It's official!

A regular sex life reduces stress and increases life expectancy!

Scientists on both sides of the Atlantic have documented and quantified the benefits of good sex. In an Arizona State University study on 58 middle-aged women, physical affection or sexual behavior with a partner significantly predicted lower negative mood and stress, and higher positive mood the following day. Simply put, researchers found that sex and physical intimacy led the subjects to feel less stressed and be in a better mood the next day.

The same study found that being in a good mood predicted more physical affection and sexual activity with a partner the next day, showing that the sex-stress management connection works both ways: sex can lead you to feel less stressed, and being less stressed (or at least in a better mood) can lead to more sex.

Another study examined participants’ blood pressure as a measure of their stress responses during public speaking or challenging math problems—situations that often elicit stress. It was found that those who had recently had intercourse tended to have either lower baseline blood pressures, less of a blood pressure rise during stressful events, or both. These findings suggest that having sex can lead to less of a stress response during challenging situations, which is a good thing.

Along those lines, another study looked at women’s heart rate and cortisol levels as a measure of stress response, and found that women exhibited less of a stress response after ‘positive physical contact’ with a partner. Emotional support alone didn’t have the same effect. (This has led some researchers to wonder if a regular sex life can help people loose weight, and not just because it burns calories. It also lowers cortisol levels that cause fat to be stored around the middle.)

In a nutshell, being in an intimate sexual relationship correlates to healing faster, getting sick less often, and living longer. Here's the surprising thing, though. According to a British study, "only penetrative intercourse did the trick -- other forms of sex had no impact on stress levels at all." So, having plenty of good sex may increase how long you live. Sex releases several hormones in the body, increases intimacy and bonding, and works against loneliness and depression. Staying sexually active has physical, stress relieving, social and mental benefits. According to the RealAge books, frequent orgasms (about 100 per year) can increase life expectancy by 3-8 years.