Having sex is good for your health… but what if not having sex or forced abstinence is actually bad for you?Maybe you’re going through a dry spell in your relationship.

Whatever the reason, forced abstinence isn’t fun.Having regular sex is good for your health. It has all sorts of benefits, from increased serotonin and oxytocin levels to better cardiovascular health . You sleep better, you feel more relaxed and, more than anything else, it allows for intimate physical connection with your partner.If you stop having sex, your body reacts too.

Here are some of the things that happen to your body if you stop having sex.

1. You Might Feel More Stressed- Sex is a stress buster. The hormones released during sex help the body recover from stressful periods. That’s why a regular dose of sex is especially beneficial for people with high-stress jobs. It’s also why so many of us use sex as a way to blow off steam and decompress from our super-busy, anxiety-inducing lives.If sex helps you cope with stress, what happens if you stop? Obviously, it will be harder to deal with your normal stress levels.

2. You May Fall Sick More Often – sex is correlated with a better functioning immune system. In one study, participants who reported having sex regularly (at least once per week) were found to have higher levels of an important immunoglobin that is known to increase resistance to illnesses like the common cold. A strong immune system means you’ll fall sick less often.

3.Your Libido Might Drop- libido can be tricky for many people. They want to have sex, but they don’t feel like it … so they don’t. However, the more you have sex, the more you want to have sex. This effect can make abstinence a little easier, but it’ll also make getting back in the saddle more of a challenge.

4. Arousal Might Get Harder- deprived of sex for long periods of time, men have a harder time getting erections – women may also struggle with arousal and lubrication after extended periods of abstinence. Masturbation can help, but so can going easy on yourself when you get back into sex.

5. You might become more Forgetful – sexual activity boosts the function of your hippocampus, an area of the brain strongly linked to memory, Scientists believe that increased sexual activity can even reverse the effects of aging and stress on the brain.Basically, when you have sex often, your brain produces new neurons, which makes it better at remembering and processing information. The study also showed that when sex stops, the higher memory and cognitive functions were lost, despite the presence of new neurons.

The Positive Side of Celibacy – There are some advantages to having less sex. You won’t have to worry about pregnancy or STIs, for one. Going without sex for a while can also create space to focus on other things. At some points in our lives, that space can be really important. When you’re in a relationship, not having sex can also open up other avenues for physical intimacy. Those can be as important as sex, and can help boost your sexual connection when you get back at it.

Dr. Sharmila Majumdar, Chief Consultant Sexologist & Psychoanalyst, M.S. Sexuality, M.Phil Clinical Psychology, PhD Cognitive Behavior Modification, Certified In Treatment Resistant Depression – Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NYC, USA.