A new Japanese study suggests that a decline in sexual interest among men could be a sign of a more serious health concern.
Recent research has highlighted a possible link between a lack of sexual interest and a person’s overall lifespan. The study suggests that men who experience a decline in sexual desire may also face a higher risk of early mortality.
Involving a total of 20,969 participants in Japan, the study examined sexual interest as an indicator of both healthy relationships and proper sexual function. These factors are often regarded as essential for maintaining good health and an improved quality of life.
But how does an increase or decrease in sexual interest relate to overall health? Let’s explore what the findings suggest.
This extensive study, formally titled “Association between lack of sexual interest and all-cause mortality in a Japanese general population: The Yamagata prospective observational study,” was published in the Journals. The research builds upon earlier studies that have shown how positive psychological factors contribute to longer lifespans and lower the risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Sex, as a psychological factor, plays a role in this equation. The body releases mood-enhancing chemicals during sexual activity, which help alleviate stress and promote a sense of well-being.
To investigate whether a decline in sexual interest affects health and longevity, researchers followed a group of 20,969 individuals – 8,558 men and 12,411 women under the age of 40 in Japan. The study tracked these participants over a six-year period, from 2009 to 2015, to analyze their sexual interest and its potential impact on health outcomes.
During the study, 541 participants either relocated or could no longer be tracked. However, the remaining participants were monitored annually for up to nine years, with the median follow-up period lasting 7.1 years. Researchers evaluated whether a lack of sexual interest was linked to overall mortality rates, as well as deaths caused by cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The study relied on self-reported questionnaires to gather insights into participants’ health and lifestyle. These questionnaires covered a wide range of topics, including medical history, current medication use, blood pressure levels, frequency of laughter, sexual interest, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, marital status, education, perceived mental stress, and involvement in social activities.
Specifically examining heterosexual relationships, the study stated: “Lack of sexual interest was ascertained using a single-item question: ‘Currently, do you have any interest in people of the opposite sex?'”
“We provided two possible answers, ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Any person who answered ‘no’ was defined as lacking sexual interest.”
The follow-up phase of the study recorded 503 deaths among the participants. Of these, 162 individuals lost their lives to cancer, while 67 deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease.
Using a survival probability estimation method known as the Kaplan-Meier analysis, researchers discovered that men who reported a lack of sexual interest had significantly higher mortality rates, particularly from cancer.
Further statistical analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model—which examines how different factors influence the risk of death—revealed that men who lacked sexual interest had a considerably higher risk of all-cause mortality. Even after adjusting for factors such as age, high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), education, marital status, laughter frequency, and psychological distress, the trend remained consistent: men who expressed no sexual interest faced a greater risk of early death compared to those who maintained sexual interest.
The study ultimately 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.”
