A healthy sex life may do more than just give you momentary pleasure. There may be health effects that can benefit your life on a more long term basis.

You may not have thought much about the positive benefits of sex past the obvious reasons of pleasure, closeness with your partner, or the potential to start a family.

But sex may also have health benefits, and some of these may even help you live longer.

According to Dr. Irwin Goldstein, Director of Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital, if you read the latest research, “you can’t conclude anything else but that it’s healthy to have sexual activity.”

Read on to learn the potential benefits of sex that may contribute to your long term health.

Many people strive to lower their stress levels in order to lead a healthier, happier, and longer life.

During sex, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin. This chemical is responsible for feelings of love, can calm your nerves, and may help reduce pain.

Some studies on rats suggest that oxytocin may counteract the effects of cortisol, a hormone involved in stress.

And if you’ve noticed that you feel tired after sex, it’s not just from physical exhaustion. Oxytocin also promotes sleep, which may reduce your overall stress levels. Though the link isn’t clear, many people believe higher stress levels may contribute to illness.

The feeling of walking around on cloud nine after sex may actually last longer than you think.

Many people notice that they feel lighter and more relaxed after sex. These feelings are mostly due to the release of certain hormones. You may even feel less anxious overall in your daily life if you are having sex on a regular basis.

According to Goldstein, a healthy sex life leads to long-term satisfaction with one’s mental health and enhances your ability to communicate honestly and intimately.

However, on the flip side, it is possible that some people may feel down after having sex. This can be for many reasons, so it’s important to make sure you are ready — both emotionally and physically — when you have sex.

Another potential benefit of sex is it’s effect on your heart.

A recent study suggests that sex is linked with a lower risk of death from heart disease and reduced risk of death overall. The findings of this study related to people who had sex on a weekly basis, or at least 52 times a year.

However, another study also found that over 103 times per year, the direction of that link changed. The authors of that study concluded that both excessive and infrequent sexual activity may have negative effects on your health.

Additionally, it’s important to note that if you have existing heart disease, you may want to check with your doctor that sex — or any other kind of strenuous activity — is safe for you to engage in.

A review of 22 studies suggests that ejaculating 2 to 4 times a week is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer compared with those who ejaculate infrequently.

Another study looking at data over 10 years, found that the risk of death was 50% lower in men who ejaculated two or more times per week on average compared with men who ejaculated less than once a month.

“The claim physiologically,” Goldstein told us, “is that if you empty out the tank every so often, it’s healthier than holding onto the material within the tank.”

It’s possible that sex can help your body fight off colds and flu through its effect on your immune system.

Though more research is needed, one study done at Wilkes University suggests people who have sex a couple of times a week tend to have much higher amounts of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) compared with those who have sex less than once a week.

“IgA is the first line of defense against colds and flu,” says Carl Charnetski, one of the researchers on the Wilkes study.

However, sex is not proposed to be a cure for an existing cold, but rather a way to potentially boost your ability to fight infections overall.

Though it seems are plenty of benefits to having regular, healthy sex, it’s not the only factor that can contribute to a healthier, longer life.

Positive relationships in general are excellent for your health and wellbeing, and there are many ways you can develop great relationships with people, intimate or not, that can help you live longer.

Sex and intimacy may also look different for different people. You and your partner may prefer other forms of intimacy. And there are plenty of benefits to masturbation, too. Check out our sexual health hub for more resources on how to have healthy, safe sex that’s right for you.

Though more research is needed, sex may have multiple positive benefits on your health that could contribute to a longer life.

These can include reducing stress, boosting the immune system, improving mood, and reducing the risk of certain illnesses.

Of course, the whole story is much more complex, and many factors will affect how long a person lives. However, enjoying healthy and safe sex may contribute to better health and wellness overall, which could potentially increase your lifespan.