Intercourse isn't everything for most women, says study -- try 'outercourse'

By Ian Kerner, CNN

Updated 1432 GMT (2232 HKT) August 28, 2017

The health benefits of sex go way beyond the pleasures of orgasm. You get a health boost in all sorts of ways from fooling around, from lowering blood pressure to stress reduction. Read on for all the excuses you need to schedule sex tonight.
Photos: 10 reasons to have sex tonight
The health benefits of sex go way beyond the pleasures of orgasm. You get a health boost in all sorts of ways from fooling around, from lowering blood pressure to stress reduction. Read on for all the excuses you need to schedule sex tonight.
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Sex, especially orgasm, releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, which promotes a feeling of well-being and happiness. And you don't have to act like bunnies to get the benefit; a <a href="http://www.spsp.org/press_release/sex-frequency-study" target="_blank">study of 30,000 Americans over four decades</a> found that sex at least once a week was enough to make people happy.
Photos: 10 reasons to have sex tonight
10 reasons to have sex tonight – Sex, especially orgasm, releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, which promotes a feeling of well-being and happiness. And you don't have to act like bunnies to get the benefit; a study of 30,000 Americans over four decades found that sex at least once a week was enough to make people happy.
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Sex seems to be especially good for a woman's heart -- the physical one, that is. A <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/08/health/great-sex-older-men-women-study/index.html">recent study</a> found that women who said they had frequent, extremely satisfying sex had a lower risk of hypertension, a common precursor to heart disease.<br />
Photos: 10 reasons to have sex tonight
Sex seems to be especially good for a woman's heart -- the physical one, that is. A recent study found that women who said they had frequent, extremely satisfying sex had a lower risk of hypertension, a common precursor to heart disease.
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Regular, frequent sex may lower the risk of prostate cancer, <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/844820" target="_blank">according to research</a> presented to the American Urological Association. A study of 32,000 men over 18 years found that men who ejaculate at least monthly may be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer later in life.
Photos: 10 reasons to have sex tonight
Regular, frequent sex may lower the risk of prostate cancer, according to research presented to the American Urological Association. A study of 32,000 men over 18 years found that men who ejaculate at least monthly may be less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer later in life.
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