Can too much sex harm you?

But is there such a thing as too much sex?
The answer, in purely physiological terms, is this: If you're female, probably not. If you're male? You betcha.

Dr. Claire Bailey of the University of Bristol says there is little or no risk of a woman's overdosing on sex. In fact, she says, regular sessions can not only firm a woman's tummy and buttocks but also improve her posture.

Dr. George Winch Jr., an obstetrician/gynecologist in Elko, Nev., concurs. If a woman is pre-menopausal and otherwise healthy, says Dr. Winch, her having an extraordinary amount of intercourse ought not to pose a problem. "I don't think women can have too much intercourse," he says, "so long as no sexually transmitted disease is introduced and there's not an inadvertent pregnancy. Sometimes you can have a lubrication problem. If you have that, there can be vaginal excoriation--vaginal scrape."

Women who abstain from sex run some risks. In postmenopausal women, these include vaginal atrophy. Dr. Winch has a middle-aged patient of whom he says: "She hasn't had intercourse in three years. Just isn't interested. The opening of her vagina is narrowing from disuse. It's a condition that can lead to dysparenia, or pain associated with intercourse. I told her, 'Look, you'd better buy a vibrator or you're going to lose function there.'"

As for men, urologist Eid says it's definitely possible to get too much of a good thing, now that drugs such as Viagra and Levitra have given men far more staying power than may actually be good for them.

The penis, says Eid, is wonderfully resilient. But everything has its limits. Penile tissues, if given too roistering or prolonged a pummeling, can sustain damage. In cases you'd just as soon not hear about, permanent damage.

"Yes," says Dr. Eid, "It is possible for a young man who is very forceful and who likes rough sex, to damage his erectile tissue." The drugs increase rigidity; moreover, they make it possible for a man to have second and third orgasms without having to wait out intermission.

"I see it in pro football players," says Eid. "They use Viagra because they're so sexually active. What they demand of their body is unreasonable. It's part of playing football: you play through the pain." This type of guy doesn't listen to his body. He takes a shot of cortisone, and keeps on going. And they have sex in similar fashion."

There's a reason the penis, in its natural state, undergoes a period of flaccidity: That's when it takes a breather. The blood within it is replenished with oxygen. "During an erection," explains Eid, "very little blood flows to the penis. During thrusting, pressure can go as high as 200 mil of water. Zero blood flows into penis at that time." To absorb oxygen, the tissue must become relaxed. "If you do not allow the penis to rest, then the muscle tissue does not get enough oxygen. The individual gets prolonged erections, gets decreased oxygen to tissue, and could potentially suffer priapism." (We recommend you get a medical encyclopedia and look it up.) "The muscle becomes so engorged, it's painful. Pressure inside starts to increase. Cells start dying. More pressure and less blood flow. Eventually the muscle dies. Then there's scarring. That's why it's considered an emergency."

Other perspectives
You can never have too much of a good thing, right? I used to think that when it came to sex. What harm is there in luxuriating in a lot of loving?

Then I learned that an overly zealous sexfest can indeed have you walking more than a little funny.

Fascinated, I looked into the matter, only to find that too much sex in a short period of time can do a lot more than bench you for a couple of days. It can, in fact, put you out of commission for a while if you're not smart about your sex play.

So how can you avoid injury when caught up in a bout of excessive sexual desire?

First, let's look at the physical woes that can affect your game in the short term. Many of these are the result of having too much sex in a short period of time.

Rug burns or bruises –- These are primarily going to affect the sexual positions you can engage in more than anything else. Just stay off of your back, knees or whatever is causing you discomfort and congratulate yourself for taking one for the team.

Strained muscle(s) – As with any other athletic, cardiovascular activity, you run the risk of pulling something. A bit of pain and slight immobility, however, should be the ultimate excuse for being (or staying) on your back. Don't be afraid to ask your partner to take charge. After all, you should be rewarded for an effort (hopefully) well done.

Head injury – Often the result of banging up against the headboard. Take a pain killer and remind yourself that there's no need to pull off a porn star routine next time.

Soreness and swelling – Feeling sore and swollen can be an unfortunate consequence for the ladies in particular. This "ouch" – often due to vaginal excoriation (or scraping of the vaginal walls) – can make any type of penetration-related sexual activity pretty much impossible. But don't let your enthusiasm go unrecognized. This is the perfect excuse for some tender love and care.

Dehydration – You're burning calories, working up a sweat and losing lots of water. So stay hydrated, especially if you've been drinking alcohol and want to avoid a headache.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Many women end up with a bout of cystitis (also called a urinary tract infection) after serious sex sessions. And they can be crippling, as in, neither of you are seeing any action for the next few days while she's on antibiotics. To avoid a UTI, a woman should be sure to empty her bladder immediately before and after intercourse. She should also drink lots of water and cranberry juice on a regular basis.

Lower back pain – Whether hurting from the impact or sore from delivering avid thrusts during intercourse, you may feel pain at the base of your spine. If you're willing to attempt keeping at it like rabbits, try positions that tend to require slower movements, like side-by-side variations. Be sure to also give each other massages, enjoy a hot bath and practice Reiki, a form of energy healing, to help get you back into prime form.

Injured nerves – While the body's hot spots can withstand a lot, too much direct stimulation of their nerves can be a bit painful at times. Somebody near and dear to me once put herself out of commission the first night of a planned lovefest weekend. Pace yourself and listen to your body and what your lover is telling you when it comes to being direct versus indirect, or too much too soon.

Trouble finishing or reaching climax again – I know that some men will think that this belongs in the next section, but this is a perfectly normal reaction to having lots of sex in a short timeframe. A male's semen level and sperm reserve both go down if he doesn't give his body time to recharge. Therefore, he may not have the chi for more orgasmic bliss right away.

Decreased Vision –- People have been known to pop blood vessels in the eyes during sexual activity. These should heal and, fortunately, shouldn't put you out of commission.

Now, for the more serious consequences of "excessive" sex in a short time span:

Heart attack – When it comes to major negative health consequences from sex, we typically hear about this one. Yet though, a heart attack can strike during cardiovascular activity like sex, it's actually rather uncommon. If anything, regular, good sex boosts heart health.

Fracture – While men cannot "break" their member (since there is no bone in it), they can suffer from a fracture. They will usually hear a "snap" or "pop," followed by immediate loss of erection, and swelling of the base and scrotum. They may also notice bruising and experience excruciating pain. Do not have sex until this heals.