A new study suggests yes.
The science:
Researchers have found that women who have sex at least once a month are 28 percent less likely to experience early menopause (which typically starts around age 52) compared to those who do so less often. Your risk drops another 19 percent if you have sex weekly.
For the study, intercourse, masturbation, oral, and intimate touching all qualified as sex.
Expert insight:
When sexual interactions become scarce, your body assumes that pregnancy is not in your future, says study author Megan Arnot, researcher and doctoral student at University College London in England.
In turn, it will stop investing energy in ovulation, sending you into menopause, she explains. Instead, your body will prioritize warding off disease and staying physically fit.
The bottom line:
These findings suggest being sexually active on a weekly basis could help you dodge early menopause. No single type of interaction is better than the others, so choose whichever you prefer.
Photo: Andres De Lara/The Licensing Project