Love is a drug

KILL PAIN

Orgasm can halve your sensitivity to pain, according to research published in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. “Sex boosts endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, by up to a third in a matter of minutes,” says Dr Stuart Brody, a sexual psychologist at the University of the West of Scotland. “There’s concrete evidence this helps conditions such as back pain and migraine.”
Make it better “If you’re in pain, avoid anything overly vigorous and use long, slow strokes, focusing on grinding rather than shunting,” advises sexual therapist Paula Hall. Try the “starfish” – lie on the bed facing up, heads pointing in opposite directions, “scissor” your legs and grab each other’s hands for leverage. And fuel-up with a fruit salad to maximise pain relief – black grapes and oranges are high in potassium and vitamins C, B and B12, all of which boost endorphins, according to research by the University of Surrey in the UK.

SLEEP LIKE A BABY

Ah, the sweet lullaby of post-coital body chemistry. During orgasm, the body produces oxytocin, a hormone that helps induce sleep. “There’s no doubt sex helps beat insomnia,” says Dr David Delvin, the author of The Pocket Good Sex Guide.
Make it better Boost your sleep potential by snacking on foods rich in the hormone serotonin, such as wholemeal bread or turkey, 30 minutes before heading horizontal. The serotonin hit helps your body absorb oxytocin into your nervous system.

DODGE A COLD

This definitely beats rolling up to your GP for a flu vaccination. Having sex at least twice a week was found by researchers at Wilkes University in the US to boost your levels of immunoglobulin A by 20 per cent. The antibody protects against colds and other annoying viral infections.
Make it better The study found those who had the most “vigorous” sex were even less prone to more unpleasant bodily excretions. “The key to boosting these natural antibodies is intensity and fun, so move around and try out all sorts of positions,” says Hall. “Try the ‘sexy scissors’, with her lying on the edge of a bed, left leg over your right shoulder and right leg over your left shoulder. You swing her ankles in and out to the sides to trap your penis inside her.” Doctor’s orders, honey...

BEAT CANCER

Unleash that libido now, reap the rewards later. Men who ejaculate at least seven times a week in their twenties were found to be over a third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer in later life than men who only muster three climaxes. Study author Professor Graham Giles, from the Cancer Council Victoria, reckons frequent ejaculation prevents carcinogens building up in your prostatic ducts. Now that’s a chat-up line and a half. “If the ducts are flushed out, there’s less build-up and damage to the cells lining them,” says Giles.
Make it better “The biggest benefit comes from one ejaculation daily rather than multiple ejaculations on certain days,” advises Giles. You get the same benefits from going solo, so if the idea of daily sex gets a dodgy reception from your partner, switch to manual.

DEFY AGEING

The fountain of youth may be under your doona. Couples who have sex at least four times a week look more than 10 years younger than the average adult, according to research at Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland. “Pleasure derived from sex is a crucial factor in preserving youth due to the release of adrenaline, dopamine and norepinephrine,” says neuropsychologist Dr David Weeks, who conducted the study. “Plus, sex triggers the release of human growth hormone, which combats free radicals from pollution. This helps preserve skin-cell walls and relax muscles, which could otherwise cause wrinkles.”
Make it better Lose that little black book and start thinking about settling down. “It’s loving intercourse with a regular partner, not promiscuous sexual activity, that gives you the most benefit,” says Weeks. “Casual sex involves detrimental factors to staying youthful, such as anxiety and the absence of security.”

So to avoid having to bulk-buy moisturiser, take this advice from Weeks: “The key with long-term couples is emphasis on foreplay and cuddling before and after sex, which should last a minimum of 15 minutes to initiate the chemical response.”

. . . AND CHEAT DEATH

A “Do Not Disturb” sign on the bedroom door keeps the Reaper out. A 10-year study at the University of Bristol in the UK found mortality risk was 50 per cent lower among men who had two or more orgasms a week. “Regular orgasms increase immediate levels of the hormones DHEA and testosterone, which combat the free radicals that cause cancer and heart disease,” says study author Dr George Davey Smith.
Make it better “The longer it lasts, the more good it does,” says Davey Smith. So teeter on the edge to increase the intensity of your orgasm. “Thrust as far as you can, then grind against her,” advises Hall.

“Your penis will be in the wider part of the vagina, so there’ll be less stimulation. Keep the depth constant for 30 seconds, then thrust again.” If that doesn’t keep the boys in the barracks, to distract yourself, try listing every Aussie test cricket captain.

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