It’s actual science: Mice that were castrated lived longer than unmodified males, and especially if conducted in later life.

The reason behind it is not clear, but some compelling evidence indicates males are betrayed by their testes. A 1969 study of people with intellectual disabilities in a mental institution who had been involuntarily castrated suggests removing the organs can add more than a decade to life. And a 2025 analysis of data for 22 vertebrate species found a consistent longevity boost from castration. ...

The scientists castrated male mice from the same strain before puberty, shortly after puberty, or when they were 240-day-old adults—roughly equivalent to 30-year-old humans. All three groups lived longer than males used as controls that had undergone mock operations and retained their testes.

However, mice that were neutered as adults gained the most. The procedure stretched their lives by about 33%, compared with 19% and 26% increases, respectively, for the animals fixed before or after puberty. …

[T]he older mice benefited almost immediately from removal of their testes. None of them died for more than a year after the procedure—a “pretty striking” change given that the mortality rate for mice of this age is normally climbing, he says.

The article discusses how testes are considered to have harmful effects in later life even among men.

LINK

Will a man really live longer, or will it just seem like it?

I love sex...with my wife.

Ride 'em cowboy. Let me go out with my boots on.


A good counterpoint: a circumcised castrated man will get to keep his money. (But what would he spend it on?)

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You can't have my huevos Sigfreund

More than the results, I’m curious how the hypothesis even came to mind. After a few beers, someone asked “gee, I wonder if castration can extend life expectancy?”

What’s next? Ovaries?

Is this really a decision people expect to make - is that their intended outcome?

If it doesn’t also improve QOL then why? Do it just so I can sit in front of the tv waiting for death for an extra decade?

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:
Will a man really live longer, or will it just seem like it?

I love sex...with my wife.

Ride 'em cowboy. Let me go out with my boots on.


A good counterpoint: a circumcised man will get to keep his money. (But what would he spend it on?)

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Inquiring minds...?

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
More than the results, I’m curious how the hypothesis even came to mind....

You probably recall this, but in the 16th-19th centuries, there was an entire class of males known as the castrati. They were talented boys choir singers who were castrated prior to puberty in order to keep their high voices. The result were adult males with adult lung power who could hit and hold high notes unlike most females.

I think they may have also sang the women's parts because women were not allowed in operas/plays when this practice started?

There was a thought that they lived longer, but a late 20th century study did not find that to be the case.



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quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Inquiring minds...?

Haha.... oops. I meant "castrated".

Possibly a Freudian slip? An unconscious fear of sharp objects down there?


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quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
It’s actual science: Mice that were castrated lived longer than unmodified males, and especially if conducted in later life.

That's nuts

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Is this really a decision people expect to make - is that their intended outcome?

There is nothing the in the linked article about anything of the sort. It was a scientific investigation of a question that evidently occurred to someone, just like countless other questions pertaining to things health and ageing are investigated. It could lead to the discovery of why testes are evidently harmful to men’s health in some way, and what might be done (other than castration) to limit that harm.

quote:

There was a thought that they lived longer, but a late 20th century study did not find that to be the case.

There was also the "sample size" of eunuchs of the Chinese Imperial Court as well as the royal households in many middle eastern countries

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
More than the results, I’m curious how the hypothesis even came to mind

I remember when I was working on my degree thesis that one of the instructors mentioned the challenges was finding a subject which hadn't already been done.

USF had stacks of thesis which would boggle the mind and you wanted to find one which hadn't been extensively overed...so that yours wouldn't be compared to that

quote:

It’s actual science: Mice that were castrated lived longer than unmodified males, and especially if conducted in later life.

Save it for the mice and leave our balls alone.

What if I just keep one?

I'll just try to keep them as empty as possible and cross my fingers.

You first!

There is tons of research showing that frequent sex has numerous health benefits including vastly increased prostate health, cardiovascular improvement, and boosting your immune system, among others.

I think I’ll stick to that plan

Seminal study right there.