The word is already out. Sex and orgasms are good for you, which is good news for those of you having lots of sex and orgasms. For others trying to determine “how to organize your sex life”--Slate’s expression, not mine-- it might be important to factor in which kinds of sex are the most beneficial. 

We all want to be healthy, right? 

Lucky for us, Scottish researcher Stuart Brody, came to some conclusions about vaginal intercourse versus masturbation. (Unfortunately, I couldn’t access more to see than  Stuart Brody’s abstract to see if he has anything to say about the relative merits of oral sex, anal sex, or other kinds of sex that heterosexual and non-heterosexual couples engage in.) After countless hours of reviewing research on the topic of intercourse versus masturbation, Brody concluded that vaginal intercourse gave the biggest boost in terms of health benefits and that condoms hindered the benefits of vaginal intercourse slightly. 

What about taking matters into your own hands? The results of several different studies show the benefits of frequent masturbation for both men and women, but less benefits for those who are engaging in penile-vaginal intercourse on a regular basis. 

This is not the first time that I’ve heard that condoms “ruin” sex or the health benefits of “sex” and the idea that sperm is a great healer is nothing new either. However, if there are any similar research papers written by women with the same sperm positive conclusions, I’ve yet to see them. 

I don’t have anything against sperm per se, but I don’t know that it’s quite as healthy as some guys would like you to believe. The “it’s good for health” line is just more ammo for a guy to give a lame excuse about not using a condom. Do not be fooled by that line unless you’re already in a monogamous relationship and have your birth control needs sorted out. 

That said, there are still health benefits to orgasms with or without a partner. Some of the reported benefits of orgasms over time are less stress, weight loss, living longer, and a better sense of smell. 

As for weighing the benefits of solo orgasms versus those with a partner, it’s important to keep in mind who the partner is and how you feel about yourself. I’m not quite believing that all vaginal intercourse is better for you than giving yourself a helping hand once in a while.