Potential Health Risks of Conventional Sex

Marnia's picture

Truly scary

Neurally Augmented Sexual Function in Human Females: A Preliminary Investigation Forced orgasms, using electrodes in the spine.

exhausted rats

Promotes addiction

Sexual Behavior Induction of c-Fos in the Nucleus Accumbens and Amphetamine-Stimulated Locomotor Activity Are Sensitized by Previous Sexual Experience in Female Syrian Hamsters (sexual behavior can speed addiction to amphetamines, because it appears to cross-sensitize neuronal response in the nucleus accumbens)

Sexual experience sensitizes mating-related nucleus accumbens dopamine responses of female Syrian hamsters (higher levels of prior sexual experience equal higher levels of dopamine in reward center)

Evidence That Intermittent, Excessive Sugar Intake Causes Endogenous Opioid Dependence (Repeated, excessive intake of sugar created a state in which an opioid antagonist caused behavioral and neurochemical signs of opioid withdrawal. Same center of brain govers sex, so this study may suggest need for balanace approach to sex to avoid withdrawal)

Prolactin and psychic distress

Psychological distress in patients with hyperprolactinaemia (increased incidence of depression, anxiety and hostility in female patients with hyperprolactinaemia)

Musculo-skeletal pain, psychological distress, and hormones during the menopausal transition (high prolactin associated with pain and psychological distress)

Prolactin, testosterone and cortisol as possible markers of changes in cardiovascular function associated with urbanization (high prolactin associated with cardio/cerbrovascular disease and psychological distress)

Endocrine measures of stress and self-rated health: a longitudinal study (poorer self rated health and increased levels of prolactin were significantly associated with increased vital exhaustion)

Decreased plasma prolactin release in euthymic lithium-treated women with bipolar disorder (lithium-treated women with bipolar disorder had significantly lower prolactin levels)

Effects of short and long-term lithium treatment on serum prolactin levels in patients with bipolar affective disorder (lithium-treated women with bipolar disorder had significantly lower prolactin levels)

The role of essential fatty acids and prostaglandins in the premenstrual syndrome (many of the features of the premenstrual syndrome are similar to the effects produced by the injection of prolactin)

Prolactin and stress

Prolactin, psychological stress and environment in humans: adaptation and maladaptation (Prolactin is a component of a maternal program adapted to care for the young. High prolactin levels found in persons who cope passively in real life stress situations. Prolactin surges related to rage & humiliation; cortisol related to surprise and shock.)

Cortisol, prolactin, growth hormone and neurovegetative responses to emotions elicited during an hypnoidal state (Cortisol and prolactin surges appear to be alternative forms of stress responses to specific emotions. Prolactin surges related to rage & humiliation; cortisol related to surprise and shock.)

Prolactin and cortisol in cerebrospinal fluid: sex-related associations with clinical and psychological characteristics of patients with low back pain (prolactin was related to depression and anxiety (and women), whereas cortisol was related to somatization (and men), suggesting that male and female pain patients have different coping mechanisms)

Childhood effects

Effects of early stress on adult affiliative behavior ( Bad childhood affects oxytocin, ability to form bonds and perhaps encourages type A personality)

Child Abuse May Alter Victims' Brain Chemistry, Study Shows ( childhood abuse lowers serotonin, which can make people more prone to acts of rejection, impulsive aggression and violence)

The psychogenic effects of prolactin (absent or alcoholic father may predispose women to develop hyperprolactinaemia later in life as a reaction to losses)

Dopamine Release in Response to a Psychological Stress in Humans and Its Relationship to Early Life Maternal Care: A Positron Emission Tomography Study Using [11C]Raclopride (poor parental care associated with high levels of dopamine released when under stress as an adult)

Hyperprolactinaemia as a result of immaturity or regression: the concept of maternal subroutine. A new model of psychoendocrine interactions (most women with hyper-prolactonemia developed a malignant symbiotic relationship with their mothers in the setting of absence, alcoholism or devaluation of the father)

Emotional aspects of hyperprolactinemia (Patients with hyperprolactinemia often present with emotional difficulties. Sometimes the normalization of prolactin levels is not followed by a feeling of cure. Emotions and feelings are circular, i.e., prolactin affects the brain and mood but, on the other hand, personality traits and environmental factors may stimulate the secretion of prolactin.)

Acute stress markers in humans: response of plasma glucose, cortisol and prolactin to two examinations differing in the anxiety they provoke (prolactin levels vary depending on the specific stressor)

Prolactin--a hormone that mirrors passiveness in crisis situations (higher prolactin levels associated with passive coping with stress; whereas active coping produces no change or lower levels)

Relations among plasma prolactin, testosterone, and injury severity in war casualties (higher prolactin levels associated with poor outcomes or complications in injured patients)

Infant vocalization, adult aggression, and fear behavior of an oxytocin null mutant mouse (oxytocin deficiency during development associated with emotional abnormalities)

Cocaine treatment alters oxytocin receptor binding but not mRNA production in postpartum rat dams (cocaine-induced alterations in OT system dynamics may mediate heightened maternal aggression)

Orgasm suppresses immunity

Mate like crazy and let the sperm fight it out (sexual activity suppresses immunity in Antechinus stuartii marsupials)

Mating suppresses splenic natural killer cell activity in male golden hamsters (sexual activity suppresses natural killer cell activity)

Sexual behavior suppresses the primary antibody response in the golden hamster (sexual behavior is immunosuppressive and may play a role in the communicability of STDs)

Allergy to lover

Allergic to your boyfriend? Blame his semen (women can become allergic to proteins in semen)

Prostate cancer

Prostate response to prolactin in sexually active male rats (minute elevations of serum prolactin after orgasm in healthy subjects are at the etiology of prostate abnormal growth)

Activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 in Human Prostate Cancer Is Associated with High Histological Grade (prolactin may activate key protein in prostate cancer)