Valentine’s day just around the corner. But before you consider it a Hallmark Holiday, consider some real science behind these feelings of love and romance.

U.S. researchers have conducted many small studies recently presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology investigating love. One study from Florida State University found that love brings out the competitive side in people. The stronger the feelings of romantic love in a partnership, the more likely someone is to engage in aggressive behavior towards his partner’s suitor. 

Contrary to popular belief, according to an MIT research examining the first “I love you” in a relationship, women are not the first to confess love in a relationship. It’s been found that men confess love first more often than women do. Saying “I love you” makes the man feel happiest if the confession occurs before the couple has sex and it makes the woman happiest when the confession happens after sex. 

In another study, 34 couples who tested for stress levels before a 7 day separation and after the separation. Couples that were physically separated had higher levels of cortisol (a high stress hormone) and had worse sleep than when the couple was together. “The more one’s partner was likely to fall asleep after sex, the stronger the desire for bonding,” according to sexual health researcher Daniel Kruger. It is a sign that you and your partner have a strong and meaningful relationship.

Being in a deep intimate relationship has also been shown to increase life span. This research helps solidify that romantic ties are beneficial for our longterm health.

ONE Condoms supports healthy relationships that practice safe and responsible decision making including safe sex. This Valentine’s season, ONE® Condoms urges everyone to make informed sexual health decisions to prevent the spread of harmful diseases.

Do you personally believe that an intimate relationship helps your overall health and wellness? Also, who said “I love you” first in one of your relationships?