Infrequent sexual activity might be adversely affecting your health.
A study involving 5,772 individuals, including 2,577 men, explored the negative effects of a lack of sexual activity on men over 50.
The research, titled “Declines in Sexual Activity and Function Predict Incident Health Problems in Older Adults: Prospective Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing,” indicated that men with reduced sexual activity are two-thirds more likely to develop a severe illness compared to those who maintain regular sexual activity.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England, discovered that men who lose interest in sex are 63 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer.
Moreover, these men have a 41 percent higher possibility of developing a chronic illness.
Male participants reporting a decrease in libido were found to have a 47 percent higher chance of perceiving their health as worsening. Those experiencing erectile difficulties reported a 66 percent greater risk of self-assessed health decline.
Participants showing a decreased interest in physical intimacy faced a 33 percent greater risk of being diagnosed with coronary heart disease, as compared to those with a higher sex drive.
A decline in sex drive or frequency of sexual activity led to a 41 percent higher risk of developing long-term limiting health issues, along with a concerning 63 percent increase in the chance of developing cancer.
The study concluded that decreases in sex drive, frequency of sexual activity, and erectile function are associated with various negative health outcomes.
Another recent study from Japan has identified a possible link between lack of sexual interest and lifespan.
The Japanese study, involving 20,969 participants, examined the relationship between sexual interest and indicators of “positive sexual relationships and sexual function,” which are recognized as essential markers of good health and quality of life.
The study, titled “Association between lack of sexual interest and all-cause mortality in a Japanese general population: The Yamagata prospective observational study,” was published in Journals.
This research highlighted that positive psychological factors contribute to longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The study concluded: “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.”