Aging Generation Z is having less sex than any generation in history, and experts warn this could cause their genitals to shrink.
Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn, a sex and relationship expert, told DailyMail.com that sexually inactive people can experience a very rare condition called penile atrophy or vaginal atrophy, in which the tissue can become less elastic and shrink from one to two centimeters.
It also says that going a month or more without sex can cause men and women to experience higher levels of stress due to issues of sexual frustration, anxiety, depression and anger.
And not masturbating has even more dire consequences for men.
A Harvard University study found that men who ejaculate at least 21 times a month reduce their risk of prostate cancer by a third compared to those who indulge less than once a week.
Despite positive attachment to sex, a 2021 University of California study found that 38 percent of 18- to 30-year-olds reported they had no sexual partners in the past year.
Experts warned that not having sex for weeks, months or years can have harmful effects on the human body.
Most people need affection, contact and sexual connections with others, and without them, their mental health could deteriorate, leading to anxiety, depression and higher levels of stress, Suwinyattichaiporn said.
Abstaining from sex can cause temporary and long-term problems, from the development of anxiety and anger problems to serious medical conditions and relationship problems.
He explained that everyone is different and depending on the person’s overall mental health, truly extreme symptoms could develop in six months or up to five years.
Having sex releases feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin, also called the “love hormone,” dopamine, and serotonin, which regulate your emotions and improve your mood.
Dopamine is a chemical that the brain releases to make you feel pleasure, but if your body doesn’t produce enough of it, you can develop insecurities and lower self-esteem.
A 2021 study suggested that people with unmet sexual needs may develop frustration which can lead to increased aggressive behavior.
This frustration can arise from unmet desire to have sex, not having an available partner, or engaging in unsatisfying sexual activities that can lead to increased irritability and mood swings.
It has led to an increase in “the risks of aggression, violence and crime associated with help-seeking, power-seeking, revenge-seeking and displaced frustration,” according to the study.
If couples are experiencing a sexual drought in their relationship, “they don’t approach their partner with softness, vulnerability, and requests for commitment,” sex therapist Sari Cooper told DailyMail.com.
“They also do not have the technique to repair conflicts and instead blame each other, pursue the other with continuous criticism or provoke a guilty response to satisfy their needs.”
Going through a “dry spell” is normal, Cooper added, but going too long without sex can cause major problems with your partner.
“Sometimes a couple may ask to open up the relationship so their needs can be met ethically, and other couples may simply engage in external sexual infidelity to meet needs,” Cooper explained.
Suwinyattichaiporn warned that more extreme symptoms of sexual withdrawal can arise, including atrophy of the penis and vagina, and pain during sex, but added the caveat that this could take more than five years without sex.
Men are at higher risk of developing medical problems such as penile atrophy and prostate cancer if they abstain from sex for long periods.
Researchers believe that carcinogens build up in the prostate over time, increasing the risk of cancer, but studies have found that ejaculation can prevent this because it removes harmful chemicals that build up in semen, according to the Urology Care Foundation.
Tobias Kohler, assistant professor of urology at Southern Illinois University College of Medicine, echoed Suwinyattichaiporn’s warning that an inactive sex life can cause penile atrophy, telling WebMD that without regular erections, the penis will become elastic and shrink.
The science behind how long it takes for penile atrophy to develop appears to still be up for debate.
A 2016 study found that men who Those who ejaculated at least 21 times a month had a lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those who ejaculated only four to seven times a month.
Sexual activity increases blood flow, lubrication and elasticity of vaginal tissues, but without it, a woman can develop vaginal atrophy (when the tissues become thin and dry), which can shorten the vaginal canal, making penetration difficult. .
Cooper advised that people who are going through a prolonged sexual hiatus first address their stress levels because it affects their ability to notice if “someone is exciting our neurotic nerve endings.”
“Stressed people do not have the ability to enjoy sex,” Suwinyattichaiporn added.
People can use methods to de-stress, such as practicing yoga or tai-chi, meditating, and scheduling regular date nights with their partner.
Cooper also suggested considering what has triggered your “erotic desires” in the past, which don’t always have to be physical.
“For example, someone may be very sound-oriented, and if they are in a relaxed state, they may become very excited by listening to or dancing to a type of music,” Cooper said.
For couples who feel trapped in a sexless relationship and communication is not an option, Cooper recommended finding a certified sex therapist to help them “address these barriers with professional guidance.”