Good health brings great sex

Good sex is long known to benefit people’s health and well being but researchers have found that good health can actually improve lovemaking. People who are fit are almost twice as likely to have a strong libido and indulge in sex at least once a week.

Fitness helps enhance sex life
Fitness not only improves the quality of sex life, it also increases your tendency to enjoy sex as you pass your middle age and move towards the prime of life.

“We found sex is positively associated with health in middle age and later life,” said researcher Stacy Tessler Lindau, associate professor at the University of Chicago.

The study involved more than 6,000 men and women aged between 25 and 85. The participants were asked questions on their marriage and sex lives. Their health was also assessed and rated on a scale between poor and excellent.

Variation by gender
The researchers studied the number of years of active sex left in people at different stages in their life. Sex life was found to vary by gender.

At 30 years, men could expect to be sexually active for another 35 years while women of the same age can expect 31 years more of sex.

the study has brought good news for people by showing them a way to enjoy sex in their later lives

On reaching 55, men may go on to enjoy sex for 15 years further, while women may carry on their sexual activities for another 11 years.

“Although the period is longer for men, they lose more years of sexually active life as a result of poor health than women,” wrote Prof. Lindau and his colleagues in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

“Overall, the study found that men have a longer sexually active life expectancy and that most sexually active men report a good quality sex life. In contrast, only about half of sexually active women reported a good quality sex life.”

The researchers recommend further study into the reason behind this disparity between the sexual activities of men and women.

However, they insist that the study has brought good news for people by showing them a way to enjoy sex in their later lives.

“The availability of sexual performance enhancers, the widespread use of the internet for social support, as well as improvements in overall health and better access to care, the news that adults in the US can enjoy many years of sexual activity beyond age 55 is promising,” said Professor Patricia Goodson of Texas University.