Sexual activity is a normal and healthy part of adult life. However, not being able to remember the last time you had sex could be a cause for concern.

If you are not in a celibate relationship, not engaging in sex might be an indication of deeper issues in your life. This article explores the potential causes, risks, and why it’s essential to remember this significant aspect of your life.

1. Connecting With Your Partner

Sexual intimacy is more than just physical. It also fosters an emotional bond between partners. The act of sexual intercourse creates a chemical reaction that promotes bonding.

If you miss out on this bonding experience, you could be putting your relationship at risk.

Intimacy helps couples bond and maintain a healthy and honest emotional connection with one another. People in long-term relationships that enjoy regular sex tend to be happier and healthier than their counterparts who don’t.

It’s also worth mentioning that regular sexual activity promotes overall health and well-being.

2. Sexual Health Matters

While sex might be a difficult topic for some people to talk about, it’s an essential aspect of sexual health. When you engage in sexual activity, you’re exposing yourself to the risks of sexually transmitted infections (STI).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 3 sexually active adults aged 15-24 have an STI.

The risk of contracting an STI increases with the number of sexual partners you have, and unprotected sex is one of the most common ways of contracting one. A regular checkup is necessary to ensure that you are healthy and safe.

While you might not remember the last time you had sex, you should remember the last time you had your sexual health checked.

3. Understanding Your Sexual Preferences

Having an understanding of your sexual preferences helps you get more enjoyment out of the experience.

Exploring your body and your sexual preferences helps you identify what you enjoy most, what you dislike, and how you can communicate this to your partner.

Remembering the last time you had sex enables you to explore your preferences better.

When you can pinpoint the last time you enjoyed sex, the frequency of sex you engage in, and how it makes you feel, you can work on enhancing your experience the next time.

4. Mental Health Impacts

Believe it or not, regular and healthy sexual activity can boost your mental health.

Engaging in sexual activity with a partner releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain that promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and stress levels, and promote a sense of overall happiness.

Positive sexual experiences help to regulate our moods and emotions while strengthening our immune system, reducing our risk of diseases and illnesses, and improving our work productivity.

On the other hand, sexual dysfunctions and reduced sex can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues, impacting overall mental health.

5. Reducing Risk of Infertility

If you’re trying to conceive, remembering the last time you had sex is crucial. The National Infertility Association reports that one in eight couples struggles with fertility issues in the United States.

Couples are advised to have sex at least two to three times a week around the fertile window (days 10-18), giving them the best chance of conceiving.

By remembering the last time you had sex, you can keep track of your menstrual cycle, assess potential fertility issues with a healthcare provider, and check for sperm count or quality issues with your partner.

Regular sex helps couples to identify, address, and treat infertility issues early.

6. Recognizing the Impact of Low Testosterone

Low secretion levels of testosterone in men can lead to low sex drive, reduced muscle mass, and a wide range of other health issues. The same can occur in women who take hormonal contraceptives that can lead to lower levels of the hormone.

In women, low testosterone secretion can lead to reduced sex drive, mood swings, and even depression. While in men, low testosterone can cause erectile dysfunction, infertility, and other conditions.

If you notice a decline in sexual activity, the lowest testosterone levels could be responsible for the issue. It’s recommended that you seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

7. Improving Overall Physical Health

Regular and healthy sexual activity can impact your physical health in several ways. Engaging in sexual activity exercise the heart and releases endorphins that can aid in pain management and reduce inflammation.

It’s also been reported to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease in men.

Also, engaging in sexual activity helps to maintain a healthy urinary tract, prevents osteoporosis, and improves the quality of sleep. Remembering the last time you had sex is an indication of how well you are taking care of your physical health.

8. The Risks of Not Having Sex

If you’re not engaging in sex, for whatever reason, there are risks. The lack of sexual activity leads to atrophy of the genital muscles, reducing vaginal lubrication, which can make sex painful.

This increases the risk of contracting an STI, as vaginal dryness or irritation can cause tears in the vaginal lining, and can lead to uncomfortable yeast infections and UTIs.

Also, low sex drive in men and women could be an indication of deeper issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, or even relationship issues.

By focusing on increasing sexual activity, some of these issues could be resolved, leading to a better overall quality of life.

9. When To See A Healthcare Provider

If you have not had sex in a long time, it’s important to consider why.

While being celibate is okay, not engaging in sex for extended periods could be a sign of underlying issues such as low testosterone levels, hormonal imbalances or other more severe conditions.

If you think there might be something wrong, it’s important to see a healthcare provider who can offer guidance.

A healthcare provider could assess for STDs, hormonal imbalances, stress, or relationship issues that could be affecting sexual activity.

10. Conclusion

While sexual activity might be a sensitive subject, it’s essential to remember when you last had sex.

It allows you to check your sexual health, identify any fertility issues, pinpoint underlying health concerns and foster deeper emotional and physical connections with your partner.

Not engaging in sex could have a significant impact on your mental, physical, and emotional health, including the quality of your relationships.

As such, it’s recommended that you keep track of the last time you had sex and work actively to keep the frequency of sex in your life.