![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEC_272893613-525f.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoes going without sex for a little bit do anything to your body? (Picture: Metro\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tDoes going without sex for a little bit do anything to your body? (Picture: Metro\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getting frisky can reap a whole heap of benefits, whether that\u2019s reducing your stress levels <\/a>or even boosting your immune system.<\/a><\/p>\n The latest National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles <\/a>found that, in the UK, 16% of men and 22% of women aged between 16 and 74 were sexually inactive<\/a>. So, effectively, we\u2019re not all reaping these rewards.<\/p>\n A-listers are talking more candidly about abstaining, too. \u2018I haven\u2019t had sex in over three years,\u2019 Khlo\u00e9 Kardashian<\/a> recently revealed during the premiere of the latest season of The Kardashians<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018I saw a meme, or a quote, or something, and it was like, \u2018Why are you so happy?\u2019 And the person said, \u201cBecause I\u2019m not dating<\/a>.\u201d And I\u2019m like, yes, I actually feel great with that energy right now,\u2019 she added.<\/a><\/p>\n On last year\u2019s series of I\u2019m A Celebrity, Tulisa\u00a0Contostavlos<\/a>\u00a0also revealed she\u2019d been celibate <\/a>for over three years, adding, \u2018I\u2019m not an overly sexualised person.\u2019<\/p>\n Clearly, we don\u2019t all need to be going at it 24\/7 to feel satisfied. There\u2019s no shame in taking a break \u2014 but what impact does it have on your body if you choose to take a prolonged dry spell<\/a>?<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWhat does \u2018sex\u2019 actually mean?\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sex can be defined in whatever way works best for you.<\/p>\n \u2018As a society, we tend to equate sex with penetration, but definitions of celibacy may mean that all sexual contact with a partner is being avoided,\u2019 Dr Angela Wright, clinical sexologist at The Portland Hospital, explains. <\/p>\n \u2018Equally, it may not mean a break from all sensuality or intimacy with a partner, or from our own solo sex habits. <\/p>\n \u2018Being mindful and conscious about what kind of touch you want \u2013 and don\u2019t want, both within relationships and on your own, is an important part of defining and holding your physical and emotional boundaries.\u2019<\/p>\n Improved emotional wellbeing<\/p>\n First up, as Khloe claims, it is possible that celibacy can bring about a positive new era of personal growth.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSex. Love. Modern Mess. Listen to new Metro podcast Just Between Us\t\t\t<\/p>\n X Factor icon Diana Vickers and writer, broadcaster, and LGBTQ+ advocate Jack Guinness dive into your wildest sex, love, and dating dilemmas \u2013 every Tuesday.<\/p>\n Listen\u00a0wherever you get your podcasts<\/a> or watch on YouTube. And be sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode.<\/p>\n You can also join the fun on our WhatsApp Group Chat\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 share your dilemmas and Diana and Jack may just give you a call. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Annabelle Knight, Lovehoney\u2019s sex and relationships expert, is an advocate for these \u2019emotional benefits.\u2019<\/p>\n She says: \u2018Celibacy can give you the space to reconnect with your body and your boundaries, and to understand what you actually want from intimacy.<\/p>\n \u2018For many people, it\u2019s a time of rediscovery \u2014 focusing on self-care, confidence, and pleasure in other forms, from solo exploration to emotional connection.<\/p>\n \u2018Everyone\u2019s needs and timelines are different, and periods of celibacy can be really positive for some people.\u2019<\/p>\n Vaginal dryness<\/p>\n It\u2019s not all roses, though. Dr Bhavini Shah from\u00a0LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor<\/a> tells Metro that women can end up experiencing vaginal dryness tied to abstaining from intimacy, which can make penetration more uncomfortable if and when you do return to sex after some time away.<\/p>\n \u2018This can lead to a condition known as dyspareunia, where women can feel pain just before, during, or after sex,\u2019 Dr Bhavini explains.<\/p>\n Dr Bhavini adds: \u2018Dyspareunia can also be caused by several other conditions, from hormonal changes and menopause to infections from STIs and UTIs.\u2019<\/p>\n Spontaneous erections<\/p>\n \u2018Spontaneous or nocturnal erections are completely normal, and they happen whether you\u2019re sexually active or not,\u2019 says Annabelle. They\u2019re your body\u2019s natural maintenance system, keeping blood flow healthy and tissue responsive.\u2019<\/p>\n She adds: \u2018During celibacy, they can actually be a reassuring sign that everything\u2019s functioning as it should. They\u2019re not necessarily linked to sexual frustration or unmet desire; they\u2019re just a physiological process, much like stretching your muscles after a long day.\u2019<\/p>\n Those with penises may find that \u2018spontaneous erections\u2019 occur less frequently owing to a reduction in sexual activity, but she adds: \u2018These effects are temporary and can return once sexual activity resumes.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t You might assume that if you haven\u2019t had sex for a while, you\u2019re going to be horny at all times. But actually, the opposite can be true.<\/p>\n \u2018You might notice a lower libido if you\u2019re not sexually active, or you may find your desire fluctuates in waves,\u2019 says Annabelle.<\/p>\n But she explains that the act of having sex isn\u2019t what kickstarts (or satisfies) your libido.<\/p>\n Factors like \u2018mood, body image, relationship satisfaction, and even how safe or relaxed you feel can impact your libido levels \u2013 often more than the last time you had sex.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018For some people, periods of celibacy can actually bring greater awareness of what triggers or suppresses their desire, because they\u2019re tuning into those emotional and physical cues more consciously.<\/p>\n \u2018You could be celibate for years and still feel sudden surges of desire because your brain and body are wired to respond to stimulation, fantasy, and emotional cues.\u2019<\/p>\n Giving your immune system a break<\/p>\n While the same can be true of having frequent sex, taking a little break from it can also give your immune system a bit of a breather.<\/p>\n As psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist Silva Neves\u00a0previously told Metro<\/strong><\/a>, sex is thought to boost our immune system, referencing one study which showed that people who had more frequent sex had more immunoglobulin, a blood protein that forms part of the immune system.<\/p>\n He further explained: \u2018We also know that for men, a higher frequency of ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer and having sex helps lower blood pressure, so is good for the heart.\u2018<\/p>\n \t\t But when the tables are turned, Annabelle says that \u2018without the regular exposure\u2019 to partnered sex that comes with sexual activity, your body has more chance to recover and stay healthy.\u2019<\/p>\n This is because taking a pause from sex \u2018allows your body and mind to rebalance,\u2019 which in turn can lower \u2018stimulation levels, support deeper rest, and free up mental and emotional energy that can be redirected elsewhere.\u2019 Annabelle likens it to a \u2018simple reset that can leave you feeling more focused and refreshed overall.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018On top of that, giving yourself this break can boost your energy, improve sleep quality, and make it easier to focus on other parts of your life, from work to hobbies.\u2018<\/strong> <\/p>\n This article was first published on November 15, 2025.<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Symbol](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-1448176410.jpg\")
\n\t\tIn 2023, 22% of women aged between 16 and 74 were sexually inactive (Picture: Getty Images)
\nChanges in your libido<\/p>\n![\"ut](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-1358142171.jpg\")
\n\t\tCelibacy can lower libido over time, says one expert (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Pensive](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-1263045973.jpg\")
\n\t\tCelibacy can give you space to \u2018reconnect with your boundaries\u2019 (Picture: Getty Images\/Cavan Images RF)<\/p>\n
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