Horrifying side-effect of not having enough sex

Numerous studies have been conducted time and again which prove that sex is not only pleasurable but is also good for our body. From cutting down your stress levels to helping you sleep better, benefits of sex extend way beyond the bedroom. So, once you start losing out on the Big O (read orgasm), there are plenty of things that may go wrong with your body.

We live in a world of crazy work-life balance, long commute hours and constant smartphone notifications. This makes it extremely difficult to catch eight hours of sleep, let alone having sex. Whether you are battling a lot of stress or just not in the right mood, there are times when we tend to give sexy times a little break.

If you do not have sex for a long duration of time, your vagina bears the brunt of the same. There is actually a medical term for the same–vaginal atrophy.

What is vaginal atrophy?

When your body produces less estrogen, roughly within a few years of menopause, a lot of women develop symptoms of vaginal atrophy. In this condition, the vaginal muscles shrivel up which leads to painful intercourse. Loss of estrogen also leads to a decreased blood flow in the vagina and vulva, which causes thinning, drying and swelling of the vaginal walls.

Some of the other symptoms of vaginal atrophy are:

Vaginal dryness

Vaginal discharge

Genital itching

Light bleeding during sex

Pain during sex

Decreased vaginal lubrication

One of the most painful symptoms of vaginal atrophy is the shortening or tightening of the vaginal canal, which may make the walls of vagina dry and thin. It can also lead to the loss of labial plumpness.

What should you do?

The best way to keep your lady parts healthy is to engage in regular sexual activities which in turn increases vaginal elasticity.

When you keep your vagina active, it remains well-lubricated and supple. Even a little self-love (read masturbation) can go a long way in keeping your delicate bits healthy and happy, in case you do not want to engage in sex.