Importance of Sex in Relationships: 15 Benefits

Physical intimacy strengthens the bond between two people and fosters closeness, love, and affection between couples. The importance of sex in relationships is rooted in the fact that it is a significant binder that helps couples iron out their differences. 

Physical intimacy builds a stronger connection between two people by mitigating any existing negativity. 

Oxytocin, a hormone and a neurotransmitter released during the intimate moments between the couples enhances trust ad a stronger sense of companionship.

How important is physical intimacy in a relationship, and does sex make a relationship stronger? 

Being physically intimate means more than simply heading to the bedroom with your spouse. Physical intimacy can range from eye contact, holding hands, cuddling, and of course, sex.

The importance of sex in relationships involves a deep emotional connection that is strengthened when you are in close sensual proximity to your spouse. 

Importance of sex in relationships: 15 benefits

Touching, both romantically and otherwise, can help strengthen the bond that exists between two people. It acts as validation and proof that someone cares for you. 

Having this deep bond can have a positive effect on nearly every other aspect of your relationship. But often this impact is not analyzed or understood.

Is physical intimacy important in a relationship? What are the health benefits of sex? These are ten benefits of having sex in a relationship:

1. An expression of love

One of the biggest reasons why physical intimacy is important in a relationship is that this is one of the main ways partners express their love for one another. 

Why does sex matter in a relationship? 

The intimate time you spend together is romantic, thrilling and releases oxytocin and dopamine. 

This hormone and neurotransmitter are responsible for feeling closer to your partner through promoting trust and happiness. It’s no wonder then why physical intimacy is important in a relationship.

When a relationship lacks sexual chemistry and physical affection, it is more likely to fail. Therefore, the importance of sex in relationships is linked to its benefits to the overall health and longevity of the relationship. 

2. Reduces stress

One of the benefits of sex is that it helps minimize psychological stress and anxiety. Being physically intimate in a relationship helps lower blood pressure and reduce stress responses in the brain. 

And it isn’t just sex. Other forms of physical intimacy, such as hugging or hand-holding, can trigger the release of oxytocin too.

The oxytocin hormone will then trigger the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, which lowers the feelings of anxiety and thus proves the importance of sex in relationships.

One study had participants who had regular sex for two weeks and observed its effect on stress and anxiety. The results revealed cell growth in the hippocampus, the same area of the brain that helps regulate stress.

3. Builds trust

Logically, trust is built over time when a couple gets to know one another’s true loyalty, patterns, and behavior. 

But in the heart, or should we say brain, trust is often triggered by the release of oxytocin. Trust is a huge part of relationships. 

When two people trust one another, they feel freer to be themselves, aren’t suspicious of a third party entering the relationship, and can be more open, honest, and vulnerable with their spouse. This is one of the benefits of sex too. 

Why intimacy is important in a relationship is rooted in how it facilitates trust between two people. While having sex or cuddling close on the couch, people slowly become more trusting and open to social interactions.

The importance of sex in relationships is established by its ability to make the couple more open and accept each other by building trust.

4. Intimacy outside the bedroom

The closer you are in the bedroom, the more connected you will feel outside of it. There is great importance of physical relationships, and it holds true even for nonsexual intimacy. 

Being physically intimate with your spouse is one of the biggest ways you, quite literally, connect. 

Is physical relationship important in true love? Nonsexual acts of intimacy like holding hands, cuddling, walking arm and arm, and being more physically playful are some loving expressions that come after sex. 

Have you wondered whether intimacy important in a relationship? Intimacy raises levels of love-boosting oxytocin and vasopressin; therefore, couples who have sex regularly become more affectionate in other aspects of life.

5. Boosts immune system

There are benefits of sex, both mentally and physically. Being intimate with your spouse can have a direct effect on your immune system.

The immune system receives a boost during sexual arousal and orgasm.
When you are regularly sexually active with your partner, you will raise the antibodies in your system that are responsible for fighting against viruses and germs that make you sick.

6. Raises morale

Another importance of physical intimacy in a relationship is that sex can boost morale. 

One study even puts a monetary value on it, suggesting that couples who have sex once a week gain a more significant morale boost than they would if they earned an additional $50,000 a year.

Because physical intimacy in a relationship boosts dopamine, it makes you feel happier. Orgasm aside, one study suggests that even the affection that comes before and after sex boosts morale.

7. Promotes chemistry

Being physically intimate means not only having intercourse with one another but also sharing personal moments of closeness. 

These can range from a sweet caress, a lingering kiss on the lips, or suggestive proximity. This behavior promotes chemistry and sexual anticipation. 

