S. Brody et al., A preliminary report relating frequency of vaginal intercourse to heart rate variability, Valsalva ratio, blood pressure, and cohabitation status, BIOL PSYCH, 52(3), 2000, pp. 251-257
The relationship between recalled frequency of penile-vaginal intercourse (
FSI) and resting heart rate variability (HRV; an index of parasympathetic t
one), resting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) response t
o the Valsalva maneuver was examined in 51 healthy adults aged 20-47 (subje
cts scoring above the 86th percentile on the Lie scale of the Eysenck Perso
nality Inventory (EPI) were excluded). As hypothesized, greater HRV and low
er DBP were both associated with greater FSI (but not masturbation or non-c
oital sex with a partner) in cohabiting subjects, but not in non-cohabiting
subjects. Valsalva ratio was unrelated to sexual behavior. Results are dis
cussed in terms of both the modulating role of blood pressure on a number o
f psychological functions and the role of parasympathetic tone in HRV, FSI,
and possibly pair-bonding. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All
rights reserved.