6 reasons morning sex is simply the best, better than all the rest
Let’s be real: consensual, pleasurable sex any time of day is the cat’s pajamas. But let us talk about the unique beauty that is morning sex. In the light of a new day, when you’re at your most vulnerable and still easing into consciousness, nothing beats the feeling of having someone beside you, warm and wanting. Plus, it sure as heaven beats an alarm clock. There is literally no better way to start the day, but in case you’re chuckling dismissively, know that the benefits extend to more than just that post-coital glow (which is reason enough on its own, no?). Studies show that people who get down and dirty in the morn are healthier and happier, so there.
Here are 6 reasons morning sex is simply the best:
1. It fights stress
Sex in the AM gets you off to a great start, pun intended. Researchers have found that morning sex is a natural stress-buster, and that its relaxing effects can last for a week, meaning your Monday morning roll in the proverbial hay could go so far as to ease those anticipatory Sunday blues. A 2010 study found that pleasurable activities can reduce your stress hormone levels. Big surprise, right? That means that an orgasm before you start work can improve your mood for the rest of the day.
2. It boosts your immune system
Morning sex also increases your levels of IgA, an antibody that helps your body battle infection, according to Dr. Debby Herbenick, American research scientist and author of Because It Feels Good. So while vitamin C can do wonders for your immune system, so too does getting lowdown before getting up. A 2015 study discovered that sex can boost your immunity by kicking into gear your body’s natural defenses against bacteria, viruses, and other germs.
3. It’s an alternative morning workout
Your metabolism is at its lowest in the morning, having slowed right down while you dream deep. The best way to trigger it is with a morning workout. But if concepts of combining morning and exercise make you snicker, take solace in the fact that according to one study, an hour of sex burns almost as many calories as a 30-minute jog; men and women burn an average of 240 and 180 calories, respectively. According to another study, sex burns about five calories per minute—same as going for a walk. Whatever the actual number of calories burned (probably very much depends on what kind of sex you have and for how long, hello), this all seems like a very respectable alternative to the morning workout, don’t you think?
4. Your body wants it…more than usual
Morning is the perfect time for makin’ whoopee because, quite frankly, your body’s rearin’ and ready to go. Estrogen and testosterone levels are at their peak when you first wake up, and since, the higher your hormone levels, the hornier you feel, your clit (and the rest of your body) is more sensitive and easily primed for action. High testosterone levels will boost your male partner’s libido and improve sexual function too, according to one 2007 study, or even increase erection strength, dontcha know.
5. You’re already naked…or at least horizontal
There’s something to be said for the sheer and clear practicality of morning time, as scenarios go. If you sleep naked beside your partner, then there’s no need for a costume change, am I right? Not to mention, you’re already in bed, lying down. If you’re a 9-5er and busy as a bee, this does make for a convenient weekday morning time slot. Plus, chances are you’ll be more productive at work thanks to those stress-fighting properties I mentioned.
6. It’s more intimate
Morning time, before we get out of bed, is one of the few tranquil moments many of us experience before commencing the insanity. Most people who know you have no idea what you’re like when you first come to. That’s what makes morning sex so intimate. You’re stripped of all your usual armor: clothes, makeup, breath fresheners, having your guard up. It’s not surprising then, that sex that’s not drunken and/or shielded by darkness often affirms a more genuine attraction and possibly an even deeper connection. Worried about morning breath? Don’t let that stop you. Keep mints by the bed with your condoms, or avoid face-to-face positions, or run to the loo for a quick brush and tinkle. Where there’s a will, there’s a perfect lay to start your day. Words to live by, I say.
