There’s a popular saying when it comes to sex and all things related to it, that just might define the premise of this article as well as anything – “you lose it when you don’t use it “.

You see, the sexual needs of a human being have always been considered one of the most basic needs of the human body. And when it happens that the needs are not met, our body ends up reacting.

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Dry spells are not that uncommon for all of us. Especially since we were introduced to the coronavirus and pushed into unprecedented confinement. But what’s still not well known is what actually happens to your body when you don’t have enough sex, or in some cases, not at all.

Here’s what happens to men when they become sexually inactive.

1) Increased stress levels

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Considering that sex is a great way to relieve stress when you abstain from it, stress levels tend to rise. This means that if you like to use sex as a way to calm down under pressure, a dry spell might just bring out that frustration.

2) Affect the cognitive functioning of the body

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A study published in 2013 by students of Konkuk University Seoul concluded that sexual interaction and activity can combat the negative memory-reducing effects caused by chronic stress.

Thus, its absence could have an effect on the cognitive functions of the body.

3) Risk of erectile dysfunction

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Although there is still much debate on the subject, a study from 2018 found that of the 989 men who took part in the study, those who had sex less than once a week were twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction as those who were more active.

4) Bad sleep

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It is also believed that sexual inactivity can lead to trouble sleeping in some, as the body may not feel as relaxed as it does after sex.

Sex helps release oxytocin, prolactin and dopamine, three crucial hormones for good sleep, the lack of which can lead to irregular sleep.

5) Risk of prostate cancer

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There have been studies this suggests that men who ejaculated more times had a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

Although the correlation is not conclusive, one thing is certain and that is that a body that does not masturbate or engage in sexual intercourse enough is an unhealthy body.