Sex once a week halves people's risk of dying early, and the more sex you have the better, researchers claim.
A new study has linked regular encounters with lower odds of dying from cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
Experts say sex is equivalent to “moderate intensity exercise" and has similar health benefits for those partaking.
More than 15,000 adults took part in the study by researchers from Washington University.
They had an average age of 39 and were quizzed on their sex lives for around 11 years.
Almost three quarters engaged in sexual activity at least once a month and 36 per cent at least once a week.
Over the course of the lengthy study, 228 died, including 62 from cancer and 29 from cardiovascular disease.
They found those who had sex weekly were 49 per cent less likely to die than those who only had sex once a year or less.
Their odds of dying from cardiovascular disease was 21 per cent less and from cancer 69 per cent lower.
The scientist state that sex releases feel-good chemicals, which boost mental health and promote the activity of “natural killer cells”.
Those cells lower the risk of cancer and viral illness, prevent infections of the lungs and improve other conditions, such as asthma, they claim.
