Why does kissing cause arousal

This hormone is a big contributor in amping up a woman's level of arousal. And the longer a make-out session lasts, the more likely you are to do other, er , intimate things with your partner via Healthline. Yes, you can go ahead and blame it on the testosterone, and not at all on your self-control, or any of the surprising items that make women more attractive to men.

Furthermore, according to a study published in Evolutionary Psycholog y , men okay, male college students will generally initiate kissing in anticipation and the hope that the activity will lead to sex, whereas women will more often start kissing a mate after the act of consummation is complete.

This adds fuel to the popular or should we say unpopular? In addition to increasing the hormones in your brain, kissing can also decrease your level of cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone, according to Penn Medicine. Yes, kissing can make you feel euphoric, and also take the edge off if you're worried. Feeling anxious? Consider smooching someone you love, or try any of these ways to help yourself feel less anxious. Joy Davidson, a Seattle-based psychologist and clinical sexologist, explained that kissing is a form of sensual meditation.

In essence, you can either sit and breathe through your stress, or you can kiss your way to a more mellow mind. Bryant Stamford, a professor at the University of Louisville, recommends the latter: "The process of being active — and that can include kissing, sex, and any other whole-body activities — that's what keeps you healthy," he told WebMD.

Got high cholesterol? Of course, you could consider the obvious route: eating healthier, whole foods, reducing your red meat intake, exercising with greater frequency, and maybe taking a doctor-prescribed medication, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic. Another potential option? Believe it or not: more kissing. Yes, it turns out that affectionate canoodling and kissing can have a reductive effect on your blood lipids.

A study published in the Western Journal of Communication followed 52 married adults for six weeks. Some were placed in an experimental group that was asked to kiss their partner more it's a tough gig, but someone's got to do it , while the control group was not given any specific instructions. After the study was completed, those in the kissing group reported less stress, a factor that can contribute to higher cholesterol levels. What's even more impressive, however, is that blood tests showed that the kissing couples had improved their total serum cholesterol levels, in comparison to those in the non-smooching group.

Of course, it goes without saying that kissing isn't an actual treatment plan for folks with high cholesterol. But it certainly can't hurt, according to science! Need a little motivation to get your sexy time on? We have a weighty hint-hint consideration for you to ponder. Not only does kissing promote bonding, as well as reduce stress and anxiety, but it can also help you burn some major calories.

Yes, you might just be able to skip a trip to the gym if you really prioritize mind over matter and, you know, put your mouth to work. So how many calories does kissing really burn? On average, kissing can burn two to three per minute, as noted by Healthline. But a heavy duty make-out session that involves the whole body probably makes that number even higher. In fact, it's possible that a minute session could even burn up to calories. That's equivalent to swimming laps in a pool for 20 minutes, or walking two miles in 30 minutes, according to Harvard University.

So the next time you're deciding between hitting the treadmill or staying home, grab your partner and plant a long passionate one on their mouth. You'll both be thankful, especially if you just ate a restaurant meal with more than one day's calories. Have you ever wondered why you close your eyes during an intense make-out session? Gallup says. Swapping spit involves an exchange of hormones, and one hormone in male saliva is testosterone, which increases female arousal, thus increasing the chances for sex.

One thing men and women seem to agree on: Kissing can nip a relationship in the bud as easily as it can spark a romance. A separate survey conducted by Dr. Gallup found that 59 per cent of men and 66 per cent of women said they'd lost attraction for someone after kissing them for the first time. Does scientific analysis suck the romance out of kissing?

Sure, men's and women's kissing styles differ, but "there are more similarities than differences," says Mr. He thinks the psychology researchers may have overlooked one obvious motivation for puckering up: It's pleasurable.

Christian says. They enjoy it because it feels good. Still, Mr. Christian can't argue with the statistics collected by the University at Albany researchers.

The No. This may be the reason behind why you may feel like a first kiss with someone new is "bad. There are some pretty good health benefits associated with kissing. McDevitt, stress reduction is one really great benefit, "especially if you're present and enjoying the kiss. The feel-good hormones that get released when you're making out with someone can counteract the ones that bring you down. It's no surprise that kissing can cause you to get sick.

As Caleb Backe, health and wellness expert for Maple Holistics , tells Bustle, "The human mouth is filled with so much bacteria, more than six billion in fact, that doctors refer to it as the 'human oral microbiome. According to Backe, the "microbial communities" that get swapped with your partner when you're making out help to introduce foreign agents into your body, which prompt the immune system to produce new antibodies. Don't worry, it's meant to be good for you. Sylvia Thompson.

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