Khloé Kardashian Opens Up About Four Years Without Sex — A Doctor Explains How It May Affect the Body
Khloé Kardashian has spoken candidly about an extended period of celibacy, prompting a doctor to explain what going without sex for years might mean for the human body.
In a preview of the upcoming season of The Kardashians, Kardashian reveals that she had spent four years without sexual activity when the footage was recorded.
“I’m single, I might be ready to mingle,” she says in the teaser.
Four years without sex might seem like a considerable amount of time, particularly in a society where sexual activity is often viewed as an important part of adult life. However, from a medical perspective, there is no specific frequency of sex that everyone is expected to maintain.
Dr. Shirin Lakhani, a specialist in intimate and women’s health, explained that “the body should not undergo any particular changes simply because someone hasn’t had sex for a certain amount of time.”
Nevertheless, sexual activity can influence both physical and emotional well-being, which means people who suddenly stop having sex might notice certain differences.
Your mood could be affected
To begin with, sexual activity can stimulate the release of several chemicals in the brain and body, including dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which are frequently referred to as “happy hormones.”
According to Dr. Lakhani, a prolonged period without sex could result in “a reduction in oxytocin and endorphins as well as a dip in dopamine levels.”
However, choosing not to have sex does not automatically lead to hormonal imbalances or other hormone-related problems.
You may miss one of your usual ways to relax
For some individuals, sexual activity also provides a way to unwind after a demanding day and can contribute to feelings of calm and relaxation.
Therefore, if sex was previously one of your preferred methods of relieving tension, you might notice its absence from your routine.
That does not mean celibacy inevitably causes increased stress or anxiety. There are numerous other ways to cope with stress and promote relaxation.
Your pelvic floor gets less of a workout
During orgasm, the pelvic-floor muscles contract and then relax, providing these muscles with a small amount of exercise.
These muscles play an important role in supporting organs such as the bladder, bowel, and uterus.
However, sexual activity is certainly not the only method of maintaining pelvic-floor strength. Specific pelvic-floor exercises can also target and strengthen these muscles.
The effects can be more noticeable after menopause
Going without sex may have different implications following menopause, especially because estrogen levels decline during this stage of life.
Dr. Lakhani explained that among post-menopausal women, reduced sexual stimulation may contribute to vaginal tissues becoming thinner, drier, and less elastic at a faster rate.
Debunking a common myth
A widespread misconception about sexual activity is that abstaining from sex makes the vagina “tighter,” whereas frequent sex supposedly “stretches it out.”
Neither claim is accurate.
“Sex, or a lack of sex, does not cause permanent changes to the size or shape of the vagina or labia,” Dr. Lakhani explained, emphasizing that the vagina is highly elastic.
So, although four years without sex might sound like a headline-worthy revelation about Kardashian, the physical effects on the body are not necessarily dramatic.
As Dr. Lakhani explained, “There is no medically ‘normal’ amount.”