The sexual expectation brings excitement to the relationship and makes couples feel more connected.

8. Health benefits

Many health benefits come from being physically intimate with your partner. For example, having sex regularly can lower a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer.

It can also provide mental health benefits by bringing joy, pleasure and care into your life. It can offer companionship, understanding and make you feel appreciated. 

9. Youthful looks

There may be a correlation between a physically intimate relationship and how young you look. 

The estrogen and testosterone released during sex may give your body a youthful, healthy glow. Also, sex can make you smile and feel better about yourself, making you more desirable to your partner. 

10. Increases relationship satisfaction

Touch is a strong sensation, both physically and emotionally. It brings up feelings of safety, comfort, love, playfulness, titillation, and more. 

Couples who are physically intimate report a higher rate of relationship satisfaction. 

When partners engage one another with physical touching, sexual or otherwise, it makes them feel cared about.

11. Better sleep at night

If you are trying to understand the importance of sex in relationships, you only have to think of the sound sleep you usually experience after sex.

Sex is physically draining, and it involves the release of hormones in the body that can relax you. That is the reason why people end up sleeping soundly after having sex.

Being physically intimate without sex also has its benefits. Couples sleep better and feel closer to one another when they cuddle their way to sleep. 

Benefits of regular sex include the ability to help you sleep better. And sleeping better would guarantee that you would be more alert, rested and healthier the next day. 

12. Pain relief

The endorphin release post-orgasm can act as a natural painkiller in your system. 

Relationships and sex can get confusing due to deterrents like physical pains and busy schedules. But the importance of sex in relationships is that it can help you get through these deterrents with ease.

Oxytocin released by physical touching and sex can also relieve pain and headaches, help you decompress, and reduce many forms of physical illness.

The next time you have a minor ache or pain, instead of avoiding sex, let the release of natural chemicals post-orgasm heal you.

13. Exercise

How sex affects relationships can be assessed by the amount of physical movement it brings into your life.

Sex can be seen as an exercise that gives pleasure while also making your heart beat faster. Even without realizing it, sex can help you get moving in a way that you enjoy and want to do exert yourself repeatedly. 

Physical activities, including sexual acts, get the heart pumping and can help people maintain cardiovascular health.

14. Reduces chances of anxiety, depression

Sex is usually a pleasurable act that brings something into your day that is positive and enjoyable. It can make you feel better after a hard day of work or during a challenging period in your life.

Negativity can drive you towards anxiety and depression, and sex can be a respite from those emotions. It can bring joy to your tough day and help you get a break from the negative thoughts.

15. Address issues

To understand the importance of sex in relationships you should observe its impact on your relationship dynamic while you are fighting.

When you and your partner are going through a challenging phase, sex can help you become more amicable towards each other. It can make the dynamic lighter and thus give you the ability to solve problems with a better mindset.

Does physical relationship increase love? By giving couples the ability to address issues in a better state of mind, sex be a tool that makes conflict resolution more amicable and the relationship more loving.

How much sex is necessary for a healthy relationship?

Sex has many benefits, but how much sex should a couple have to reap these benefits?

No definite magic number dictates how much sex couples should have to maintain a healthy and long-standing relationship. You and your partner will have to figure out what works for your relationship specifically. 

If you’ve wondered, ‘is sex healthy for a relationship,’ rest assured as studies prove that sex benefits the individual’s health and relationships. However, more sex does not always give you more significant benefits.

On the other hand, can a relationship work without sex? Yes, it can.

Due to various medical, physical and emotional factors, couples can have a relationship without having sex with each other. It does not affect the compatibility as long as both partners are on the same page and love each other. 

To learn more about sexless relationships, watch this video:

The dynamics of that relationship specifically define the frequency of sex in any relationship. You should take care to ensure that you and your partner communicate and meet each other’s needs. 

Conclusion

If you were trying to understand how important is physical intimacy in a relationship, this article tries to answer your questions.

Learning the importance of sex in relationships means more than being sexually active. It means being emotionally connected and that’s why it offers multiple benefits for the relationship and the individual.

Having a deep connection to your spouse on a sexually intimate level helps build trust, boosts morale, and has many health benefits that can transform your life and relationship. 

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Sylvia Smith Author

Sylvia Smith loves to share insights on how couples can revitalize their love lives in and out of the bedroom. As a writer at Marriage.com, she is a big believer in living consciously and encourages couples to adopt this principle... Read more in their lives too. Sylvia believes that every couple can transform their relationship into a happier, healthier one by taking purposeful and wholehearted action. Read less