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Tana Marie's Monthly Romance Column and Love Tip Newsletter

By Tana Marie

Ahhh Spring, Natures Gift to Humanity

Spring is truly in the air, well at least for some of us; others will have to endure Mother Nature’s sense of humor a bit longer. But regardless of the weather outside, our internal clock is signaling us that Spring is eminent, and with it comes that age-old gift of the Gods, Spring Fever. It’s when a “young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love” and certainly young women are right there also!

How do you make the most of this endorphin-fest? Do your spring-cleaning, both physically and emotionally; get rid of those stale old possessions, beliefs and behaviors that don’t work for you any more – did they ever really work for you anyway?

Make a commitment to enjoy EVERY day, every experience, each special person in your life and most importantly, celebrate love in every way you can. If you’re single, celebrate the love you have for your friends and family, your hobbies and interests, and most importantly, CELEBRATE YOURSELF! For those of you who are in a romance, celebrate one another, and the best way to do that is to connect with one another as much and as authentically as possible – the rewards are unprintable!

I usually don’t do this, but I am including below an article written by Dr. Susan Lark about Making Love to drive home my point about how good it is to celebrate your love – now you have a doctor’s perspective about what I have been saying for years. Enjoy!

Making love! Finally, something that is highly pleasurable and good for you. And it's all about chemistry. I don't mean the chemistry between two people—which is a magical factor, to be sure. I'm referring to certain chemicals (or hormones) that are released during sex. These hormones play a large part in our enjoyment of sex. Several sex hormones get in the “act,” but today I'm going to talk about the role that oxytocin, endorphins, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) play when we make love. These chemicals can help give you a feeling of well-being, restore your hormone levels, and improve your overall health.

Making Love Makes You Feel Good

When you make love, you feel good emotionally and physically. This is due to the increase of two chemicals in the body—endorphins and oxytocin. Of course you are familiar with endorphins. They are the feel-good hormones that are released when you exercise. And they are famous for lifting the blues and combating stress. Endorphins are also released when you have sex or spend time with someone you love, leaving you feeling happy and contented.

Oxytocin is another feel-good hormone released during sex. You may remember from the article I did on friendship (in the November 2003 issue of my monthly newsletter, the Lark Letter) that oxytocin plays a role in the emotional attachment between people, especially women and their friends and family. For example, this chemical, released during breastfeeding, has been shown to promote bonding between mother and baby.

Oxytocin also surges during sex in women and men, especially during orgasm. This is part of the reason you feel connected to your partner after making love. You may also notice that these surges of oxytocin produce a calming effect—making love is a great way to keep your stress levels in check.

Sex Is a Potent Pain Reliever

Recent studies have revealed that sex is a potent pain reliever. Dr. Beverly Whipple of Rutgers University in New Jersey has conducted studies on the subject for nearly thirty years. She was one of the first researchers to discover that oxytocin was released during sexual activity, as the result of vaginal stimulation. This led to an important connection. Oxytocin stimulates the release of endorphins and corticosteroids, which can alleviate or eliminate pain—even the severe pain from migraines or arthritis.

Sex Can Improve Your Overall Health

Making love does more than stimulate a natural “high” or reduce pain. Sex is good for your overall health. Studies have confirmed that an active sex life is associated with longer life, better physical health, and a fuller sense of personal worth, potential, and well-being. That's because it helps burn calories, keep muscles toned, improve your sleep, and promote heart health.

Being in love and having sex promotes all of these benefits, and can make you feel as though you're restoring your lost youth. That is because these health conditions can be improved (or worsened) depending on your DHEA levels, which rise during lovemaking, especially in response to orgasm. DHEA is sometimes referred to as the “fountain of youth” hormone. It is the precursor to all of our sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Women with adequate levels of this hormone typically report a healthy desire for sex and the ability to enjoy it.

In the 1980s, a study conducted in Wales followed men for ten years. They found that the men who had sex twice a week or more had fewer heart attacks and were less likely to have heart disease. This is due in part to their DHEA levels. Low serum levels of the DHEA appear to predict increased risk of ischemic heart disease in middle-aged men and for protecting the heart muscle after a heart attack.

Of course, these results may have something to do with the physical condition of the men and their likelihood to remain active as they age. Again, DHEA levels may unlock some of the mystery, because it is also known to decrease joint pain, decrease body fat, and increase lean muscle mass. Let's face it; if you feel good, you're more likely to exercise. And if you exercise, you're more likely to feel good about yourself and to want to be intimate with your partner.

I think you'll agree that the benefits of intimacy are hard to resist. Making love improves your physical and psychological well-being, and promotes loving relationships among committed partners.

To learn natural ways to restore your libido or balance your hormones, visit my Web site at www.drlark.com.

                                                      Susan M. Lark, MD

Thank you Susan for your fabulous words about lovemaking and the profound benefits physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Now get out there and practice the celebration of love, caring and appreciation. I want a full report next month!

                                                      Blessings, Tana Marie