Parents often face frequent household viral transmission because children commonly carry and spread infections. Children’s close contact and contagiousness can undermine parental immunity and disrupt family functioning when caregivers fall ill. Sexual activity offers some benefits, including a modest immune increase linked to higher IgA antibody levels, but the boost is small and does not reliably prevent sickness. Relying on increased sexual frequency as a protective strategy against household viruses is ineffective. Regular sexual activity can still aid intimacy, relaxation, and stress reduction, which indirectly support overall wellbeing, so engage in sex based on desire and relationship needs rather than as disease prevention.
Listen, sex has some benefits, for sure. But sex fully improving your immunity and creating a safety shield around your body to fight off germs? Not so much. "Sex isn't going to prevent a person from getting sick," says Dr. Jefferey Chester. "However, there is some research showing that sexual activity can give the immune system a very small boost. That's likely because it increases levels of IgA. This is an antibody that helps defend against viruses and other infections."
Look, kids are perfect angels gifted to us for the most heartbreaking amount of time, and yet they are also disgusting germ magnets who seem to have one sole mission: to pass every single virus they catch directly onto you. But you know better than anyone that the minute a parent goes down, all hell breaks loose. You'll do anything to keep your immunity strong, but what if that means having more sex?
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