Abstaining from sex could have a devastating impact on your mental health experts have warned.
A leading psychologist has raised concerns that celibacy leads to an increased risk of depression, anxiety and can result in an irritable mood.
‘Suppressing sexual urges without alternative stress-relieving outlets can build up frustration and also aggravate anxiety or irritability,’ warned sexual health specialist and psychiatrist Dr Sham Singh.
‘Sexual activity may help in alleviating stress through the release of endorphins and oxytocin.’
Endorphins are chemicals released by the brain to relieve pain and stress and increase 200 per cent during intercourse.
Dr Singh added that people often feel ‘shame, heightened anxiety and depression’ if they are seen by their peers as not being able to find a sexual partner.
A 2021 study of 4000 people found that people who reported having more sex during the pandemic were less anxious than those who were abstaining.
The expert warned that your physical health may also be at risk if you are not regularly having sex.
The 2,000 adults quizzed by sex toy company The Handy found that 18 per cent of people self reported celibacy
Doctors warn that celibacy can lead to hidden health risks
‘In both men and women, the absence of sex release may result in a heightened level of restlessness or tension that may find its way into physical manifestations like muscle tightness, trouble concentrating, or hypersensitivity to touch,’ said Dr Singh.
This comes after shocking new survey data collected by sex toy company The Handy revealed that nearly one in five people over the age of 18 are not sexually active at all.
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 58% | 68% |
| 25-29 | 61% | 77% |
| 30-34 | 73% | 75% |
| 35-39 | 59% | 63% |
| 40-44 | 63% | 64% |
| 45-49 | 55% | 69% |
| 50-54 | 52% | 53% |
| 55-59 | 53% | 47% |
| 60-64 | 46% | 33% |
| 65-69 | 49% | 32% |
| 70-74 | 50% | 23% |
| 75+ | 49% | 21% |
| Percentages are how many have had sex in the last three week | ||
Those who avoid intimacy may also suffer sleep problems and food cravings, Dr Singh added.
‘Long-term abstinence from sexual activity can have different effects on people’s energy levels, appetite, and sleep concerning hormonal changes in testosterone and estrogen and the stress hormone cortisol,’ he said.
‘Some people may feel more fatigued due to sex being a good way to relax and sleep better, for example, through the release of oxytocin.’
A 2023 review of 43 studies, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found a significant association between sleep quality and duration and how often people were having sex.
Researchers last week found that women between the ages of 20 and 59 who had sex less than once a week were at a 70 per cent increased risk of death within five years.
The experts at the University of Pennsylvania found that these women had elevated levels of a key protein linked to inflammation, which can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs.
Lower levels, and no increased death risk, was seen in participants who had sex more than once a week.
