighting off unwanted attention.

Fun
Sex is meant to be fun. So remember to enjoy yourself and try new things.

The next thing to talk about is what you absolutely have to do if you are sexually active.

Use a Condom
This is the fundamental rule of casual sex. No glove no love. And if you think your partner is playing around, use a condom as well until you are sure. You cannot tell if someone has an STI or HIV/AIDS by looking at their face.

Have Regular Sexual Health Check-ups
The general consensus is to have a check-up every 3 months. But remember to have a check-up anytime you have unprotected sex.

Keep Your Privates Healthy
Women- use plain, unperfumed soap to wash the vaginal area once a day. The vagina will clean itself inside your body with natural vaginal secretions (discharge). It might be beneficial to clean the vaginal area twice a day when on your period. Cleanliness should ward off any accusations of a “fishy smelling” vagina. Men- use plain water to wash the penis daily. If you have a foreskin, pull it back gently and wash underneath. Not washing underneath the foreskin can cause build-up a cheesy-looking substance called smegma which can become very smelly.

Here are a few tips to guide if you have sexual health concerns.
Men: In men, the most common sexual health problems are premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction (impotence). Most men will go through both these conditions at different points in their lives. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by medical conditions and use of medical and recreational drugs; while premature ejaculation can be caused by over excitement or anxiety. With erectile dysfunction, it is best to see a doctor for an assessment and treatment. However, if you smoke or drink or use drugs, you can try quitting and the problem will usually go away within a few months. For premature ejaculation, the easiest thing to do would be to have sex again straight away. The man should last longer the second time around. Men also find that using a condom helps them last longer. If this does not help, see a doctor and they will be able to offer advice.

Women: In women, the most common sexual health problems are pain during intercourse, loss of desire and inability to orgasm. Although these can all be caused by medical conditions, one can try techniques at home before contacting a doctor for advice. It is very important for women to have a lot of foreplay before sexual intercourse. Take your time, do some research into sexual pleasure. Learn more about your vagina anatomy especially the clitoris. The knowledge you gain will prove fundamental in enjoying your sexual encounters.

Fun facts for Men
• You can break your penis: Although there are no bones in the penis; the tubes in the penis which fill up with blood during an erection can burst. 1/3rd of all reported cases which occur during sex are caused by when a partner is on top.

• You get several erections in one night: Reportedly, men have 3-5 erections in one with night with each lasting 25 to 35 minutes.

• Your shoe size has nothing to do with your penis size: I’m sorry guys and girls but researchers have found no link between shoe size and penis length.

• If your penis is smaller it gets a bigger erection: Simply put, shorter penises increase more in length than longer penises during an erection.

• Your penis is not a muscle: The penis is made up of a spongy material that fills up with blood during erection. This blood is contained in two tube shaped chambers which cause the penis to grow in size and stiffen. When this happens, the increased swelling blocks off the veins that usually takes blood away from the penis. Due to this, you cannot move your penis much when it becomes erect.

Fun Facts for Women

• Your vagina will return to its regular size: Most women are concerned that having sexual intercourse with someone with a large penis can stretch their vagina to a point of no return. This is not true, although after having a baby your vagina can become looser. Not to worry, you can do some exercises to help combat this.

• Vaginas do not look the same on the outside: Your vagina can be compared to facial features. You face might be similar but is not identical to someone else’s. This is the same with the outside of the vagina.

• Exercise will do wonders for your vagina: Ladies, look up kegel exercises and your partner will thank you.

• You cannot lose a tampon or object in your vagina: Objects cannot leave your vagina by travelling upwards into your body. So if you something stuck there, it cannot travel any further.

• Your clitoris is an important part in sexual pleasure: There are 8000 nerve endings in the clitoris unlike 4000 in the penis. This means women have the potential to have explosive orgasms if the clitoris is stimulated appropriately.

In conclusion, sex is an important part of our daily lives with health advantages. I hope this article has shed some light on some sex related concerns. If you have any other concerns, please contact a health advisor or your doctor.
Photo Credit: voicemymind.com

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Ola Fakoya is a senior clinical Advisor and CEO of Powerrus. She is interested in the globalisation of healthcare, and is an advocate for healthy living. Powerrus is a healthcare advisory service that offers worldwide healthcare service comparison for international clients. You can follow her on Twitter @Powerrus2 or at www.powerrus.co.uk

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