A weak libido can not only become a problem in a partnership. According to a new study, a lack of interest in sex may also be linked to a higher risk of death. However, this only applies to men.

Sex is good for physical health. Studies have shown that sex has a positive effect on the immune system and the cardiovascular system. Fat burning is also boosted, because the brain releases the so-called luteinizing hormone during lovemaking, which stimulates the formation of testosterone. This in turn increases fat burning and is also involved in muscle building.

Conversely, no sex could have a negative effect on health. Scientists from Japan now wanted to know how sexual interest is related to mortality.

To do this, the researchers at Yamagata University examined the health data of 20,969 subjects who were 40 years and older. The 8,558 men and 12,411 women participated in annual health screenings.

The sexual interest of the participants was evaluated using a questionnaire:

The researchers then correlated the test subjects’ sexual interest with a scientific modeling model

in this group.

In the follow-up period of an average of 7.1 years, a total of 503 subjects died,

Despite accounting for factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, psychological distress, etc., they found that all-cause mortality was significantly higher in men without sexual interest than in those with it. The same was true for cancer mortality. However, only for men.

In terms of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, the researchers could not find any connection to a lack of sexual interest – neither in women nor in men.

Based on their results, the researchers come to the conclusion that a lack of sexual interest contributes to an increased risk of mortality in men over 40 years of age – regardless of risk factors. Maintaining sexual interest can therefore increase lifespan in men.

However, the study cannot answer exactly how the lack of libido affects health and longevity. The researchers suspect that this is related to an unhealthy lifestyle.

A lack of libido may affect inflammatory, endocrine and immunological processes. According to the study, chronic stress is known to be associated with a suppressed immune response and increased susceptibility to infection. In order to find the exact mechanisms, however, further research is necessary.