Sex, stress and one flesh

This article headlines the idea that sex appears to help people to relax faced with upcoming stressful situations. However, I think we should keep an eye on the following stuff further down the article.

Professor Brody said it made sense in evolutionary terms for standard heterosexual sexual intercourse to be associated with a wide range of positive effects on behaviour.
He said: "A growing body of research shows that it is specifically intercourse, and not other sexual behaviours, whether alone or with a partner, that is associated with a broad range of psychological and physiological benefits. And greater frequency of intercourse is associated with greater benefits."

The implications for discussions of sexual ethics are important. What it doesn't say, but hints at the possibility by referencing an evolutionary perspective, is whether the results say anything about hetero- or homo- sexual differences if any. Though the issue about penetrative sex is interesting for Christian discussion about 'one flesh' and all that 'how far do we go?' stuff. It suggests that there is something 'value added' about penetrative sex that could relate positively to Christian assertions about committed relationships and the role of sex in 'strengthening the union of hearts and lives' to quote the Anglican wedding service.
BBC NEWS | Health | Sex 'cuts public speaking stress':
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