You’re newly single or simply don’t have the time to date, and you’ve noticed some changes in your mood or your body. Well, it might be about time to get back in the game. This is what happens to your body when you stop having sex, and it’s not all as pleasant as this first one.

Sex is a vital part of our everyday life. In fact, essential since without it, none of us would have existed … quite literally. Some people embrace it fully, letting go of inhibitions and enjoying every passionate moment they can find. Others fear it, feel awkward and self-conscious making their experiences less pleasurable. Sex not only feels good. It can also be good for you.

People who practice regular sex are proven to have higher levels of what defends our body against germs, viruses, and other intruders.

Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of the a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often.

Yet, there are some religions that require their followers to take a vow of celibacy (abstinence from sexual relations.). Deciding to become celibate is a huge decision and a great commitment that will affect not just your sex life but every aspect of your life.

Your sexual life is of course a highly personal thing and it is completely up to you how you choose to live this part of your life. If you’re going through a period of sexual abstinence, then beware. There are physical consequences of going a while without sex, but many of them are basically negatively focused, which means you’re simply not getting the health benefits sex usually brings.

Do you wonder if our body actually does need sex? What goes on inside of us without this natural primal act?

Though you may not be aware of it, these are some things that happen to you when you stop having sex.

1) Wet Dreams

What you miss in live you’ll find in your dreams. Your body will remind you what you’re missing in your sleep. This will especially happen if your sex life is not only at a standstill, but you’ve also given up on masturbating.

Dreams are a function of the brain, as is pleasure or pain. Our brains consist of an interesting web of chemicals, simultaneously working to ensure our health and happiness. In this article from World of Chemicals they explain the precise chemistry of our dreams. Some dream analysts report that people who are experiencing a lag in their sex life will have vivid sexual dreams.

According to researchers the most obvious in men are erections that are visible and they ejaculate as proof that they’ve climaxed. With women, it was more complex. Researchers had to measure their heart rate, do brain scans, and watch for temperature jumps near the clitoris. They reported the results and according to them 37 percent of women will have a wet dream before the age of 45 and that they’re most common in women between the ages of 40 and 50.

So, if it’s been a while since you’ve gotten lucky, you can expect these little presents to find their way into your subconscious.

2) You Are More Self Conscious

It turns out that semen is the new and effective antidepressant. Although it sounds like something a guy would say to get a girl in bed, it’s true!

Psychology Today reported on a study in which 293 SUNY Albany female students were surveyed on their sex habits, such as frequency and whether or not they used a condom. They then gave the same women the Beck Depression Inventory to determine their moods and level of depression.

Turns out those who were having sex without a condom were significantly less depressed than those who were using condoms or not having sex at all. When the mood elevating compounds found in semen are absorbed by the vaginal walls, they can literally cheer a woman up. Who knew?!

Feelings of happiness, or acceptance also come from chemical reactions in the brain. When you experience sexual activity you release chemicals that make you feel amazing. By not allowing your body to receive this natural release you become chemically imbalanced. Leaving you feeling depressed and less con dent than you normally would.

3) Less Sex More Stress

Without this necessary release, your negative feelings will fester and cause stress to manifest. Whether you experience headaches, lack of sleep, difficulty eating, high blood pressure or the vivid dreaming. These are all stress signals our bodies use to alert us to a need for change. Listening to your body is the key to living a long happy life.

According to Psychology Today, the endorphins released during sex are ideal for reducing the stress and putting an instant smile on your face. So when you’ve gone a while without any nookie, you might notice that your stress level builds up.

Sex is a kind of exercise, which we all knows fights off stress and anxiety. So if you aren’t getting any these days, try not to skip your cardio workouts.

4) Your Immune System Weakens

Seems like having sex provides some key benefits to our health, but when we’re not rolling around in the sheets with our partner, we actually more susceptible to illness too. Your immune system is built to fight germs. Having a weak immune system can lead to all sorts of health problems. The most common being the common cold and 6u viruses. Sex actually strengthens our immune systems by boosting the Immunoglobulin chemical. Increasing your ability to fight and avoid sickness altogether! This study shows how the immune system reacts to sexual activity.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the DHEA, or Dehydroepiandrosterone, hormone is released during arousal, with even more released when you orgasm. This hormone gives your immune system a bit of a boost, helping your body to fight against bacteria, viruses, and other pretty nasty germs