Why morning sex is good for you

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The blaring of the alarm clock is not a happy sound. But it’s how most people start their day. No wonder you’re so grumpy in the morning...

Why not turn that rude awakening into an erotic opportunity, with a roll in the 400-thread-count hay? You’d be doing yourself and your partner a favour – scientists say that people who start their day by having sex are all-round healthier and happier than those who don’t.

“Having sex in the morning releases the feel-good chemical oxytocin, which makes couples feel loving and bonded all day long,” says Dr Debby Herbenick, author of Because It Feels Good. It makes you stronger and more gorgeous too: morning sex can strengthen your immune system for the day by enhancing your levels of IgA, an antibody that protects against infection. And having an orgasm releases chemicals that boost levels of oestrogen, which improves the tone and texture of your skin and hair. Want to max out the morning love? Follow these tips:

Take advantage of nature

A man’s body is hardwired to want sex first thing in the am (hello, morning glory). “While he sleeps, the testosterone he’ll use for the upcoming day accumulates,” says Gabrielle Lichterman, author of 28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Love Life, Moods and Potential. “From the time he wakes up, he has a three-hour window when he’s brimming with peak levels.” Don’t let them go to waste.

Get the blood flowing

Set your alarm to play music soft enough to wake you but not him, and as soon as you’re roused, try this trick: if he’s lying on his back, place your hands on his thighs with your thumbs pointing toward his genitals, suggests acupuncturist Alexis Arvidson.

Move your thumbs in a slow, firm, circular motion, five centimetres in diameter. According to the ancient teachings of acupuncture, rubbing this thin-skinned area will get the blood flowing straight to his penis. Well, isn’t that convenient, since that’s where you’re headed next. Perfect.

Enjoy the view

Part of what makes morning sex so deliciously primal is that, in the light of day, it’s difficult to hide your so-called flaws. So let your insecurities take a backseat to pure, unadulterated pleasure: instead of covering up under the doona, throw it off so you both get a visual thrill. He’ll bask in the eye candy, and you will too: studies from Emory University, US, found that women are just as visually aroused as men during sex.

Boost the animal lust

As soon as you’re awake, snuggle up to your partner and take a whiff. Because he hasn’t showered yet, you’ll feel extra turned on by his au naturel scent. According to scientists at the University of Pennsylvania, US, a man’s musky underarm odour is a proven libido booster. Really, you can’t make up this kind of stuff.

Do a double-header

Taking a shower together sounds romantic and all, but let’s get real here: there’s only enough room for one under the water, and standing there shivering while he rinses out his shampoo is about as arousing as a smack across the chops with a wet fish.

Fix this by getting a double showerhead (available at any hardware store). Then crank up the water temp: heat brings blood to the skin’s surface, making it more receptive to touch. And soap each other up with peppermint shower gel – the scent wakes you up as it triggers the same nerves activated by smelling salts, says research from Wheeling Jesuit University, US.

Try a cosy move

Since you’ll both be a tad groggy, try a position that requires little to no effort: spooning. “While you’re facing away from him, part your legs and guide him inside you,” says sex and marital therapist Dr Jane Greer. “His hands will be free to roam your body, and he can whisper in your ear.”

Have a quickie

Sunrise sex doesn’t have to be a drawn-out affair. In fact, “mornings are the perfect time to indulge in a quickie: you’ll probably be in a rush, and the heart-pounding adrenaline of spontaneous sex will intensify the experience,” Dr Greer says.

So pounce on him when he least expects it. Studies published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that if women ignore distractions (the television, their laptops), they can start to become aroused in 30 seconds flat. Keep in mind: quickies don’t necessarily have to include intercourse.

A hot-and-heavy snogging session, copping a feel as he passes in the hall, or letting him catch you checking out his backside before you dash out the door will go a long way towards keeping your passion alive.

Stay warm, people

Sure, it might be too early for a reverse cowgirl, but there are other options, such as what sex expert and author of Supersex for Life Tracey Cox calls “warm sex”. “Warm sex usually involves you both playing with each other’s bits but doesn’t necessarily result in an orgasm for either – or even high arousal,” Dr Cox says. “Sex is ‘warm’ when it’s calm and less intense. Couples who value warm sex for what it is – a way of maintaining sexual connection – rather than seeing it as a ‘failed’ sex session are the ones who are way happier sexually long term.”

Build up your hungry? Try this sensual breakfast in bed