THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF SEX FOR MEN

DR. JUSTIN LEHMILLER·SEPTEMBER 7, 2025

5 MINS READ

It is well known that sex is good for men’s physical health. Among other things, research has found that men who have sex more frequently tend to have lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of heart attacks, and a longer lifespan. But sex isn’t just good for the body—it’s also good for men’s mental, emotional, and relationship health.

In this article, we’re going to explore some of the ways in which regular sexual activity can help to boost men’s psychological well-being and strengthen the emotional connection they have with their partners.

Stress Relief Through Sex

Life is full of stressors. Work, family, economic struggles, political strife make us feel perpetually stressed, anxious, and burnt out. People often turn to massage, exercise, or meditation, but sex is also effective.

Research shows couples feel less stressed after sex. Sex helps us fall asleep faster and sleep better. Neurochemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins soothe and promote pleasure. It also blunts cortisol release.

Sex and mental health are connected. Think of sex as a stress relief remedy. Stress reduces sexual desire, but sex can be therapeutic during stress.

Sex Improves Mood and Emotional Wellbeing

Odds are, if you’ve had sex, you’ve probably noticed that you feel pretty good afterwards. Colloquially, this is referred to as “afterglow,” and it’s a real thing. Sex gives us a boost in mood that actually lasts for a few days.

In a longitudinal study of couples, researchers found that on the days people had sex, they experienced an increase in happiness that lasted for about 48 hours. So what accounts for that? As noted above, it likely has a lot to do with the brain chemicals released upon orgasm and the stress-relieving properties of sex. Sex and happiness just go hand-in-hand.

And those positive feelings transcend the bedroom. Other research has found that when people have sex on one day, they actually report being happier and more productive in the workplace the following day. In other words, having regular sex just might make us better at our jobs and make the act of going to work more tolerable.

How Sex Improves Confidence

When we hear about ways of boosting men’s self-confidence, the first thing that typically comes to mind involves hitting the gym. Working on your physique can indeed go a long way toward feeling good about yourself, but seeing yourself in the mirror with bulging muscles isn’t necessarily enough.

It turns out that regular sex is a really big confidence builder because it can make you feel desired and attractive. Contrary to popular belief, sex isn’t just a physical act for men, it’s also an emotional one. Men (just like women) want to feel desired.

Knowing that someone else wants to have sex with you can be very validating. It can make you feel wanted, sexy, and skilled in the bedroom, which can increase feelings of self-worth. And when we feel more confident in bed, we tend to feel more confident out of bed, too.

Does Sex Help With Sleep?

As mentioned above, sex before sleep can help us to feel better rested the next day. Those post-sex feelings of calm and release can make it easier to both fall asleep and get a full night of rest.

Getting quality sleep is very important for emotional wellbeing. When we aren’t well rested, well, we aren’t very happy. We’re irritable. We lack patience. We’re just not at our best. And research bears this out: when people aren’t sleeping well, they have poorer workplace performance and quality of life.

If we want more (and better) sleep, having more sex can actually help quite a lot. And if you don’t have a partner, masturbation can usually work just as well. However, it’s worth noting that the link between sex and sleep goes both ways: sex can help us get better sleep, but better sleep can also promote more sexual desire.

Sex and Emotional Connection

Oxytocin is a key neurochemical released during sex and orgasm. This hormone, often called the “love drug”, makes us feel connected to our partners.

In this way, sex is the “glue” in a relationship. It strengthens intimacy and creates safety via oxytocin. Research finds that oxytocin levels synch between partners after sex.

It’s for this reason that when sex disappears in a relationship, the partners don’t just feel physically disconnected—they feel emotionally disconnected, too.

Most people need a certain level of physical intimacy in their relationship if they also want to experience emotional intimacy.

Sex life satisfaction fosters trust and effective communication in relationships. Sharing sexual wants and needs means being vulnerable, which promotes a sense of safety with your partner.

Discussing sex, while challenging for many, refines communication skills beyond the bedroom. Comfort in talking about sex makes tackling other difficult topics much easier overall.

Sex is an investment in your relationship. It will boost your overall relationship health and make your partner feel valued and cared for.

Final Thoughts on Sex and Relationships

The advantages of sex extend beyond your physical well-being and into other parts of your life. From boosting your mood and self-esteem to improving sleep and strengthening connections, sex may be a useful tool for strengthening and enhancing your mental health and relationships.

In light of this, it's critical to promote open conversations about men's sexual health and for physicians to include it as a regular element of patient care. We can assist more men to enjoy the mental, emotional, and relational benefits of a fulfilling sex life by normalizing conversations about sex and addressing prevalent sexual difficulties.

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