The sex you’re having doesn’t need to be penetrative, either. “Any form of sex where you raise your heart rate, have some intimacy and release all those happy hormones can have positive heath effects,” Dr Littleproud explains. “Masturbation, for example, has been shown through research to have the added benefit of improving self-confidence and body image.”

She continues: “Whether you benefit more from having sex with a regular partner or someone you’ve just met will vary from person to person, but it’s important not to forget your pelvic health. If you are having casual sex – regardless of the type of sex – you may be at increased risk of sexually transmitted infection, therefore ensure to use protection with condoms.”

Ultimately, having a longer sexual encounter – whether solo or with a partner – will keep your heart rate elevated for longer, which is likely to have a bigger impact on your cardiovascular fitness. But otherwise, the only thing you really need to think about is whether you’re enjoying yourself.

“As soon as we try to measure or dictate particular characteristics of what makes ‘good sex’, we tend to miss the bigger picture,” Moyle adds. “You can’t divorce the bio-psycho-social parts of sex from each other – whether you’re having sex with a long-term partner and wanting to build that connection, having very enjoyable sex with someone you’ve only met a few times or engaging in self-pleasure, it’s important to remember that sex isn’t a constant: our needs and wants change depending on when we’re having sex and who we’re having it with.”

4 surprising ways that regular sex can improve your health, and how to reap the benefits