Fruit Flies Do Not Take Rejection Well

We all know the sting of rejection, but did you know that even fruit flies can suffer from lonely nights?

A recent study from the University of California suggests they might. Researchers arranged for a group of male fruit flies to be exposed to a group of female fruit flies who had already mated (meaning that they were therefore disinterested in sex and the overtures of the male fruit flies).

After being routinely rejected, the male fruit flies did what many lonely bachelors do — they had a stiff drink. Unlike the male fruit flies who were able to mate, the rejected male fruit flies overwhelmingly chose food which had been laced with alcohol as opposed to food that had not. Researchers believe this could be because alcohol creates feelings of pleasure and reward that mimic the pleasure of sexual release. In other worlds, the male fruit flies coped with rejection by drinking their cares away. Turns out even fruit flies hate getting the cold shoulder!

The study highlights how important sex is for a happy, healthy life. Our sexuality is a big part of who we are, and when sexual needs aren’t being met, we tend to look for that pleasure outside the bedroom via other means. Like the fruit flies, some people might turn to alcohol, while others might seek pleasure in a pint of Häagen-Dazs and still others might zone out in front of the T.V. or on the computer. These are common strategies people use to numb themselves or distract themselves from the real pleasure that is missing from their lives: fulfilling, passionate sex.

Nor is the fruit fly study the only recent research that highlights the importance of regular sex. A study from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University found that regular sex is a key predictor of happiness in middle-aged couples. According to the findings, couples who had sex on a regular basis were much more likely to be happy than couples who did not. Only 40 percent of couples who did not have sex in the last 12 months reported being happy while 80 percent of couples who had sex in the last month reported being very happy with their marriage. Clearly, we can’t overstate the importance of sex in a happy, healthy relationship and nothing can replace the pleasurable and intimate power of sex…so take a lesson from the fruit flies and make time for sex!