It seems that long walks and cold showers do not replace everything
Experts have looked at what can happen to your body if you stop having sex for a long period of time, and why some of those effects may be more noticeable for people with a vagina.
Even people who usually have an active sex life can go through a dry spell. Sometimes it is a personal choice, and other times it simply happens because of life, stress, or relationship changes.
While a dry spell can point to issues in a relationship, or reflect how hard modern dating can feel in 2026, that is not the full picture. There are also physical and emotional changes that can come with not having sex for an extended time.
In fact, going without sex can affect both your body and your mindset. It can even change the way you think about intimacy when you do return to it.
For people with a vagina, there are certain effects that are more specific to them and do not apply in the same way to others.
Certified sex therapist Sari Cooper told Reader’s Digest that a long-term dry spell may lower your sex drive. She described it as a “use it or lose it” situation for some people.
It can be a case of ‘use it or lose it’ OR Images/Getty
“For some people who refrain from sex, they begin to feel more sluggish, with less vitality and hunger for sex,” she said.
“Out of sight out of mind is how some of my clients describe the scenario.”
If you have a vagina, another possible effect of not having sex for a long time is that the vaginal walls can weaken.
This means that when you eventually have sex again after a long break, it may feel uncomfortable or even painful at first.
“Without regular frequency of intercourse as you get older the walls of your vagina thin out and can lead to painful sex when you finally get back into the sack,” said Dr Cooper.
For people going through menopause, regular sexual activity can play a role in maintaining the strength and elasticity of the vaginal tissue.
The impact is significant enough that the North American Menopause Society has recommended regular penetrative sex for some women as part of maintaining vaginal health.
Another change some people notice is reduced natural lubrication, which can make sex feel less comfortable when they return to it.
The vagina produces natural lubrication during arousal, which helps make intercourse more comfortable. Many experts still suggest using additional lubricant, especially if dryness is an issue.
However, hormone levels, especially lower estrogen levels that come with age, can affect how much natural lubrication is produced.
Dr Lauren Streicher said: “If you take a young woman who’s 20 or 30 years old she’s going to have plenty of oestrogen around to make sure those tissues stay healthy, elastic, and lubricated when she’s not having sex.”
A long dry spell may also affect menstrual cramps. To put it in a more positive light, having an orgasm during your period can sometimes reduce discomfort.
Dr Streicher explained why: “The uterus is a muscle and many women will actually have a uterine contraction when they orgasm, which will cause the blood to expel more quickly, which will in turn decrease menstrual cramps.”
She added: “Also, there may be an increase in endorphins, which also will help with menstrual cramps.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.thatviralfeed.com/what-happens-when-you-stop-having-sex-women-effects/109657.
