In a study that involved over 5,772 participants—2,577 of them being men—researchers uncovered just how harmful a dry spell can be, especially for males aged 50 and older.
The research paper, titled Declines in Sexual Activity and Function Predict Incident Health Problems in Older Adults: Prospective Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, found a strong link between a lack of sexual activity and a higher chance of serious health problems. According to the findings, men who weren’t active between the sheets were two-thirds more likely to develop significant medical conditions compared to those who maintained a healthy sex life.
They also noticed a 41 percent rise in the chances of developing a long-term health condition among these men.
Among the men who reported a decline in their sex drive, there was a 47 percent higher chance of them believing that their health had worsened. For those who experienced difficulties with maintaining an erection, the risk of perceiving their health as deteriorated went up by 66 percent.
Experiencing a dip in sexual desire—or even just a drop in how often someone had sex—was connected to a 41 percent greater chance of developing a long-term illness that could limit daily activities. Even more concerning, there was a 63 percent higher chance of being diagnosed with cancer in these cases.
In the end, the study highlighted that a noticeable drop in sexual interest over the past year—whether it involved fewer encounters or trouble maintaining an erection—was tied to a range of negative outcomes when it comes to health.
The study looked into data from 20,969 individuals living in Japan to explore how sexual interest might reflect “positive sexual relationships and sexual function.” These elements have long been considered important indicators of both good health and quality of life.
The research, titled Association between lack of sexual interest and all-cause mortality in a Japanese general population: The Yamagata prospective observational study, was officially published in academic journals.
The conclusion of the study stated: “Lack of sexual interest is suggested to be a risk factor for all-cause mortality in Japanese males over 40 years old. This finding has implications for the importance of sexual interest in increasing longevity in this population.”