Going without sex for a while isn’t the end of the world — but it can come with some noticeable changes. Most of the “consequences” are really just the absence of the health benefits that regular sexual activity can provide. It sucks, sure, but rest assured: you’re not going to freeze up, grow a new hymen, become permanently incapable of touching another person’s genitals, or drop dead from sexual frustration.
There’s a difference between lifelong celibacy and simply taking a break after being sexually active. (Yes, scientists study this — see The Nun Study, which has tracked the health of over 600 American nuns since 1986.) If you’ve had sex before and now you’re not, the effects can go beyond just missing the physical intimacy. Still, while celibacy can impact your body, these changes are rarely serious and won’t prevent you from enjoying sex again when the time comes.
Here are nine things that might happen when you stop having sex — and what they actually mean.
1. Will Your Vagina Tighten?
Nope — that’s a myth. Vaginal “tightness” isn’t linked to how long it’s been since you had sex or how many partners you’ve had. And no, your hymen doesn’t grow back.
However, after a long break, your vaginal tissues might need time to reacclimate to arousal and penetration. The muscles may not relax as easily, but they can “remember” with time and stimulation. According to sexologist Dr. Jordin Wiggins, extended abstinence can lead to pelvic floor muscle weakening (atrophy), which may affect orgasm quality and bladder control. It can also lead to conditions like vaginismus — involuntary tightening of vaginal muscles that can make penetration painful.
If that sounds familiar, Dr. Wiggins recommends seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist or using a pelvic floor trainer like Elvie for guided exercises.
2. Could You Develop Erectile Dysfunction?
Potentially, yes. A 2008 study in the American Journal of Medicine suggested that regular sexual activity may help maintain erectile function, especially in older men. The idea is: use it or lose it. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you need a partner — solo sessions count too. (Bonus: regular ejaculation might also reduce prostate cancer risk.)
3. Does It Weaken Your Immune System?
Sex can give your immune system a helpful boost, possibly by enhancing antibody levels. So when you’re not having sex, you’re missing out on that advantage — though the effect is relatively minor.
Dr. Jodie Horton, MD, notes there are other ways to keep your immunity strong: good sleep, healthy eating, regular exercise, yoga, and meditation all help too.
4. Will Your Libido Drop?
It might. Dr. Wiggins explains that sex isn’t a biological drive like hunger — it’s part of the brain’s reward system. When sex is enjoyable, you crave more of it. Without regular stimulation, the desire can fade, and you may become comfortable without it.
To keep your sex drive humming, Dr. Horton suggests regular masturbation — it offers similar mood-boosting effects through hormones like dopamine and oxytocin.
5. Could It Affect Your Mood or Stress Levels?
Absolutely. Sex is a natural stress reliever, thanks to the release of feel-good chemicals and the physical activity involved. One 2016 study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that satisfying sex may even protect women from cardiovascular issues later in life.
Without it, you may notice more stress or agitation, especially if sex was part of how you coped. Dr. Wiggins recommends finding alternative ways to boost your mood: exercise, connecting with friends, or taking time to relax in a warm bath.
6. Is Your Heart Health at Risk?
Sex has cardiovascular benefits — it gets your heart rate up and supports vascular health. However, there’s little research on the specific heart effects of a sex hiatus. Replacing bedroom activity with cardio at the gym can give your heart an even better workout, so you won’t be losing out if you stay active.
7. Is It Harder to Get Wet?
Possibly — but it depends. Regular sexual activity can help maintain blood flow and lubrication in the vaginal tissues. A break from sex may slow down your body’s arousal response.
That said, Dr. Horton notes that issues with lubrication are more often linked to hormonal changes (like menopause) than to sexual inactivity. If you’re not near menopause, any temporary dryness is likely manageable with some extra warm-up time or lube.
8. Are You Less Likely to Get UTIs or STIs?
Yes — this is one upside. Since UTIs are often caused by bacteria being pushed into the urethra during sex, taking a break reduces that risk. And fewer sexual encounters obviously means fewer opportunities for STIs (though they can still be transmitted through nonsexual contact in some cases).
9. Does It Make You Smarter?
Not really. There’s a myth that abstinence enhances mental clarity — but research suggests the opposite. Sexual activity can actually stimulate neuron growth in the hippocampus, a brain area critical to memory and learning.
So if you’re feeling extra sharp lately, it might just be that you have more free time (or less distraction), not a biological brain boost.
Final Thoughts
Taking a break from sex — whether by choice or circumstance — can affect your body and mind in subtle ways, but it’s nothing to panic about. Most changes are reversible, manageable, and don’t mean anything is wrong with you. When (and if) you return to sex, your body will be more than ready to remember how it all works.
In the meantime, stay active, connected, and kind to yourself.
