Story perspectives

Study Reveals Reproductive Blockage Boosts Lifespan by 20%

12/10/2025

Summary

Story summary

The University of Otago-led study, published in Nature, analyzed 117 species and found that blocking reproduction increases lifespan by 10–20%.
Hormonal contraception and surgical sterilization were linked to longer life, while castration increased lifespan in males.
For females, various sterilization methods reduced reproductive energy costs and extended life.
Ovary removal may impair health despite increasing lifespan.
Findings address the health-survival paradox in post-menopausal women, who outlive men but experience frailty.

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Story summary

The University of Otago-led study, published in Nature, analyzed 117 species and found that blocking reproduction increases lifespan by 10–20%.
Hormonal contraception and surgical sterilization were linked to longer life, while castration increased lifespan in males.
For females, various sterilization methods reduced reproductive energy costs and extended life.
Ovary removal may impair health despite increasing lifespan.
Findings address the health-survival paradox in post-menopausal women, who outlive men but experience frailty.