Understanding how sex affects the brain may be beneficial to understanding other aspects of health. This process is not easy to study and studies related to it are still ongoing. What is known so far? Sex works like a drug Sex makes us feel good, that’s why we like it and want it. The pleasure we get from sex is largely due to the synthesis of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that activates the reward center in the brain. Dopamine is also among the chemicals responsible for the high we get from drug use. The feeling is not the same, but both with sex and with drug use, some of the areas in the brain that are activated are the same. Sex acts as an antidepressant During a study conducted by researchers from the University of Albany, USA, 300 women took part. The researchers found that those who had sex without a condom had fewer symptoms of depression than women who used a condom. NEWS_MORE_BOX According to experts, many of the substances contained in semen have antidepressant properties that are absorbed into the body after sex. This is good news for people who are in a serious relationship, but if that is not the case, it is very important to use a condom. Sex puts us to sleep Men tend to be more affected by this effect of sex than women. The prefrontal cortex in the brain “shuts down” after ejaculation. This, along with the synthesis of oxytocin and serotonin, can have a soporific effect.