Pros and Cons of Man Not Being Sexually Active for a Long Time
Before coming to what are the various outcomes of not having sex, let us consider the two primary conditions, for which a man might be away from sex; except if he is into a medical condition. Firstly, when he himself is asexual, and secondly, in case he is following celibacy. Both are completely two different aspects and should be considered exclusively.
‘Asexuality’ is when a person in general or never experiences sexual attraction, nor gets sexually aroused and feels like having sex; ‘celibacy’, on the other hand, refers to abstinence from sex for a specific period or forever. However, an asexual person may still engage in sexual activity, either alone or with a partner. While asexuality is not a choice, celibacy can be a choice or the product of certain circumstances. Some asexual people feel absolutely no sexual attraction, while some might occasionally sense sexual arousal.
There is another condition that can be considered, i,e demisexuality; where people feel sexual attraction only after establishing an emotional attachment to a person. Some asexual people experience romantic feelings and a desire for a romantic relationship, while others do not. A person who does not have this desire is “aromantic”.
Note: Asexuality is a sexual orientation. Some people might misunderstand it as some trauma or a mental health condition, but there is no evidence of this. Asexuality does not require any treatment or cure, whatsoever. Also, no one should ever be pressured by another person to have sex with anyone, whoever it might be.
Positive Effects of Not Being Sexually Active
Is it unhealthy to not have sex? Well, not completely. There are various crucial health benefits that we get from indulging in sexual activities.
#1 Reduced chances of STDs and UTI
It is obvious that not having sex is going to cut the chances of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection to a great extent, but abstinence from sex also makes someone less likely to get infected by a urinary tract infection (UTI).
#2 Increased Self-awareness
Abstaining from sex allows one a better introspection. It often happens that people fail to enjoy pleasure while having sex. Hence having a dry period gives one the time and opportunity to figure out what exactly is enjoyable, via masturbation. So, the next time the person goes sexually active again, he or she can share the observations with the partner, in order to make sex much more enjoyable.
#3 Healing Role (emotional/physical)
Abstaining from sex can also give one the much-needed time to focus on any big emotional or medical issues that he or she may be dealing with. Sometimes it becomes really important to stay away from sex, after an illness or medical procedure, so that it paces up the recovery process or period.
Side Effects of Not Being Sexually Active
Having a short period of a no-sex regime might be helpful for some. However, staying away from sex for a really long time can bring some adverse effects as well. Let us now consider the side effects of not being sexually active.
#1 Rise in Blood pressure
In case someone is neither having sex nor engaging in other forms of exercise, then the person might see a steep rise in blood pressure, as well as a higher stress level.
#2 Spontaneous arousal levels may drop
A 2014 study of 174 people, published in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, found how engaging in sex can actually make one crave it more. Hence the habit of not having sex may lead to reduced interest in sex in general. Also, for some, it becomes extremely hard to get aroused, even when interested.
#3 Reduced strength of Pelvic Floor
All human beings have a pelvic floor, whose strength might get adversely affected, in the absence of sex. Reduced strength of the pelvic floor can further affect the intensity of future orgasms or the peak of sexual pleasure felt at the time of ejaculation. The orgasms tend to feel weaker due to a weak pelvic floor, the latter being the source of the pleasurable pulses we feel with orgasm.
#4 Risk of Mental Illness and lower-quality sleep
Sexologists are of the opinion that when we experience intense pleasure from sex, the body releases a number of hormones that help to fall asleep; especially hormones like vasopressin and oxytocin reduce stress in the body and help to fall asleep quickly. Also, hormones such as norepinephrine and serotonin, help our body get into a flow of REM sleep cycles to help us to stay asleep with utmost ease. These hormones help in both getting a sound sleep as well as in releasing stress and anxiety, thereby maintaining a healthy mental state in people.
#5 Risky Prostate Health
As per a 2016 longitudinal study in European Urology, ejaculation frequency and risk of prostate cancer are inversely related. To be more specific, prostate havers who ejaculated fewer than seven times a month were more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than those who ejaculated approximately 20 times a month.
#6 Impact on Immunity
Lack of regular sex might reduce the production of endorphins, which is helpful in fighting off illnesses. Hence the immunity gets a certain negative impact due to lack of sex. A study reported that saliva samples of college students, who had regular sex, were found to have a higher concentration of certain antibodies called immunoglobulin A; which fight against the common cold.
#7 Trouble in Relationship
For many, regular sex is an important way to maintain their bond and offers them better communication. Such people have sex more often to feel more emotionally attached and connected. Hence, their relationship with their partner becomes very stressful, and they stop feeling connected, in case there is a lack of that required physical touch.
There is no universally applicable, ideal, or correct amount of sex to have. The ideal frequency of having sex varies from person to person. It should be noted here that, the experts agree that ‘sex’, as long as it’s consensual, safe, and enjoyable, offers similar benefits. So, one may consider masturbating for the sake of overall well-being, even if partnered sex is not available.
In case a person is unable to deal with a certain situation, he or she should definitely ask for an expert’s help whether it be a sexologist, a psychologist, or even a counselor. Whatever might be the scenario, people should not be shying away from getting the right kind of help.
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