Too Much Sex (As If...)

Instapundit points us to this article: Is Sex Necessary? Here are a few highlights:

--Having regular and enthusiastic sex...confers a host of measurable physiological advantages, be you male or female.

--...by having sex three or more times a week, men reduced their risk of heart attack or stroke by half.

--...the equivalent of six Big Macs can be worked off by having sex three times a week for a year.

--Oral sex (fellatio) ...could be a far richer, more complex and more satisfying experience than squeezing a tube of Crest--even Tartar Control Crest.

-- ...is there such a thing as too much sex? If you're female, probably not. If you're male? You betcha.

Interesting article, overall. However, it contains a couple of mistakes.

First:

Prostoglandin, a hormone found only in semen, may be absorbed in the female genital tract, thus modulating female hormones.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are one of the most widespread substances in the body. They are produced, in abundance, by both women and men. So, the line "Let's have sex so that you, too, may enjoy the benefits of PGs!" while novel, is medically inaccurate. Also, make sure you consider both the benefits (better sensation) and the risks (pregnancy, increased risk of acquiring an STD) before deciding to have intercourse without a condom.

Second:

Dr. George Winch Jr., an obstetrician/gynecologist in Elko, Nev., concurs. If a woman is pre-menopausal and otherwise healthy, says Dr. Winch, her having an extraordinary amount of intercourse ought not to pose a problem. "I don't think women can have too much intercourse," he says, "so long as no sexually transmitted disease is introduced and there's not an inadvertent pregnancy. Sometimes you can have a lubrication problem. If you have that, there can be vaginal excoriation--vaginal scrape."

Far be it for me to discourage any woman from having an extraordinary amount of intercourse . However, please realize that, even if you don't have lubrication problems, a lot of sex can cause vaginal scrapes, tears, and even active bleeding.

What does "a lot of sex" mean? It depends on the woman, but, for example, having sex every day, 2-n times a day (like when you're on your honeymoon, or a romantic vacation) would qualify. The problem is twofold: a) the tissue lining the vagina is fairly delicate, and b) the vaginal tissue is very vascular (it has a rich blood supply).

Every time you have sex, very small vaginal tears are routine (due to the mechanical action of the penis). They are not a problem because the body is equipped to deal with them--they heal spontaneously. However, you have to give your tissue time to heal (a few hours, to 24 hours would be best). If you don't, not only can you increase the number of tears in the vaginal tissue, but you run the risk of aggravating an existing tear and causing it to bleed.

So, in order to have a pleasant experience and avoid trauma to the tissue, use your judgment:

--if intercourse starts to become uncomfortable due to vaginal pain, take a break (for a few hours, at the very least)

--wear loose-fitting clothing (no: G-strings, jeans, stockings; yes: men's boxer shorts, skirts)

--avoid sitting or walking for a long time (best position: lie in bed, legs up, resting on something)

--if you notice labial swelling (labia=vaginal lips), cold water or a cold pack will help
N.B. Make sure not to apply the cold pack directly to the tissue; wear underwear or wrap the pack in a towel.

--if you notice any active bleeding (bright red blood), don't panic. Use a pad and a pair of TIGHT underwear (this applies pressure) and go to the ER.
N.B. Don't be embarrassed (ER people are there to help you, not judge you), and don't procrastinate. In the ER, ask to see the Ob/Gyn resident/attending--they tend to be more skilled in these matters. And, don't worry--the repair is routine, fairly easy to do, and it isn't painful (despite the delicate location, local pain killers work very well).

Enjoy, and be safe!