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Giving up sex could have a devastating impact on your mental health, experts have warned.
A psychologist has raised concerns that singleness leads to an increased risk of depression, anxiety and can result in an irritable mood.
"Suppressing sexual desires without alternative means of stress relief can create frustration and also worsen anxiety or irritability," warned sexual health and psychiatry specialist Dr Sham Singh.
"Sexual activity can help relieve stress, through the release of endorphins and oxytocin."
Endorphins are chemicals released by the brain to relieve pain and stress and increase sexual desire by 200 percent.
Dr Singh added that people often feel 'shame, increased anxiety and depression' if they are seen by their peers as unable to find a sexual partner.
A 2021 study of 4,000 people found that people who reported having more sex during the pandemic were less anxious than those who didn't.
The expert warned that your physical health could also be at risk if you don't have sex regularly.
In both men and women, a lack of sex can result in an increased level of anxiety or tension, which can find its way into physical manifestations such as muscle tension, problems with concentration or hypersensitivity to touch, said Dr Singh.
This comes after shocking survey data collected by sex toy company 'The Handy' revealed that almost one in five people over the age of 18 are not sexually active at all.
Those who avoid intimacy may also suffer from sleep problems and food cravings, Dr Singh added.
"Long-term abstinence from sexual activity may have different effects on people's energy levels, appetite and sleep related to hormonal changes in testosterone and estrogen and the stress hormone, cortisol," he said.
"Some people may feel more tired because sex is a good way to relax and sleep better, for example, through the release of oxytocin."
A 2023 review of 43 studies, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found a significant link between sleep quality and duration and how often people had sex.
Researchers last week found that women aged 20 to 59 who had sex less than once a week were at a 70 percent increased risk of death within five years.
Experts at the University of Pennsylvania found that these women had high levels of a key protein linked to inflammation, which can cause damage to healthy cells, tissues and organs.
Lower levels, and no increased risk of death, were seen in participants who had sex more than once a week.
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