The age you first bump and grind could affect your experience with Father Time.
A new study found that when you lose your virginity may impact how well you age later in life, including outcomes like frailty and misery in older adulthood.
“Our findings suggest that the timing of first sexual intercourse may be connected to aging through multiple psychological, behavioral and disease-related pathways,” first author Kaixian Wang said in a press release.
In the study, researchers at Shandong University in China analyzed a large genetic database to find DNA markers associated with the age people make their “sexual debut.”
The team then looked to see whether people who carry genetic variants linked to earlier or later sexual activity also showed differences in health and quality of life in older age.
They found that those with genetic signals tied to earlier loss of virginity tended to have less favorable aging-related outcomes, including higher frailty and poorer longevity-related measures.
“We then explored why this link might exist,” Wang said.
To do that, the researchers looked at 145 possible factors that could help explain the connection between sexual timing and later-life health. Of those, 34 were strong enough to be examined further.
“Frailty index, miserableness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) appeared to play especially important roles,” Wang said.
In other words, if there is a link between earlier sexual experiences and worse aging, these four factors — physical weakness, poorer mental health, lung disease often associated with smoking and ADHD-related traits tied to impulsivity — appear to be the strongest factors behind it.
“Our findings do not mean a single behavior determines a person’s future health,” Wang cautioned. “Instead, they highlight how early-life experiences may cluster with mental health challenges, chronic disease risks and functional decline over time.”
The researchers said the findings point to the importance of addressing health risks early, before they build up and contribute to worse outcomes later in life.
“Prevention and intervention across the life course may help reduce later health disadvantages and promote healthier aging,” said corresponding author Long Sun.
“Our findings further affirm the value of early sexual health education and broader support for adolescents who may be at higher risk.”
The study comes as Americans are, on average, waiting longer to have sex for the first time.
National surveys show that the median age for first sexual intercourse in the US hovers around 17 years old, but that number is shifting upward.
In general, Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — is delaying sexual activity or skipping it altogether, with some experts calling it a “sex recession.”
In 2021, for example, only 30% of teenage Gen Z respondents told the CDC they had ever had sexual intercourse, down from more than half three decades earlier.
Experts say the delay in Gen Z’s sexual debut is likely driven by a mix of factors, including increased screen time, shifting dating culture, rising mental health struggles and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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