Life without sex: Lack of desire or traumatic retire?

The article by Abdellaouia et al. compellingly addresses the phenomenon of individuals living without sexual activity and who have never engaged in it. The authors examine this relevant aspect of human behavior through a large-scale analysis of a sample including genetic patterns, social factors, and personality traits. Several sociodemographic, behavioral, and genetic factors, as well as their interactions, were analyzed in individuals experiencing sexlessness. A point that requires further emphasis is that, in some cases, sexlessness may result from traumatic life experiences, which can profoundly affect mental health and lead to significant consequences for sexuality and sexual behavior. For example, childhood sexual trauma is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for psychosis. Furthermore, sexuality can be influenced by traumatic attachment in primary relationships, traumatic experiences, and posttraumatic stress disorder.