Dr Louise Mazanti on what happens when you don’t have sex
- Vaginal atrophy, or dryness, affects most women at some stage in their lives
- Regular orgasms help to keep vaginal tissue healthy, reducing inflammation
- Sex or masturbation improves blood flow to the genitals, boosting oxygen levels
- High oxygen strengthens the vagina’s tissues and reduces the risk of dryness
- Aside from physical health, being intimate also helps to boost mental wellbeing
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
92
View
comments
A little-known, painful condition can affect women’s vaginas if they do not have enough sex, an expert warns.
Vaginal atrophy, or dryness, is a common disorder that affects most women at some stage in their lives. Symptoms include discharge, burning, itching, difficulty urinating and pain during sex.
Yet, regular orgasms help to keep vaginal tissue healthy, meaning it is less likely to become inflammed, thin or dry, according to London-based sex therapist Dr Louise Mazanti.
Sex – either with a partner or solo – also improves blood flow to the intimate area, resulting in more oxygen reaching the vagina, which strengthens its tissues, she adds.
Dr Mazanti also recommends women get intimate to boost their mental health.
A little-known condition can affect women’s vaginas if they do not have enough sex (stock)
-
Woman, 22, born without a VAGINA launches fund-raising…
Could gargling a virus that eats bacteria solve the SUPERBUG…
Woman whose breasts started leaking milk feared she was…
Yikes! Be careful with that handheld blender: X-ray shows…
WHAT IS VAGINAL ATROPHY?
Vaginal atrophy, or dryness, affects most women at some point in their lives.
Those going through the, or post, menopause are more likely to suffer.
Symptoms include vaginal irritation, discomfort during sex, needing to urinate more than normal and repeated urinary tract infections.
Aside from the menopause, causes include childbirth, breastfeeding, lack of arousal, certain contraceptives and cancer therapies.
Treatment includes lubricants and hormone replacement therapy in severe cases.
Women should also ensure they are sufficiently sexually aroused before intercourse.
Source: NHS Choices
‘Have a sexual relationship with yourself’
Dr Mazanti said: ‘It is very important that we have a healthy sex life with a partner or with ourselves.
‘People very often say, “I don’t have a sex life because I don’t have a partner”.
‘But forget about that and have a sexual relationship with yourself,’ The Sun reported.
Dr Mazanti recommends women, or their partners, massage the vaginal tissue to improve blood flow and elasticity, leading to better genital health.
Increased blood flow also boosts oxygen in the intimate area, which helps to eliminate toxins associated with vaginal atrophy.
Orgasms boost mental health
Aside from physical health, regular orgasms also help to boost mental wellbeing by reducing the risk of depression and making women feel sexually attractive, Dr Mazanti adds.
This comes after research back in July revealed having sex once a week slows ageing in women, even if they do not enjoy it.
Researchers from the University of California in San Francisco found being active between the sheets increases the length of women’s telomeres. These ‘cap’ the end of DNA strands, with longer lengths being associated with slower aging, longer lifespans and improved overall health.
Women’s telomeres lengthen with regular love making regardless of whether they are sexually satisfied in their relationship, the research adds.
Share or comment on this article
-
Natalee Holloway mystery solved? Tip that she was drugged… -
‘I finally feel confident in my own skin’: Alton Towers… -
Mitch McConnell joins John Kasich in Republican attack on… -
Dublin gangland bloodbath: Mother-of-six is shot dead in… -
‘I was waiting for him to walk through the door but now… -
Hope Hicks, 28, to serve as interim White House… -
Moment doctor, 38, entered a drug dealer’s NYC apartment… -
Aircraft hangar in ruins after explosion near Southend… -
Rebels erased: Baltimore’s four Confederate monuments are… -
Schoolboy, 13, faces jail after admitting raping his… -
Mercedes driver ‘DELIBERATELY runs over a pedestrian and… -
Shocking moment sledgehammer-wielding moped gang use… -
‘The president let a Jew steal his daughter’: White… -
How Despicable! Mother finds ‘rude’ Minion toy that… -
Father, 27, died of an accidental overdose after taking… -
It’s alive! Painful moment a man’s muscle cramp writhes… -
Will Hurricane Gert save Britain’s summer? Atlantic storm… -
Trump forced to close ALL his business advisory councils…
Comments 92
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.