A woman has revealed how her doctor 'prescribed' her orgasms to treat her depression.
Penny Sullivan – not her real name – had pulled her own hair out as a youngster, and suffered anorexia and bulimia.
After struggling with low moods, anxiety and anger for decades she was finally diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.
Then her doctor prescribed her medication, suggested she give up alcohol and get more exercise – all standard advice.
But he also prescribed sex – and 'as much of it as she could handle'. According to Australian website whimn.com.au, Penny had a naturally high sex drive so 'that was a lot'.
The mother-of-three followed doctor's orders and was amazed to discover that regular intimacy with her husband helped stabilise her moods.
Orgasms release feel-good hormones and semen contains mild anti-depressant compounds, according to experts.
A woman diagnosed with bipolar II disorder has revealed how her doctor 'prescribed' her orgasms (stock image)
'We don't always have to have intercourse either, simply touching, cuddling or just fooling around and being connected can be just as great to get those feel goods,' she said.
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another.
Sufferers have periods or depression when they may feel very low and lethargic then episodes of mania – feeling very high and overactive.
Can sex 'cure' depression?
Studies have consistently linked regular sexual activity to improved emotional well-being.
It has been found to releases a range of hormones that enable us to relax, helping to lower our levels of the so-called 'stress hormone' cortisol, according to sexologist Isiah McKimmie from Sydney, Australia.
'Sex elevates our mood through the release of hormones and endorphins it causes in our brain,' she told whimn.com.
'It increases oxytocin (a love and bonding hormone,) serotonin (a happiness hormone) and dopamine levels. These help us experience feelings of love, connection and happiness.
'Additionally, semen contains mild anti-depressant compounds. Women who have unprotected sex with their partners have been shown to have elevated moods compared to women who always or mostly use condoms.'
Physically, regular sex life has been shown in studies to lower blood pressure and reduce our risk of heart attack.
A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Cardiology revealed that frequent love making had a protective effect on the male heart.
Men who slept with their partner at least twice a week were up to 45 per cent less likely to suffer from the condition.
'Sex elevates our mood through the release of hormones and endorphins it causes in our brain,' said sexologist Isiah McKimmie
Unfortunately, sexual dysfunction is a known side-effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) antidepressants, which include Prozac, Seroxat, Cipramil and Lustral.
Symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, inability to orgasm in women and genital numbness.
Around five million people in the UK take SSRIs, and 58 per cent of them could be experiencing these kinds of sexual side-effects, according to one authoritative study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry in 2001.
If you want to talk to someone confidentially, call the Samaritans, free of charge, on 116 123. You can talk to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Alternatively, visit the Samaritans website or email jo@samaritans.org.
