--xes--

[tds]

Sex before stressful events keeps you calm
26 January 2006
From New Scientist Print Edition
GOT some public speaking to do? Here is a tip to keep stress at bay: have sex beforehand. But make sure it's penetrative sex - the magic vanishes if you pursue other forms of sexual gratification.

Stuart Brody, a psychologist at the University of Paisley, UK, compared the impact of different sexual activities on blood pressure when a person later experiences acute stress. For a fortnight, 24 women and 22 men kept diaries of how often they engaged in penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI), masturbation or partnered sexual activity excluding intercourse. After, the volunteers underwent a stress test involving public speaking and mental arithmetic out loud.

Volunteers who'd had PVI but none of the other kinds of sex were least stressed, and their blood pressure returned to normal faster than those who'd only masturbated or had non-coital sex. Those who abstained had the highest blood-pressure response to stress (Biological Psychology, vol 71, p 214).

Brody also made psychological measurements of neuroticism and anxiety in the volunteers, as well as work stress and partnership satisfaction. Even taking these factors into account, differences in sexual behaviour provided the best explanation for the range of stress responses. "The effects are not attributable simply to the short-term relief afforded by orgasm, but rather, endure for at least a week," says Brody. He speculates that release of the "pair-bonding" hormone oxytocin between partners might account for the calming effect.

[zheer]

 Thats like totally unromantic, i can imagin this guy asking his girlfriend, hay sweet heart i have a concert soon and my blood pressure is going up, is it ok if we get jigy with Mr bigy tonight.
   WEll what can expect from scientists. 

[tds]

Thats like totally unromantic, i can imagin this guy asking his girlfriend, hay sweet heart i have a concert soon and my blood pressure is going up, is it ok if we get jigy with Mr bigy tonight.
 WEll what can expect from scientists.

lol...

we get jigy with Mr bigy tonight.

if indeed big....heh

[Torp]

WEll what can expect from scientists. 

What?  Are you crazy?  Give it up for the scientists (no pun intended).  At least they're out there trying to figure out reasons to have more, other than reasons to bring more offspring into the world.

get jigy with Mr bigy

Now that's funny!!

[gruffalo]

did you only just realise all this?

[pianistimo]

tds needs a scientific explaination for love.  (just kidding ) agreed with torp actually about so many children.  although, i was thinking that the more kids you have - the more it kind of cements the bond of love.  there's something inherent in my children's faces that reminds me of my husband.  if i know what i did now ten years ago, i'd have five.  you only have one 'go around' (20-35 is prime) to have the number that you will.  most people i know with big families have a lot of fun - though it does get expensive!  at least you get the tax break of $500. at tax time for each dependent.  (forgetting the clothing, tennis shoes, braces, college bills for a moment).

all you really need is a big enough bed, a double lock on the door when you want some privacy, a high fi stereo that is loud enough to drown out the noise your children are trying to hear - when you say you want some privacy.  yes, the bed is the number one problem.  salespeople try to sell you on the price - and you get a queen size.  what a rip !  for a few dollars more you'd have been really comfortable after the sex in the king size.  if you are getting married - don't scrimp on the bed.  it's the only thing that really matters in the bedroom.  forget the chair, setee, or whatever.