{"id":1254,"date":"2023-02-21T17:33:56","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T17:33:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=1254"},"modified":"2023-02-21T17:33:56","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T17:33:56","slug":"is-sex-an-antidepressant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthnews.zone\/?p=1254","title":{"rendered":"Is Sex an Antidepressant?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The relationship between depression and sex<\/a> is complex. Depression can steal your sex drive<\/a>, make off with your motivation, and deplete any desire you once had to feel attractive. On the flip side, many aspects of sex can help boost your mood and act as a buffer against depression\u2019s effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How? One surprising recent study actually suggests that exposure to semen may help fight depression. Beyond sperm, the research found that semen may provide mood-boosting hormones and chemical compounds for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers curious about the depression and sex (specifically semen) link tested the theory with college-age women. They found that those who used condoms (and were therefore less exposed to semen) were more likely to be depressed than those who did not use condoms. On the other hand, among women who did not use condoms, the longer they went without having sex (or being exposed to semen), the more likely they were to be depressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These results speak specifically to the mood-boosting benefits of sex<\/a> for women, who are more likely than men to suffer from depression. But a romp in the hay may keep men upbeat as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur data on males indicate that the sex act elevates mood,\u201d says Rebecca Burch, PhD, a researcher in the department of psychology at the State University of New York in Oswego, and one of the authors of the semen study. \u201cThe condom groups did not differ in depressive symptoms, but the males who were not having sex were significantly more depressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Burch and her colleagues acknowledge that there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the relationship between depression and sex. For example, are men who aren\u2019t having sex depressed because of the lack of sex, or are they not having sex because of depression\u2019s side effects? Are women with mood disorders basically self-medicating with unprotected sex? More research is needed to find the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the semen study doesn\u2019t mean throw all caution to the wind. In fact, risky sex has been associated with negative self-esteem. Burch stresses that, despite the possible mood enhancing effect of semen, \u201cunprotected sex can lead to plenty of depressing conditions like sexually transmitted diseases<\/a> or unwanted pregnancy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with<\/em> a condom, she notes that women and men can still benefit from the mood-enhancing effects of orgasms, as well as the emotional bond that come from an intimate relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is depression keeping you or your partner from lovemaking and its mood-lifting benefits? Revive your sex drive with these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n