There’s no doubt about sex being one of the best ways to stay healthy… but what matters more, the amount of times or the way it’s done?

So, you know that sex is good for you. But, next time your partner complains about how little or how much you’re doing the act, you may want to pull up this article. It’s good to have sex – definitely. It helps you eat right, it keeps you fit, it keeps you alert. That would mean it’s probably good to have a lot of it too, right? Well, unless you’re going overboard there’s nothing wrong with having a go at it whenever desire creeps up. In fact, sexual health expert Yvonne K. Fulbright says, “Sexually active people take fewer sick days,” according to her research, which means that there’s a lot of good that comes from it.

The numbers game

What we’re really wondering now, is whether there’s a magic number. Is sex only good for you when it’s of a certain quality – or of a certain number? Well, research seems to indicate that as long as we’re happy with the number and the quality, that’s all that matters. So, missing out on one could mean you’re not getting all the benefits – even if it’s only one partner that is dissatisfied.

Now, we’re not going to go on and on about how much sex is normal – but we’ll tell you how much is healthy – on an average of course, because it really depends from person to person. It also depends on what your life is like – if you’re always stressed, trying to start a family or juggling a new career, chances are that a little sex is good enough for you. An average of twice a week is what you should be aiming for as a couple – but it only works if both partners are satisfied with the quality of sex they’re having.

So, a number? That’s really not important enough to dwell on.

Quality wise

No one is happy with less than perfect sex now, are they?! It would be ridiculous to even suggest that a higher number implied that people would be happy with their sex lives. In fact, the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy also did a study that found that women, who were unhappy with the type and quality of their sex lives, were less likely to be satisfied with their relationship even if they were satisfied with the number of times they did the dirty.

Partners that felt disconnected, didn’t communicate well enough and weren’t willing to compromise one way or the other – aren’t as happy in their sex lives as those that are.

The bottom line

At the end of the day, you don’t have to have sex to stay happy and healthy. But if you are indulging in a little pick-me-up, make sure it’s quality you choose, not quantity.

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