New Research: Men with This Sexual Health Trait Might Live Longer

National data updated in late 2024 stated that the average American male’s life expectancy is 74.8 years (which happens to be five years less than data-driven projections for women). While there are multiple reasons for this disparity—like differences in genetics, hormones, and behavior, notes The New York Times—new research is suggesting that certain aspects of sexual health can be a practical predictor of how long a man might live.

In April, the medical journal Human Reproduction published a study led by a team of 10 medical researchers in Denmark, some of whom specialize in male endocrinological health. The team aimed to take a targeted investigation of a possible association between semen quality and the length of a man’s life—as they posited: “Male infertility and semen quality have been suggested to be markers of morbidity and thus mortality, but the role of underlying disease present at time of semen quality evaluation has not been thoroughly assessed.”

The team reviewed data from 78,284 men whose semen quality had been analyzed between 1965 and 2015 at a public laboratory near Copenhagen. These participants had provided semen samples after having experienced “reported couple infertility.” (Noted the Cleveland Clinic in 2024: “Some studies show that male infertility affects about 10% to 15% of males in the United States who are trying to conceive,” adding that research has shown infertility on the male side is responsible for about half of couples having trouble conceiving.)

To determine semen quality, lab workers considered several factors that included: semen volume (how much fluid an individual produced), sperm concentration (or density) by volume, sperm count, and motile sperm count (the number of sperm capable of swimming toward an egg).

After adjusting for possible variables, researchers found: “Men with a total motile count of [greater than] 120 million could expect to live 80.3 years, compared to 77.6 years among men with total motile count of [less than] 0–5 million.” In short, men with a greater quantity of higher-motility sperm could live nearly three years longer on average than men with slower sperm.

For some cases, this insight may emphasize how lifestyle habits play a role in sperm quality. The Cleveland Clinic is one source that notes factors play into general health and longevity, such as a nutrient-rich diet, smoking (including marijuana), alcohol consumption, exercise, and quality of sleep. In fertility medicine, multiple studies have indicated that the older a woman can bear a child, the more likely she is to live beyond age 90 or even become a centenarian.

Though the researchers say more scientific inquiry is necessary, the Mayo Clinic lists simple practices a man can follow to promote fertility and reduce the risks of testicular disease and pituitary conditions. These include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing stress
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol
• Wearing loose-fitting underwear
• Preventing and/or treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

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