13 Reasons Why Sex is Good for You

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February 12th is Sexual Health and Reproductive Health Awareness Day and isn’t it fitting that this day falls just before Valentine’s Day?  In honour of both of these special days, I thought it would be appropriate to shine a spotlight on the “health” in Sexual Health.  Here are just a few reasons why sex is good for your health:

  1. Sex can help relieve your stress and lower your blood pressure
  2.  Sex can boost your immunity and help protect you from common colds and flu
  3.  Sex burns calories, strengthens your muscles, and can help keep you physically fit
  4.  Sex contributes to more positive self-esteem
  5.  Sex gets your heart pumping and improves heart health
  6.  Sex makes you sweat, which cleanses the skin and helps to improve your complexion
  7.  Sex promotes a sense of calm and relaxation
  8.  Sex contributes to a deeper and more restful sleep
  9.  Sex is a natural pain reliever
  10.  Sex provides protection against prostate cancer
  11.  Sex strengthens the vagina and pelvic floor, which intensifies orgasms and reduces the risk of pelvic organ prolapse
  12.  Sex releases endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemicals), which can improve your mood
  13. Sex strengthens a couples’ intimate connection

So, good sex is indeed good for you…and good for your relationship.   Taking care of your health also means taking charge of your sexual health. Be kind to your body, and nourish your sexual relationships. Make intimacy a priority and do what you can to spice up the quality of your sex life (check out my blog on “8 Tips To Spice Up Your Sex Life). By taking some simple steps, you can really steam up your Valentine’s Day…or any day (or night)!  Whoever thought that getting healthy could feel so good!

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About Kelli Young

Kelli Young earned her degree in occupational therapy in 1992 from the University of Western Ontario. She is a registered occupational therapist with training, certification and expertise in the areas of Marriage and Family Therapy, and Sex Therapy. Since 1992 she has worked in the Eating Disorders Program at the Toronto General Hospital where she provides group, individual, family and couple therapy. She also has a private practice in Toronto. Kelli has a diploma in group psychotherapy, earned in 1998 from the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association (CGPA) following a 2-year intensive training program. In 2005 she received a Master’s degree (M.Ed.) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Toronto. That same year, she earned a graduate certificate in Couple and Family Therapy Studies through the University of Guelph and the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (OAMFT). Kelli has extensive training in sex therapy, including a practicum in the Sexual Medicine Counseling Unit at Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Sciences Centre. She has also completed the “Intensive Sex Therapy Training Institute” (2001); the “Advanced Training Program in Treating Female Sexual Dysfunction” (2002) and the “Sexual Attitudes Reassessment (SAR)” Institute (2006) through the University of Guelph. She has training and experience in a variety of couple and family therapy models, including Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, and Feminist Therapy, which are approaches that she draws from extensively in her work. She also utilizes principles and methods of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In addition to her work at the Toronto General Hospital and her private practice, Kelli has facilitated support groups at Sheena’s Place, a support centre for people with eating disorders. Since joining Sheena’s Place in 2002, she has facilitated groups on topics such as Talking about Sex; Food, Body Image, and Sexuality; Connecting as Couples; and Adult Support. She is a member of the Canadian Group Psychotherapy Association (CGPA), the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN). She is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and a Clinical Member of the Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (OAMFT). Additionally, she is a Clinical Member of the Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counseling in Ontario (BESTCO). Kelli also sits on the Canadian Advisory Board (Medical Advisor) of the Spinal Cord Tumor Association. Kelli holds a teaching appointment (rank of Lecturer) at the University of Toronto, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy in the Faculty of Medicine. Kelli is the recipient of several teaching awards. Most recently she received the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy 2011 Community Partners Award for “Outstanding Significant Contributions during 2010-2011”. Kelli and her husband reside in Toronto with their two teenage daughters.

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