Sex is often described as central to human relationships, providing health, social, and emotional benefits. But what about people who never have sex? This brings us to the issue of sexlessness, a topic that is gaining attention in discussions about relationships and the increasing recognition of sexlessness in society.
A new study has examined the lives of sexless adults, uncovering complex links between genetics, personality, environment, and wellbeing. The findings suggest that while some individuals are asexual and uninterested in sex, others face social, economic, or biological barriers that contribute to sexlessness.
The study
Researchers analyzed data from around 400,000 UK residents aged 39–73 and 13,500 Australians aged 18–89. Roughly 1% of men and women reported never having had sex, indicating the prevalence of sexlessness.
The study, led by Laura Wesseldijk, Abdel Abdellaoui, Karin Verweij (Amsterdam UMC), and colleagues, looked at genetic profiles, social environments, and physical and psychological traits to understand sexlessness.
Social and environmental patterns
- Sexless men were more likely to live in areas with fewer women.
- In both sexes, sexlessness was more common in regions with high income inequality.
- Sexless adults reported greater loneliness, less social support, and lower happiness compared with sexually active peers, highlighting the impact of sexlessness on overall wellbeing.
These results echo earlier research linking “involuntary celibacy” (incel) online communities to geographic areas with skewed sex ratios and inequality.
Health and personality traits
The study also found distinct patterns among those who never had sex, further highlighting aspects of sexlessness:
- They tended to use alcohol and drugs less.
- They were often more educated, with stronger links to intelligence.
- Men with lower grip strength and less muscle mass were less likely to have had sex.
- Sexless individuals were more likely to wear glasses earlier in life, supporting stereotypes about “nerdy” features shaping adolescent dating experiences.
Genetics: no single “sexlessness gene”
Genetic analysis showed that genes explained around 15% of the variation in sexlessness, but no single gene had a major effect. Instead, tiny effects from many genes contributed to sexlessness.
Interestingly, genetic correlations linked sexlessness with higher education, intelligence, income, introversion, autism spectrum disorder, and anorexia. It was negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and substance use disorders.
Voluntary vs involuntary sexlessness
The findings highlight both voluntary sexlessness (such as asexuality) and involuntary sexlessness (barriers to finding a partner). For instance, the link with male strength and local sex ratios cannot easily be explained by asexuality alone, suggesting that the dynamics of sexlessness are multifaceted.
A complex picture
The researchers caution against drawing simple cause-and-effect conclusions. Not having sex may contribute to loneliness, or loneliness may make it harder to find a partner—or both may stem from other factors.
“Sexlessness is shaped by a mix of genetic, social, and environmental influences,” the authors note. “Understanding these dynamics can help reduce stigma and improve wellbeing for those who desire but lack sexual relationships.”