Despite growing evidence linking it to physical and emotional well-being, sexual health remains overlooked –  lacking medical attention, empirical research, and comprehensive biometric; it remains absent from most longevity frameworks.

We believe it is time for a change.

An emerging health barometer 

Sexspan – the years an individual enjoys a satisfying and healthy sexual life – parallels healthspan and strengthspan as a key pillar of health aging. Yet, unlike steps, sleep and heart rate, few people think about monitoring sexual well-being. 

Ask yourself :

✔ Has your libido noticeably declined in the last few years?

✔ Men, do you wake up with morning erections?

✔ Have you experienced a drop in energy or satisfaction due to physical or mental factors?

Your answers could reveal more about your overall health than you think, and could be early indicators of cardiovascular issues, metabolic dysfunctions, or hormonal imbalances. 

Foreplay - The benefits of being sexually active 

Sexual health is deeply intertwined with metabolic, vascular, cognitive, and mental health. While its role evolves beyond reproductive years, it remains a crucial pillar of overall health.

Beyond Whoop’s findings, an active sex life is often sign of :

• Cardiovascular health - reducing mortality in middle-aged adults with hypertension. 
• Lower stress levels
• Improved immune function 
• Hormonal balance – potentially delaying menopause, improving ovarian health and reducing risks of breast cancer in women, and reducing prostate cancer risks in men.
• Central nervous system – Improvements in sympathetic to para-sympathetic equilibrium, hence the benefits on HRV.
• Pain relief – Oxytocin and endorphins released after the fact can alleviate pain.
• Cognitive and mental health – The physical aspect of intercourse triggers dopamine and serotonin release, enhancing mood, creativity and overall brain health.
• Bladder control – as a product of increased pelvic floor strength.
• Calories burned - combining the useful with the pleasurable.

Despite these benefits, sexual health is rarely included in longevity discussions.

Sex & Performance

The long-standing debate over whether athletes (or anyone facing stressful situations) should avoid sex before competition remains unresolved, with no clear consensus.

But the question is telling in itself.

Being aware of libido and sexual life in such situations is a sign of good energy levels, hormonal balance, recovery and mental health – these signals are normally suppressed in overtraining and Athlete Triad (or RED-S).

As with any aspect of performance, effects may vary—individual responses differ, and personal awareness is key.

How to - A guide to staying sexually active

Actively seeking to preserve your sexspan – both as a barometer and a lever to elevate your health and wellbeing – can go a long way.

Here are some strategies to help you do so. 

Lifestyle quickies

• Healthy nutrition - a diet rich in nitrates (beets and leafy greens; natures own Viagra) increases blood flow, while healthy sources of cholesterol (eggs, nuts, avocados) support sex hormone production. 
• Supplements like Perelel’s specifically devised to support female libido
• Exercise - any type, and stress management.
• Pelvic health - Key for both men and women, pelvic floor strength can be improved by glute and lower back exercises, Kegle routines (for women) or targeted electromagnetic stimulation.
• Medications & therapies - Hormone replacement or pharmaceutical options for sexual dysfunction, such as Viagra or Vyleesi and Addyi for women, are available as a last resort.

Sex Tech’s future 

• Wearable devices - Firmtech's Techring, a smart ring for a slightly different purpose …
• Pelvic floor trainers like Kegle exercisers and Pelvipower electromagnetic stimulating chairs
• SaaS’ all new meaning - Emerging AI-powered digital platforms to help monitor and improve sexual health are many, e.g. Arya intimacy concierge, HeHealth, Quickies or Rosy.

Shifting mindset

The conversation around longevity is shifting. Scandinavian countries have begun normalizing sexual health in aging populations, and mainstream media is starting to challenge outdated taboos. The question is – will we treat sexual health as an integral part of aging well, or continue acting as if it doesn’t matter?

Beyond partnership

Sexual well-being shouldn’t only be about partnered activity. Maintaining connection with its own sexuality – whether solo or shared – remains a key aspect of self-care and can support hormonal balance and overall well-being. 

Beyond sexual performances, pelvic health contributes to continence, mobility, and core stability, all crucial for fitness, independence and healthy aging. Meanwhile, non-sexual intimacy, hugs, and emotional closeness all contribute to oxytocin release, stress reduction, and mental health. 

If sexual health is to be a true longevity biomarker, its definition must expand to include not just the absence of dysfunction but also physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being.

Pillow talk - A wake-up call for longevity 

As stigma fades, sexual health should no longer be dismissed as a fading aspect of youth. 

How do we get there? By acknowledging its deep ties to overall health, making it standard in routine checkups, and tracking it alongside other digital wellness metrics. Only then will sexual health truly be repositioned as a lifelong contributor to vitality, and a holistic marker of healthspan.