Does Sex Increase Productivity?

In 2017, a Swedish politician in the small town of Övertorneå, Sweden, proposed an unusual workplace policy to boost his town’s population. He suggested employees take a one-hour break each week to go home and have sex. While the policy was rejected, it may have offered a positive effect for business: more productivity at work.

In addition to offering a number of health benefits, leading an active sex life has also been linked to increased productivity at work and job satisfaction. The mix of physical and mental shifts that take place during and after sex contribute to these studied sex benefits.

Keep reading to find out how sex may increase productivity at work, other benefits it may offer, and how to squeeze in more (and better) sex to your workday.

As if the experience of physical pleasure weren’t enough of a win, the studied benefits of sex to your health are plentiful. From improved mood to stronger immunity and reduced stress, here are some of the best sex benefits:

• Reduced stress. Some research concludes that sexual activity may relieve stress and help maintain psychological well-being for people who are in satisfying relationships.

• Improved cardiovascular health. Because it’s a physical activity that may reduce stress and inflammation, it’s unsurprising that some research has also linked sex to enhanced cardiovascular health.

• Stronger immunity. A study from 2021 concluded that regular sexual intercourse may improve the immune system (specifically in reference to protecting against COVID-19 during the pandemic).

• Better sleep. According to a 2024 study that examined short-term benefits of sex, both physical and psychological, when people report having had sex the previous night, they experienced better sleep quality, fewer sleep disturbances, less stress, and lower blood pressure the next day.

• Increased relationship and marital satisfaction. Sexual frequency is linked to greater relationship satisfaction, but you don’t have to go overboard with how often you get busy. According to one 2015 study, having sex once a week is associated with higher well-being, but having sex more than once a week does not move the needle toward even greater well-being. In other words, having sex might contribute to more relationship satisfaction than having no sex at all. But there may be a point of diminishing returns when it comes to how often you have sex in relationships.

In addition to the sex benefits above, some research associates sex with reduced work-related stress, heightened work engagement, and more job satisfaction. But how—and why?

Improved Mood

For a study published in the Journal of Management, researchers from Oregon State University asked more than 150 married individuals to record their sexual behavior over a two-week period. These participants worked in various industries, including education, healthcare, finance, retail, and military. The findings concluded that among people who reported having sex at home, more experienced a positive mood the following day at work. This positive mood led to increased job satisfaction and work engagement. Researchers also noted that when work-related strain led to conflict at home, the individuals were less likely to have sex.

The research suggests that bonding hormones like oxytocin, which is released after sex, leads to improved interactions with coworkers and customers. Sex may also enhance sleep quality, which could boost productivity at work.

But oxytocin isn’t the only chemical potentially contributing to your improved workday, courtesy of sex. Feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are also released during sex, contributing to positive well-being.

“Sex can be an excellent stress reliever, and, similar to exercise, releases endorphins and feel-good chemicals in the brain,” says Jillian Amodio, LMSW, a social worker, author, and founder of the support group Moms for Mental Health. “This can make it easier to engage with necessary tasks, [which can improve productivity]. If we are satisfied in various areas of our life, including our sexual health, then there is oftentimes a positive effect on other areas of our life, as well.”

Increased Energy

Blake Farris, an addiction and relationship coach at Mito Coaching, says his sexual energy can lead to higher levels of productivity. But this effect largely depends on the quality of his sexual experiences.

“A powerful lovemaking session, during which I feel connected to my partner, often leads me to a highly energized state—as if I could run a marathon,” he says. “[In my experience], sexual energy is something you can harness and then use later to complete your daily tasks.” He says he has done some of his most inspired thinking after having sex, which he compares to the “elusive flow state.”

Conversely, Blake says that a lack of sexual intimacy can lead to a dip in performance at work, noting that he feels clouded at this point. 

Fewer Sick Days

Another way that sex may increase productivity is by boosting the immune system, which may lead to fewer sick days and better work performance.

In addition to the aforementioned COVID-19 study, other research has connected masturbation (and orgasm in general) to strengthened immunity. The act was found to lead to increased leukocytes—aka white blood cells, which are crucial for proper immune system functioning.

More research is needed to understand the full extent of how a healthy sex life can lead to a more productive workplace. But, other studies support that employees who are in good physical, mental, and emotional health are more likely to perform better at work than employees who are not. And a healthy sex life doesn’t seem to curb any of those effects.

Is your professional life getting the way of your personal life, including the quality of your sex life?

Try the following:

• Have sex after work. If you feel too tired to have sex at the end of a long and busy day, aim to have sex as early in the evening as possible. This may mean rushing home from work and diving straight into bed before you’ve had a chance to stress about dinner, relax on the couch, or plan out the next day’s tasks.

• Build up anticipation during the day. Who says foreplay can’t start outside the bedroom? Fantasize about the sex positions you want to try that night, and send flirty messages to your partner throughout the day to tease what’s coming.

• Be open to quickies. Sex doesn’t always have to be a long, drawn-out affair. Whether you work from home together or your offices are close enough to meet for a lunchtime date, consider squeezing in a workday quickie if you and your partner’s schedules allow.

• Invest in childcare. Sex after kids can be a challenge. Hiring a babysitter to prioritize alone time can be one of the best things you do for your sex life.

• Improve your sexual wellness. If you suspect that stress or other health issues are interfering with your ability to have satisfying sex, reach out to a healthcare provider for support. There are numerous treatments and interventions that can help improve erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, low libido, and other common sexual issues linked to stress.

Sex isn’t just good for your physical and mental health — it may also improve your career. Here’s what we know:

• Sex can improve mood and job satisfaction. Research supports that individuals who have a fulfilling sex life report better moods the following day, leading to increased job satisfaction and work engagement.

• Sex can boost energy and creativity for some. Anecdotal experiences support that satisfying sexual experiences can lead to an energized state, which may enhance focus and productivity. On the other hand, a lack of sexual intimacy may result in frustration and negatively impact work performance.

• Sex may reduce your number of sick days. A healthy sex life may lead to better overall health by strengthening the immune system.

If you suspect work stress is preventing you from leading a healthy sex life or leading to sexual issues like erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, reach out to a healthcare professional today to see what options are available.