Why do women have sex? British researchers Cindy Meston and David Bass explore this question in detail in their book of the same name. As it turns out, in intimate relationships, women sometimes find alternatives to headache pills and weight loss pills, and sometimes indulge in lovemaking to achieve mastery.
It turns out that sex has opposite effects: it can both worsen headaches and relieve them. It has been established that during intercourse, the muscles of the head and neck often tense, increasing blood pressure, which intensifies headaches and even leads to their development. However, during physical intimacy, the body releases endorphins—the “feel-good hormones”—which have a healing effect, which is what women benefit from.
Sex can also help you lose weight. A single act of intercourse burns between 100 and 250 calories. However, burning one kilogram of fat (about 7,000 calories) requires a lot of work, both literally and figuratively.
But women don't limit themselves to such utilitarian uses of sex. For some, it's a wonderful way to get revenge: having an affair to spite their husband.
The book's authors found that some women are willing to have sex out of politeness. This is how women help their male acquaintances cope with divorce, make them feel loved, or simply offer comfort and compassion.
Sex for the sake of gaining experience is another common reason. Women who lack confidence in bed seek to fill the gaps in their sexual education. However, researchers note that too much sexual experience before marriage is not good for the long term, as memories of a rich past can negatively impact marital sex life.