Did you know that sex releases certain chemicals in your brain that change the way you think? These chemicals are hormones. The hormones released during sex work to bond you like super glue to your partner. There’s one for males and one for females. The same female hormone is released after birth to bond a mother to her new baby.

When you have sex with someone, it’s like gluing two pieces of paper together. If you tried to tear those pages apart, the break wouldn’t be a clean one. The same kind of thing happens when there’s a breakup in a sexual relationship. One or both people end up hurt in the separation. If this happens over and over, you can have trouble bonding to someone you want to start a family with later on.

Other hormones released during sex can make sex addictive. Once you start having sex with someone, it’s hard to stop. It is also harder to say “no” to sex in future relationships. Waiting for sex lets you build healthy relationships that are not complicated by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancy or emotional difficulties. If you’ve already had sex, get checked out for STIs. Then save all sexual activity for the person you will spend the rest of your life with. This will reduce your chances of getting an STI and getting hurt emotionally.

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Was this information just a, “well, duh!” moment for you? Do you already know all this? If so, we encourage you to check out another resource to get even more scientific research and facts about sex and your brain. Check out the book “Hooked” by Joe S. McIlhaney, Jr., MD and Freda McKissic Bush, MD. It goes into even more detail about how sex isn’t just a physical act, but mental and emotional. We challenge you to get the facts!

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Contents excerpted from the pamphlet “It’s Just Sex, Right?” From The Medical Institute, Copyright © 2007. Excerpted with permission. All rights reserved. ISBN 1-933902-06-X http://www.medinstitute.org/