In “Statins Reduce Orgasm: Results from the UCSD Statins Study” Dr. Beatrice Golomb and colleagues from the University of California-San Diego reported today on their 1,067 men and women without heart disease with a LDL cholesterol of 119-190 mg/dL who were randomized to either pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), or placebo for LDL cholesterol reduction with the purpose of prevention of heart attacks. Orgasm was self rated on a scale of 1 (“much worse”) to 5 (“much better”) with 3 for “no change”. Overall statins had a negative effect on orgasms, with a reduction of 0.63 for men and 0.57 for women, which was statistically significant only for men, and only for Zocor.

Previous studies have shown that the more you reduce LDL cholesterol the more you lower your risk of heart attack. It has also been shown that you increase your risk of cancer more, and now this study shows that the more LDL cholesterol goes down the more it messes up your orgasm. So we have a drug that doesn’t reduce overall mortality in men without heart disease (as in the current study) and has no beneficial effect at all for women without heart disease, and that increases risk of cancer, that not only makes you stupid, but that messes up your orgasm.

Dr. Golomb’s quote to USA Today about the study was that:

It takes a lot of energy to have an orgasm.

Nice quote, Beatrice. She says that statins can interfere with Coenzyme Q and do other things that may impair energy utilization.

Mrs. Bremner’s comment on the study is that they probably thought that statins would improve orgasms through their anti-inflammatory effect.

Today I am listening to presentations (and writing as I listen) from the Study of Women’s Health in the US (SWAN) study on women in mid-life, we learn that Chinese women have less osteoporotic fractures (7 year incidence of 4.8) than black (4.5) and caucasian women (8.1), however mid life women in general feel that they are wiser and have a stronger sense of purpose than they did in their younger life, and that going through menopause is associated with a temporary increase in hot flashes and forgetfullness, but no significant increase in depression. Also the Mid Life in the US (MIDUS) National Study, which was funded by the MacArthur Foundation, asked the question, what is well being? And what effect does it have on people throughout the lifespan. Aristotle defined well being, or ”eudaimonia”, thus:

The highest of all human goods is realization of human potential

In the MIDUS study, autonomy, personal growth, feelings of purpose in life, positive relations with other, environmental mastery, and self acceptance, increased over time for people in mid life or did not change for people 55-74, while they didn’t improve or went down for those younger or older than this group. These qualities were also associated with better health outcomes. They also predicted lower lipid levels, better metabolism, and other goodies.

What is well being?