There are many reasons your s3x life may have hit a brick wall. Maybe you’re going through a breakup.

Perhaps you or your partner has been sick. Or maybe it’s just life, kids, work, or travel getting in the way.

A few days can turn into weeks or months, and before you know it, you haven’t had s3x in so long that you kind of stop missing it.

Not having it has just become your new normal.

We all go through our s3xual ruts from time to time, so don’t feel bad—you’re not alone.

While they may suck in the respect that you’re not getting any, it turns out that your body is having very real reactions to the lack of nookie, and some of those reactions are pretty intense.

From decreased concentration and feeling sad to lowered libido to increased risk for physical health issues, a lack of s3x is about a lot more than potentially being horny.

So next time the person you’re dating tells you they’re going nuts without s3x, they may not be a liar.

They may be an assh*le, but they might be an honest one nonetheless.

Here are eight things that can happen to you if you stop having s3x.

  1. You get sick more often.

Cory B. Honickman, Ph.D., says our immune systems get weaker when we’re not getting any.

Want to avoid the cold and flu? Having more s3x could potentially help you out. Sounds like a win-win proposition if you ask us.

  1. Your stress levels increase.

You can get more anxious because there’s a decrease in “feel-good” hormones being released, says Honickman.

A lack of s3x is stressful. Even studies have shown that when you’re going through a s3x rut, you absolutely have a harder time dealing with stress-inducing situations.

  1. Your dreams change.

On the positive side of things, you may start having s3x dreams or even orgasm in your sleep. It’s not the same as the real deal, but it’s a nice substitute.

  1. You lose the urge to have sex.

Honickman says that you will start to want s3x less if you haven’t gotten any in a while.

Your libido is going to feel off or different from how it normally does. And it’s normal that it feels abnormal.

  1. You grow apart from your partner.

If you’re in a relationship, you may start getting insecure about the connection you have with your honey.

To that end, other people might going to become more attractive to you. Take this as a sign that a healthy s3x life is important.

  1. You self-esteem might suffer.

You may feel less attractive and sadder than usual. Semen may have anti-depressant qualities— and no, that’s not just something men have made up so we blow them.

Using a condom can have these negative reactions as well, but of course that doesn’t mean you should ditch them when you eventually start having s3x again!

  1. Your vaginal walls get weaker.

Having s3x can be like a workout for your Kegels. So even if you aren’t getting any, it’s important to remember to do your Kegel exercises on a daily basis.

  1. Your risk of STIs will decrease.

Hey, there’s a silver lining for everything. Your risk of UTIs goes down, too, since s3x often causes them in the first place.

No s3x, majorly decreased chance of infection.