Don't Be Shy: Regular Orgasms 'Can Play An Important Role In Our Emotional & Physical Health'

Everyone knows the best thing about orgasms is how they make you feel, but did you know that they provide many other benefits, too?

"Regular orgasms can play an important role in our emotional and physical health," Everyday Health notes.

Keep reading for four specific ways having frequent orgasms can enhance your health and wellness.

Writer Ashley Laderer says frequent masturbation is good for your health because it helps you de-stress. One reason for this is that orgasming releases dopamine — a pleasure chemical — into your body. When you orgasm, your body also releases oxytocin, which lowers the stress hormone cortisol.

"Touching yourself and climaxing can boost these chemicals and, in result, help you feel more at peace," she says.

However you choose to climax — with a partner or alone — try it next time you feel overstretched and see if it helps.

It's true: orgasms can help boost your immunity. Every time you climax, your body releases a hormone called DHEA, which improves "muscle strength, bone density, body fat, sexual satisfaction, and overall well-being," naturopathic doctor Jolene Brighten notes.

WebMD also states that "people who have sex have higher levels of what defends your body against germs, viruses and other intruders." The outlet cites a study done at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, which found that college students "who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often."

Chances are, you are familiar with getting drowsy after climaxing.

“After orgasm, the hormone prolactin is released, which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and sleepiness," Dr. Sheenie Ambardar, a psychiatrist, explains.

Not only do orgasms make you feel tired, but they also boost estrogen levels in women, which, according to The National Sleep Foundation, enhances "your REM stage and give you [a] deeper slumber."

So, if you want to improve your sleep, consider adding orgasms to your nightly routine.

When you climax, your body releases HGH, also known as human growth hormone. According to the health and lifestyle product website Elvie, HGH "stimulates collagen and could even make your skin appear more supple."

Huda Beauty describes a study of 3,500 people, which "found that women who had three orgasms a week looked, on average, 10 years younger than the women who only had two!"

The increased estrogen levels in women brought on by orgasms also improves skin health. Naturopathic doctor Nicole Telfer lists these skincare benefits: "Estrogen is associated with increased collagen production, skin thickness, skin hydration, wound healing, and improved barrier function."

So, why not replace the old adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" with "an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away?" Considering the number of beneficial hormones and chemicals that are released when you climax, the saying isn't far from the truth. As tantric sex educator Devi Ward Erickson says, "Pleasure is medicine and love has the power to heal."