A Scientific Perspective on Relationships Between the Sexes: A Mental Health Guide to Harmonious Sexual Activity and Men's Health

Understanding Sex

Sex is an innate ability, a natural human instinct. It can be said that no one in the world is unrelated to sexual behavior; all humans are products of sexual activity. It is precisely because humans possess sexual characteristics and abilities that love between men and women and the formation of families have occurred, allowing races and civilizations to continue and evolve, and society to exist and continuously develop. Human sexual activity is as ancient as human history itself. "Food and sex are the greatest desires of humankind," is a profound saying by the great thinker Confucius more than two thousand years ago. In feudal society, where people were reluctant to discuss sex, Confucius succinctly defined the mystery of sex and life, pointing out that sex is one of the most important issues for humanity, a fundamental condition for human survival and development. "Food" refers to the need to eat to live, while "men and women" refers to the need for sexual activity between the sexes after food sustains life. These are the two basic needs and inherent nature of human existence. Food is the guarantee of life, while sexual desire and sexual activity are the continuation and development of life.

During the Renaissance, the great Italian thinker Boccaccio, through his work *The Decameron*, expounded his understanding and perception of human nature. *The Decameron* tells an interesting story: A Catholic son, growing up in isolation, sees a young woman for the first time and is immediately captivated. His father frightens him, saying she is a "green goose," and that they are devils. However, the son says, "Dear Father, let me take a green goose home." The father sighs inwardly, "Nature, your power is too great; before you, all rules and regulations are powerless." Boccaccio uses this story to show that sex and love between men and women are innate human traits bestowed upon humanity by nature, and no one can stop them; as long as there is life, there will be the objective existence of sex. Traditional Chinese medicine refers to sexual activity between men and women as "fang shi" (房事). It believes that harmonious and moderate sexual activity is not only an important part of the emotional exchange between husband and wife but also beneficial to physical and mental health. "The union of man and woman is like the mutual generation of heaven and earth. Heaven and earth, through the way of intercourse, have no end; man, having lost the way of intercourse, gradually declines and decays. But by mastering the art of yin and yang, one can attain immortality," illustrating that appropriate sexual activity is beneficial to health, while a lack of sexual activity is detrimental.

Human sexual activity is a complex physiological and social phenomenon. From an anatomical perspective, the human body has nine major systems. Without studying and understanding the reproductive system related to sex, the complete structure of the human body cannot be understood. From a physiological perspective, without studying and understanding sexual physiology, many physiological phenomena of the human body cannot be explained. From a psychological perspective, sex is an important factor influencing people's psychological state. Sex is also a complex social phenomenon, directly or indirectly, openly or covertly, reflecting in all aspects of our lives. It is evident how close and important the relationship between sex and humanity is. However, for a long time, humanity has neglected the research, promotion, and education of sex, even treating sex as a taboo subject, causing many people to experience increased distress and pain due to sexual issues. A lack of sex education has led to some truly laughable situations.

For example, a couple of university students majoring in chemistry had been married for many years without conceiving. Urged by their families, they went to the hospital. The doctor's examination revealed that the woman's hymen was intact. Upon further questioning, it was discovered that the couple had never had sexual intercourse. They believed that married couples simply sleeping in the same bed, and that physical contact would allow molecules from their bodies to migrate and cause pregnancy. After receiving sex education and guidance at the hospital, they finally "married" and soon had a child. Another young couple, after a period of courtship, married successfully. However, on their wedding night, when the groom requested sexual intercourse, the bride exclaimed that her husband was engaging in indecent behavior. While such typical cases are rare, in reality, many people experience disharmony in their marital sex life due to a lack of sex education and the art of sexual intimacy, leading to serious consequences such as marital discord and even divorce. Investigating the reasons for divorce reveals that a significant portion of so-called marital discord is merely a euphemism for sexual incompatibility, something many are ashamed to discuss. Some men, lacking scientific sex education, experience erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation during their first sexual encounter, leading to the misconception that their reproductive organs are diseased. This causes significant psychological stress and barriers, ultimately affecting the function of their reproductive organs.

In fact, experiencing these issues during the first sexual encounter is a very normal physiological phenomenon. Because both partners are particularly excited and sensitive to sexual stimulation upon first contact with the opposite sex, premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction due to excessive excitement or fatigue is entirely possible. With further understanding and adaptation from both partners, and as the excessive excitement and fatigue subside, sexual function can recover. Even middle-aged people who have been married for many years may experience transient sexual dysfunction due to environmental, psychological, emotional, or physical fatigue and emotional factors. However, many people are unaware of this situation, and when erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation occurs, they carry a heavy mental burden, experiencing distress and fear, which affects their normal sexual function, family harmony, and their own health.

Some elderly people also hold incorrect views about sexual activity. They believe that people should stop sexual activity in old age, and many elderly people view sex as an activity for young people, mistakenly believing that sexual activity in the elderly is "improper." Although sexual function gradually declines in old age, the psychological need for sex remains, and they crave the comfort of a partner. For widowed elderly people, remarriage can often postpone the onset and extend the end of old age. Sexual activity is not solely the domain of young and middle-aged people; the elderly also have the ability and right to have sex. Modern medical research proves that as long as there is life, there will be sexual activity; sexual activity accompanies a person throughout their life. Humans develop sexual awareness from early childhood, which rapidly develops and intensifies during puberty and is put into practice after marriage. A person with a definite sex can continue sexually active until the end of their life. Even in their seventies and eighties, most people still have sexual desires and engage in sexual activity, only the form and frequency differ slightly from those of younger adults.

Moderate sexual activity is also beneficial for health and longevity in the elderly, because sexual arousal and activity can promote the secretion of sex hormones and maintain their function. Sex hormones play a crucial role in promoting protein synthesis and cell metabolism, and maintaining a vigorous metabolism is one of the essential conditions for good health. Therefore, regardless of age, anyone experiencing sexual dysfunction should promptly consult a doctor for assistance.