Having a satisfying sex life can help you stick around on this planet for a little longer - allegedly. Though it sounds far-fetched, it’s been backed up by science, as a statistical analysis of Welsh villagers found that men who have more orgasms seem to have longer lifespans.1
So how exactly can sex help you live longer?
More sex doesn’t just equal more birthdays. Some people in better health may simply be more able (and more interested) in sex to begin with. But there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that sexual wellbeing is tied to how we age.
Sexual wellbeing, that is, the feeling of being connected, desired, and satisfied, taps into some of important pillars of health, namely emotional support, stress reduction, positive self-image, and physical fitness.2
Researchers have suggested that good sex can boost heart health, strengthen immunity, reduce stress hormones, and improve sleep, all of which are known contributors to longevity.2 Intimacy can also act as a form of emotional support, protecting against loneliness and depression, both of which are major risk factors for early death.2
Interestingly, studies find that it’s not just how much sex you’re having, but how much you enjoy it. One study found that older adults who enjoyed their sexuality lived longer, but only if they considered it an important part of life. When sex stopped becoming a priority, the link between it and longevity disappeared.2
As we age, we naturally take a different approach to sex. Performance may dip, be it due to a bad hip or lack of athletic ability, but the intimacy, closeness, and touch are all very much heightened (usually). Despite the shift, it seems like maintaining a sense of sexual enjoyment is the overall marker of vitality.
When older adults engage in sexual activity, pregnancy is no longer a factor, and that shift in purpose may partly explain why society often views sex among older people as “unnecessary” or even invisible.3 Longstanding stereotypes paint older individuals as asexual, without desires or sexual needs, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.3
Research consistently shows that while sexual interest can decline with age, many older adults continue to enjoy active and fulfilling sex lives, even if they face unique challenges (like menopause, sexual dysfunction, and strained relationships) along the way.3
However, studies suggest that older adults who embrace their sexuality tend to have better physical health, stronger relationships, and a greater sense of purpose, meaning that your sex life could be a reflection of your broader health.
Having no or little interest in sex is absolutely fine, and there’s no evidence that forcing yourself to prioritise sex if you don’t genuinely care about it would have any benefit.
In fact, studies indicate that for people who don’t consider sexuality important, the link between sexual enjoyment and longevity disappears.2 The key message to take away here is that if intimacy and sexuality are important to you, then they’re worth prioritising. If they aren’t, there’s no reason to worry. Longevity isn’t built on any one thing, and is instead about building a life that’s meaningful to you.
If you do want to maintain or even improve your sexual wellbeing as part of a healthy ageing plan, here are a few simple, evidence-based ways to start:
Talk about it: Open communication with partners or healthcare providers about your needs, changes, and concerns can remove a lot of unnecessary stress or misunderstandings.
Look after your health: Cardiovascular fitness, mental health, hormone balance, and sleep quality all feed into sexual wellbeing.
Address physical issues: Many physical barriers to a satisfying sex life, like erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, or hormonal changes, are highly treatable.
Stay connected: Intimacy doesn’t have to be sexual. Maintaining affectionate, close relationships supports emotional health and lowers the risk of loneliness-related diseases.
Sex won’t make you immortal. But when it’s meaningful, enjoyable, and valued, it can act like a signal of overall wellbeing. The secret to living longer probably isn’t any one thing. It’s a collection of habits, relationships, mindsets, and joys that keep you connected to life. In that sense, good sexual wellbeing might not be just about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years and not taking those ‘little’ moments of intimacy for granted.
Davey Smith G, Frankel S, Yarnell J. Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly Cohort Study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 1997;315(7123): 1641–1644.
Beerepoot S, Luesken SWM, Huisman M, Deeg DJH. Enjoyment of sexuality and longevity in late midlife and older adults: The Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam. Journal of applied gerontology: the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society. 2022;41(6): 1615–1624.
Boyacıoğlu NE, Oflaz F, Karaahmet AY, Hodaeı BK, Afşin Y, Taşabat SE. Sexuality, quality of life and psychological well-being in older adults: A correlational study. European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X. 2023;17(100177)
