A doctor has broken down exactly what happens to your body when you stop having sex for three years, following Khloé Kardashian's candid admission.
During the season seven premiere of The Kardashians, the 41-year-old mum-of-two revealed that she hasn't gotten down and dirty with anyone in almost a third of a decade - something she doesn't seem fazed by in the slightest.
If anything, Khloé is clearly thriving without the romantic hassle in her life, as elsewhere in the episode she shared: "I love being 40. Being 40 has been sensational. And I'm thrilled."
She continued: "I saw a meme, or a quote, or something, and it was like, 'Why are you so happy?' and the person said, 'Because I’m not dating.' And I’m like, yes, I actually feel great with that energy right now."
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While that's all very well and good, and while everyone's sex life is their own business and completely unique to them, it's clear that fans of the hit reality TV show did find the admission surprising, with many keen to know what actually happens to your body when you stop having sex for three years.
Tyla sat down with Dr Tracy King, a chartered clinical psychologist and couples therapist specialising in relationships, trauma, and women’s health, to get the lowdown on what exactly happens each year you go through a sexual 'dry spell'.
Year 1: The Adjustment Phase
According to the expert, in the first year of no sex, the brain still expects the regular release of bonding chemicals that come with physical intimacy.
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Dr Tracy explains: "During sex, the brain produces dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. Dopamine drives pleasure, motivation, and excitement. Oxytocin, often called the 'cuddle hormone', builds trust and emotional closeness.
"Endorphins are natural painkillers and mood boosters that reduce stress. When these fall away, the brain looks for substitutes.
"Many people unconsciously replace the dopamine hit of intimacy with other rewards such as food, alcohol, work, or social media scrolling."
She does note, however, that if sex was linked with anxiety or pressure, some people initially feel calmer.
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But for most, stress hormones like cortisol rise when emotional and physical needs go unmet - something which can make the nervous system more reactive.
"In relationships, this first year can bring hidden communication issues to the surface because physical touch is no longer masking emotional distance," Dr Tracy adds.
Year 2: The Redirection Phase
Dr Tracy tells Tyla that, by the second year, the brain starts to adapt and redirect its reward system.
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"Dopamine pathways shift toward new goals such as creativity, work, or personal growth," she continues, adding that, for single people, this can mean feeling more productive or self-sufficient.
For those in relationships, however, physical touch may start to feel awkward or less spontaneous as the body takes longer to respond to arousal because the brain has stopped prioritising sexual reward.
Self-esteem can also fluctuate, particularly if sexual connection is tied to feeling wanted or desirable.
The doctor says: "The mind often compensates through imagination or dreams, which act as safe ways to express the energy that once went into physical intimacy.
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"This is also the point where many people begin exploring non-physical forms of closeness such as emotional intimacy, spiritual practice, or self-reflection."
Year 3: The Reintegration or Withdrawal Phase
Dr Tracy notes that by the third year, 'two distinct patterns tend to appear'.
She explains: "When the absence of sex is intentional, such as part of healing, recovery, or spiritual development, the nervous system reaches a more stable rhythm.
"Oxytocin levels balance, self-awareness deepens, and the energy that was once sexual can transform into creativity, focus, or a sense of calm detachment. Some people describe this as a period of clarity or self-mastery."
However, when abstinence is not by choice, the opposite tends to happen.
"The brain’s bonding chemicals, such as oxytocin and serotonin, start to decline," she continues, noting that serotonin helps regulate mood and maintain emotional balance, so when levels fall, people may experience numbness, apathy, or a sense of emotional distance from others.
"The body’s response to touch can feel muted or even uncomfortable, as if the nervous system has forgotten how to receive closeness," Dr Tracy goes on, adding that: "Over time, the psyche may build emotional armour to avoid further rejection or vulnerability.
The bottom line
In short, Dr Tracy concludes, sex is not only physical.
"It is one of the ways the brain and body co-regulate safety, trust, and connection," she resolves. "Going without it doesn’t harm you, but it does change the way your mind distributes energy and manages emotional balance.
"The outcome depends less on time and more on meaning: whether the absence feels empowering and chosen, or lonely and out of your control."
Topics: Health, Women's Health, Sex and Relationships, Life, Explained, Tyla Exclusive, Khloe Kardashian, The Kardashians
Rhiannon Ingle